KILIMANJARO MARATHON AND SAFARI WITH OPTIONAL MT KILIMANJARO CLIMB - FEB 26 to Mar 7 or 15, 2009

THE MARATHON

Run in the shadow of 19,340 foot Kilimanjaro for an unforgettable marathon experience. Join world class East African runners and others from around the globe in this annual road race held at the foot of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Enter the full marathon, half marathon, or 5K fun run for the race of a lifetime. Course is 97 percent on paved roads past rural villages, through bucolic Moshi town and market, and up into a mountainside coffee plantation, all with inspiring views of Kilimanjaro. Along the route are boisterous crowds providing enthusiastic support. The start and finish are at the Moshi Cooperative College sports stadium and the course has an elevation change of 1,500 feet and a fast downhill finish for the last 6 miles (see race route map).

THE SAFARI

After the race join Summit Expeditions and Nomadic Experience (SENE) for a 6 day wildlife safari to the greatest game parks in East Africa: the Serengeti Plain, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. Guided tour by expert wildlife ecologists in safari-equipped four-wheel drive vehicles with overnights in comfortable safari lodges.

KILIMANJARO MARATHON RACE DETAILS

• Fully sponsored race with prize money 10 deep in the marathon and 5 deep in the half. Proceeds help support community development and education projects in the Kilimanjaro Region.

• Race logistics overseen by the Kilimanjaro Marathon Club, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association (TAAA), and the Kilimanjaro Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA): Traffic and crowd control; Medical assistance; Communications; Official timekeeping; Prizes: and Awards ceremony.

• Runner support includes twelve fluid stations with bottled water and multiple sponge stations, all manned by local organizations.

• Ideal race conditions in early March with cool mornings and daytime highs in the high 70’s.


TOUR PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Marathon Portion:

• Three days of relaxation and acclimatization prior to the race at 6,200 feet (higher than race elevation) in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. Accommodations at SENE’s private guest cottages in Mbahe Village.

• Choose between a day hike in Kilimanjaro National Park, relaxing bike ride on local footpaths and mountain roads, or a cultural and waterfall tour among the villages of the Chagga people of Kilimanjaro.

• Training , stretching, and race preparation led by Simon Mtuy, Tanzanian world class ultra-marathoner and holder of the fastest ascent-descent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Driving tour of the marathon route and training run on the course.

• Race registration and full use of SENE hospitality tent and services before and after race.

Safari Portion:

• Overnights in tented lodges on the Rift Valley escarpment overlooking Lake Manyara and on Lake Ndutu in the southern Serengeti, where hundreds of thousands of wildebeest will congregate for calving prior to the great migration northward.

• Journey to the bottom of the Ngorongoro Crater, featuring the highest concentration of African wildlife and the year-round home to lion, cape buffalo, wildebeest, elephant, rhinoceros, cheetah, zebra, gazelle, and many more.

• Day walking safari in the Ngorongoro conservation area.

• Visit Olduvai Gorge, famed site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s stunning archeological discoveries that rewrote the history of our earliest ancestors.

• Final day tour of the Tanzania Sports Academy, a secondary school dedicated to preparing world class Tanzanian athletes and future leaders of the country.

INCLUSIONS, EXCLUSIONS, AND PRICE


Per person, double occupancy: U.S. $3,495
Single supplement: U.S. $650

Price includes:
• All accommodations and meals.
• All transfers in Tanzania.
• On safari, all park fees, services of English-speaking safari guide, fully-equipped safari vehicle, and bottled water.
• Kilimanjaro Marathon (or Half Marathon or 5K) entry, goodie bag, t-shirt, and medal (dependent upon race distance).
• SENE hospitality tent on race day, including fluids, snacks, and post-race massage.
• All activities as indicated.

Price does not include:
International airfare; tipping or gratuities to guides or other staff; additional accommodations made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses such as medical immunizations, travel insurance, passports, and visas; airport departure taxes; activities at lodges requiring additional charges and any other expenses of a personal nature such as beverages at some lodges and laundry.



OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO MARATHON: Mount Kilimanjaro Climb



After running the foothills, trek to the 19,340 summit of Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Join SENE on our 9 day non-technical climb to the Roof of Africa using the Shira Crater Route with our expert guides and first class trekking team. Includes an overnight at 18,500 feet in the Kilimanjaro Crater. See Shira Crater climb detailed itinerary. Added bonus! Two day safari to Tarangire National Park, famous for elephant herds and baobab trees, with an overnight in the park at the Tarangire Safari Lodge, situated on a high bluff overlooking a watering hole on the Tarangire River.

Per person, double occupancy: U.S. $4,995
Single supplement: U.S. $650

Price includes the 4 day marathon package, 2 day safari, and Kilimanjaro Shira Crater climb.




KILIMANJARO MARATHON PLUS WILDLIFE SAFARI

DETAILED ITINERARY

Thursday   February 26
Arrival,  Kilimanjaro International Airport  On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be picked up by a SENE representative and driven to Mbahe Village, nestled on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mbahe will be your base for final training and preparations for the marathon.
Overnight Mbahe Farm House

Friday February 27
Moshi Town
Morning: Welcome and introduction meeting. Marathon route driving tour. Easy run on course (miles 16 – 20, including the Mweka turnaround).
Noon: Swimming, showers, and buffet luncheon at Kilemakyaro Mountain Lodge.
Afternoon: Moshi market and town tour.
Overnight Mbahe Farm House

Saturday  February 28
Mbahe Village 
Morning: Easy jog before breakfast.
Day: Village mountain bike ride OR day hike in Kilimanjaro National Park OR Marangu cultural and waterfall tour (all include a picnic lunch).
Evening: Kilimanjaro marathon race strategy, logistics, and inspirational talk
Overnight Mbahe Farm House.

Sunday  March 1
Moshi Town
Race Day! We will rise early and eat a light breakfast before heading to the start of the 2009 Kilimanjaro Marathon at the Moshi Cooperative College Stadium at 3,000 feet above sea level. Rest and prepare yourself mentally at the SENE hospitality tent, where you will have available plenty of pre- and post-race fluids and snacks, and a post-race massage and picnic lunch.
Evening: Celebration meal and sharing of experiences.
Overnight Mbahe Farm House

Monday  March 2
Lake Manyara National Park
The second part of your Tanzanian adventure begins with your private wildlife safari.
After an early breakfast you will travel with your SENE driver/guide in one of our 4WD safari vehicle and head west to safari country to Lake Manyara National Park at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. Day game drive; picnic lunch in the park.
Overnight Kirurumu Tented Lodge

Tuesday March 3
Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park 
Today you will skirt the Ngorongoro Crater and drive to the trail head for the 10,270 foot peak of Mount Lemagrut (Makarot). Do a moderate day hike to the summit to enjoy magnificent views of the Ngorongoro area. Picnic lunch on the hike. Continue the drive west to the African plains and Serengeti National Park.
Overnight Ndutu Lodge

Wednesday  March 4
Serengeti National Park 
Your driver/guide, a trained expert in East African wildlife and ecology, will explore with you the vast Serengeti Plain in search of the best game-viewing opportunities, dependent on the seasonal and daily migration patterns. Take an early morning game drive before breakfast to experience the Serengeti as it comes to life for the new day. Then relax at the lodge during the heat of the day and take a late afternoon / early evening game drive. Or you may choose to enjoy a full day game drive (with a picnic lunch) to explore the vast expanse of the Serengeti to see its different environments, its kopjes, and the other surprises that the park has in store for its observant visitors.
Overnight Ndutu Lodge

Thursday March 5
Serengeti National Park, Olduvai Gorge,  Maasai Village and Shifting Sands
Enjoy one last morning game drive in the Serengeti, then return back to Olduvai Gorge and its unique archeological, cultural, and environmental sites. Picnic lunch at Olduvai. Olduvai Gorge is the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s archeological discoveries of early human ancestors, their tools, and other prehistoric fossil remains. The site consists of a small but comprehensive museum on the rim of the Gorge and optional descents into the Gorge to visit some of the dig sites. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby Maasai Village cultural center and stop to view the incredible shifting sands, a large dune of volcanic ash that is slowly moving with the consistent prevailing winds.
Overnight Tloma Lodge (or similar)

