Community Action Treks Kenya

Website: http://www.catreks.com/
E-mail: info@catreks.com
Phone: +44 017687 71890

Who they are

“When the man (sic) who feeds the world by toiling in the fields is himself deprived of the basic rights of feeding, sheltering and caring for his own families, the whole community of man is sick”

Community Action Treks (CAT) was born out of concern of the above statement. Doug Scott was the first British climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and is one of the world’s best known and most successful Himalayan mountaineers. He could not have achieved this success without the help, support and expertise of the Nepalese porters and the high altitude Sherpa guides. He wanted to give something back to the Nepalese people that would involve developing self-determination and improve the quality of life for these mountain village communities.

As a result CAT was formed and works alongside its sister charity, Community Action Nepal, where all profits are directed to help sustain health, education and community strengthening projects in the areas where they take trekkers. Now CAT has teamed up with agents who adopt the same ethical practices as they do in Nepal, and offer a new stunning trek starting in Kenya and finsihing with a summit climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania!

This means that all trekkers, climbers and other groups who decide to come with CAT will know that what they leave behind is as important as what they take home. That’s why when CAT show you some of the most awe inspiring scenery and places in the world, the local people also get something life-changing as well; schools, health posts, clean water systems, and other community strengthening initiatives.

What they do

Working closely with their agents and local communities in the following areas:
- Schools
- Health posts
- Clean water supplies
- Income generating schemes for the benefit of whole communities.

What they offer

Doug Scott ranked Mt. Kenya as one of the world’s great treks, having made the first winter ascent and third overall ascent of the mountain’s challenging Diamond Couloir.

The holiday starts with an acclimatisation trek on Mt. Kenya. Africa’s second highest mountain offers spectacular and incredibly varied trekking. Its quiet and very scenic trails progress through the deep rain-forested valleys and gorges of the lower slopes, to open moorland, where breathtaking views compete for trekkers’ attention with a highly unusual flora, on the approach to the high alpine zone. Here in a stunning setting of sparkling tarns and shimmering glaciers, you will ascend to 4,985m Point Lenana. Its summit views are awesome.

Located on Tanzania’s border with Kenya, 330km south of the equator, Kilimanjaro is the highest peak on the African continent. This colossal mountain is composed of three extinct volcanic cones – 3,962m Shira and 5,149m Mawenzi on its flanks, and 5,895m Kibo, whose crater rim forms the summit. Trekkers have long been drawn to Kilimanjaro and it is not hard to see why. Nowhere else on earth are such extremes of climate and vegetation to be seen in a single location. Glaciers spill off its snowbound summit, leading to desert-like screes and open moorland, where giant lobelias and tree heathers thrive, while its lower slopes are clad in luxuriant rainforest that is home to striking black and white colobus monkeys, antelopes, raucous hornbills and many other animals and birds.

Kilimanjaro is among the world’s highest free-standing mountains, rising 4,800m from the undulating plain that is the ancestral home of the Maasai people. There are several routes up the mountain, presenting different levels of challenge, from the popular ‘tourist’ trail starting at Marangu to the quieter and more scenic Machame, Umbwe and Mweka routes. The climb up Kilimanjaro is a long, but technically not difficult walk. What makes it challenging is the altitude but by allowing 7 days (and not the 5 or 6 that some parties attempt), proper acclimatisation is possible and the summit can be safely achieved by most fit walkers.

Fitness & Experience: By acclimatising first on Mt Kenya, most trekkers reach the summit of Kilimanjaro – and enjoy it! Previous experience of trekking at altitude is helpful but many first time trekkers with a good level of fitness and stamina are successful on both mountains.

Note: Minimum number for this departure is 3

Detailed Itinerary