Friday March 6
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
In the morning drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a day game drive in the Crater, often referred to as “Africa’s Eden.”
Overnight Tloma Lodge (or similar)
 
Saturday
March 7 Arusha

Cultural Heritage Center

Tanzania Sports Academy

Departure,
Kilimanjaro International Airport Enjoy a relaxing morning drive back through Arusha Town to see this bustling commercial center of northern Tanzania, shop, and visit the Cultural Heritage Center.
Tour the Tanzania Sports Academy, a newly established sports secondary school with a mission to provide a high quality secondary education to the youth of Tanzania and to identify and nurture future national talent in track and field, cross-country, and other sports. Tour the grounds, learn more about the school and its mission, and meet some of the future stars of Tanzanian athletics.
Continue back to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch your flight home. Before your flight you will enjoy one last meal in Tanzania at the KIA Lodge, just minutes from the airport. The beautiful landscaped grounds and comfortable restaurant and bar provide a respite and time to rejuvenate before your long flight.



KILIMANJARO MARATHON PLUS WILDLIFE SAFARI   NATIONAL PARK AND ACCOMMODATION DESCRIPTIONS

Mbahe Farm House

Simon Mtuy’s Mbahe Farm House sits at 6,200 feet on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro about 25 kilometers from Moshi Town. It is located in the village of Marangu Mbahe, nestled among the lush tropical forests near the border of Kilimanjaro National Park. The farm consists of 15 acres of land on which Simon’s ancestors raised cattle and today is used as a small ecologically sustainable farm. A climate which allows for a year-round growing season, rich volcanic soil, and irrigation directly from the mountain streams makes it an ideal environment for farming. The completely organic farm produces coffee (processed and roasted on-site) and contains gardens of organic vegetables, bananas, and honey, which provide most of the ingredients in the fresh home-cooked meals. The farm maintains the atmosphere and welcoming feel of a Chagga family’s private home. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the farm, warm up next to the fireplace in the living room, or sit and enjoy sweeping views of the valley on the verandah of your cottage. Accommodations include six cottages with electricity and hot water and decorated in Simon’s own touch with hand-made furniture from local materials. While staying at the Mbahe Farm House you can go for a refreshing swim below the Moonjo River waterfall that sits on the property, visit the local primary school, take walks through the village, learn about the area flora, or just sit on your veranda with a cup of freshly roasted coffee. Simon’s Mbahe Farm House is the perfect spot to relax before and after your adventure in Tanzania.
Activities in Mbahe can include guided walks through the village, including a visit to Mbahe Primary School; longer hikes on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and into the national park; tours of the farm and discussion of Chagga coffee farming techniques and the sophisticated irrigation system used on the mountain for over 100 years; bicycle rides on paths and dirt roads; visit to local waterfalls; swimming; tour of traditional Chagga homestead; presentation and tour of the work of Hope Through Opportunity – Tanzania, a local NGO community development organization founded by Simon Mtuy.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a small and beautiful park situated at 3,150 feet elevation that abuts the 1,000 foot western wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. It is 330 square kilometers in area, much of which is taken up by the soda lake tinted pink by huge flocks of flamingoes. The park also boasts a lush jungle-like groundwater forest with wild fig, palm, and tamarind trees, an acacia woodland, and a grassy flatland near the lake. Baobab trees abound. Manyara is particularly famous for its dense elephant population and tree-climbing lions. The behavior of lions climbing trees was first observed in this park, but lions do climb trees in Tarangire and the Serengeti as well. You will also see many hippopotamus floating in the lake or grazing on its edge, giraffes, buffalo, large troops of baboons, zebra, and monkeys. With its profusion of birds (more than 380 species), Manyara is also one of the best parks for bird watching.

Kirurumu Tented Lodge

Kirurumu Tented Lodge sits on top of the Rift Valley wall, providing fabulous views to the east over Lake Manyara, the valley floor, and the Maasai plains below. Accommodations consist of 22 tented rooms with private baths, a large dining room, full bar, and incredible scenery.

 

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife areas in the world and Tanzania’s largest national park. Its 5,700 square miles are part of the 9,600 square mile Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which consists of areas of treeless plains, savannah dotted with acacia and granite outcroppings called kopjes, and riverine bush and forest. Its name is derived from Siringet, a word in the Maasai language which means “endless plains.” Across its boundless expanse animals extend as far as the eye can see in a scene that exists nowhere else in the world and one that is quintessentially African. The Serengeti contains a staggering amount of wildlife – about 4 million animals– and is home to a million and a half wildebeest, a quarter million zebra, twice that many gazelle, and tens of thousands of the their predators (lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackals, crocodiles, etc.). The Serengeti is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and the site of one of the most breathtaking events in the natural world: the migration of more than a million wildebeest. The Migration is actually a cyclical process that occurs in stages throughout the year. There are a number of different movements that happen at different times of the year and in different locations in the ecosystem. The basic migration pattern follows a clockwise direction, but it is guided by rain and the growth of grass, so at any time the animals may ignore “traditional patterns” and just follow rain clouds in a more haphazard direction. There are three seasons in the Serengeti that direct the migration: the short rains, the long rains and the dry seasons. During the start of the short rains of November and December, the large wildebeest and zebra herds leave the northern part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and travel east and south around the Gol Mountains and into the short grass plains of the southern and eastern Serengeti. The female wildebeest need to be in this area to begin the calving, as they rely on this particular kind of grass - high in calcium and magnesium - for their milk production. Wildebeest calving can begin anytime during the dry season between January and March. More than 750,000 females may drop their calves within a 3 week period, a time when predator activity is at a peak. However, the short grass plains also offer some of the best protection against predators, as the latter are more visible to the herd animals. The animals will remain in this area as long as there is sufficient rain in the subsequent months of the long rains. April is usually the heaviest month of rain, with fairly constant precipitation. At this time, the herd usually begins to move to the central Serengeti to prepare for the wildebeest rut of May and June. These are some of the most amazing herd sightings as the males and females reunite for breeding. The herd movement continues both west and north between May to the end of July. At this point, the herd disperses a bit and males without females may migrate directly north to the Maasai Mara and some may move to the famous Western Corridor of the Serengeti, where they may remain year round. If rains are normal, we can expect the majority of the herd to leave the Serengeti by the end of July. The dry season of July to October still offers excellent viewing of cats of all kinds. In fact, some of these predators are easier to spot because they must remain more active during the daytime to search for dwindling food supplies. The well-known wildebeest “river crossings,” which many hope to see are hard to predict and can occur in a short number of days. Crossings typically occur in October and November on the Mara River, near the Kenyan border in the north, and July on the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti.

Ndutu Safari Lodge

The Ndutu Safari Lodge, situated beside a small soda lake set in a beautiful acacia woodland. Ndutu consists of a main lodge with the bar and dining room and modern stone cottages extending to the sides. During this time of year Ndutu is a wonderful place to observe the resident animals of the southern Serengeti as they converge around Ndutu's waterholes and marshes - elephant, giraffe, impala, every kind of cat, and a profusion of birds. The lodge offers a superb base in which to explore the range of habitats that lie within easy reach, including swamps, woodlands, soda lakes, and the world famous Serengeti short grass plains.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of seven World Heritage Sites designated in Tanzania. It is the world’s largest unflooded caldera with the entire rim intact. The crater rim is 7,800 feet above sea level while the crater floor, enclosed by the slopes of the extinct volcano, descends to 5,000 feet elevation. A trip down into the crater is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. While only 100 square miles in area, it offers seven distinct habitats: acacia forest, swamp, short grass plains, long grass plains, riverine and woodland. Each habitat attracts a unique variety of animals. It is home to almost 30,000 animals, creating a density of wildlife unseen anywhere else in Africa. The only animals you will not find in the crater are the impala and giraffe. It is not known why impala do not inhabit the Crater, but giraffe are unable to descend the steep grade without lowering their heads, which raises their blood pressure to dangerous levels. The crater is the best location for viewing the rare black rhino and the huge old bull elephants. There is not enough vegetation to support the large elephant cow and calf herds, but the old males “retire” to the Crater for the wonderful swamp grass and acacia forest. Huge flocks of flamingoes inhabit the crater’s Lake Magadi, giving it a spectacular pink hue. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the world’s first multi-purpose land use experiment, combining tourism, research, archeology, wildlife management, and traditional livestock grazing for the Maasai herders whose lands surround the area.

Tloma Lodge

The Tloma Lodge is a small, exclusive lodge consisting of 20 cottages situated within the Ngorongoro Highlands Area. Its brilliant positioning on the raised shoulder of a valley offers breathtaking views over a coffee-plantation and onto the eastern wall of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Optional activities at the lodge may include guided walks through the trails of the Conservation Area to local waterfalls, an escorted cultural walk in which you are introduced to the Wairak culture and traditions, or full body massage (additional fees may apply).


KILIMANJARO MARATHON PLUS KILIMANJARO CLIMB

2 DAY SAFARI ITINERARY


Thursday
February 26 to Sunday March 1
See Marathon Itinerary
 

Monday
March 2 Tarangire National Park Tarangire Safari Lodge Your safari begins! After breakfast drive to Tarangire National Park, Tanzania’s 4th largest and considered its most scenic with huge baobab trees and acacia-dotted hills. The park is known for its resident elephants, large prides of lions, leopards, giraffe, buffalo, and an incredible diversity of birds.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, the “Baobab Capital of the World”, is just 2 hours drive from Arusha, the bustling commercial capitol of northern Tanzania. Tarangire is renowned for its wild landscapes and diverse habitats. The Tarangire River, from which the park derives its name, is the only permanent water source within the 2,600 square kilometer protected wildlife area. One also finds several large swamps (Silale, Larmakau, and Nguselororobi) that attract animals and birds of all kinds. Tarangire is most famous for its elephants, where they can be found in large herds year round. There are 3,000 permanent resident elephants in the park and another 3,000 individuals live in the park during the dry season of July to October. Elephants begin their annual migration into Tarangire as early as May as they search for new food sources following the long rains of March through May. They particularly favor the tall swamp grasses found in the park. During the dry season other herd animals of all kinds (wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, and antelopes) migrate from the surrounding areas to the permanent water found inside the park. This is the second largest migration of animals in Africa after that of the Serengeti. Also in the dry season the famous giant rock pythons leave the swamp to avoid being stepped on by herd animals and live in the trees on the edge of the swamp. These amazing creatures provide some of the most unusual wildlife viewing as they attack and kill large animals of all kinds. Tarangire is also home to the last remaining pack of wild dogs in northern Tanzania, though they remain an extremely elusive find. In addition to the numerous animals, the park has over 300 species of birds and has the highest recorded number of breeding bird species of any habitat in the world. Bird watching in Tarangire can be amazing all year round.

The Tarangire Safari Lodge sits on a bluff overlooking the Tarangire River, the park’s only permanent water source and a popular watering hole for elephant, buffalo, and other grazing herds. Accommodations are in bungalows and permanent luxury tents with full amenities strung out along the ridge. The lodge has excellent buffet meals, a full bar, and a swimming pool.


Tuesday
March 3 Arusha

Cultural Heritage Center Mbahe Farm House Enjoy an early morning game drive before breakfast and a leisurely morning at the lodge or on safari. After lunch drive back through Arusha Town to see this bustling commercial center of northern Tanzania, shop, and visit the Cultural Heritage Center. Continue back to Mbahe Village on Kilimanjaro to prepare for your Kilimanjaro climb. See the Shira Crater climb itinerary for a detailed description of the climb.

Wednesday March 4
to
Sunday March 15 See Shira Crater climb itinerary

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