Program Directed by
Devon Swinburne
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Travel to Tanzania this summer and trek to the “Roof of Africa.” Our Mt. Kilimanjaro high school program combines Putney’s most challenging outdoor adventure—climbing Africa’s highest peak—with a safari in two of the world’s most renowned wildlife parks: Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. Our alpine adventure and safari explores the intersection of culture, ecology, climate, and local livelihoods in Tanzania. Learn about climate change, mountain ecology, porter and guide culture, wildlife conservation, and the past, present, and future of safari travel and trekking in East Africa.
- Program Highlights
• Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, at 19,340 feet
• Watch the sunrise from Kilimanjaro’s snowcapped summit
• Trek across the stunning moorland of the Shira Plateau
• Go on safari in the 10-mile-wide Ngorongoro Crater big game park
• Watch the sunrise from Kilimanjaro’s snowcapped summit
• Trek across the stunning moorland of the Shira Plateau
• Go on safari in the 10-mile-wide Ngorongoro Crater big game park
“My Putney experience in Tanzania was truly a formative one and I look back on the trip fondly. The views from the top of Kilimanjaro were breathtaking. I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to climb one of the world’s Seven Summits, learn about daily life and local culture in Tanzania, go on safari, and meet all of the wonderful people along the way.”
—Dan M., Phillips Academy Andover, Pennington, NJ
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in New York City and fly together to Arusha, Tanzania. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Machame — 3 days
Begin your trip at our mountain lodge at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Get to know your group and leaders, learn basic Swahili vocabulary, have a pre-climb orientation with your mountain guides, and go on a short practice hike. Learn about the people, cultures, and history of the Kilimanjaro region on a visit to a local coffee farm where you’ll hike through fertile farmland and end at a massive waterfall. Most local residents are Chagga, the ethnic group that calls Kilimanjaro’s southern slopes its ancestral home and produces many guides, porters, and other trekking staff. Explore the challenges that climate change presents for communities that rely on Mt. Kilimanjaro’s resources to sustain their livelihoods. See firsthand how local people depend on a healthy watershed to grow crops, and also the challenges they face today as weather is increasingly unpredictable. Learn from senior guides what skills and training you need to work on the mountain and why young Tanzanians are drawn to careers in the trekking and safari industries. Through discussions with your guides, leaders, and fellow students, document the development of climbing in East Africa and the important role it plays in Tanzania’s economy.
Kilimanjaro Climb — 8 days
Set out on the magnificent, unspoiled Lemosho and Southern Circuit route, and follow in the footsteps of the first Putney group to climb Kilimanjaro in 1972. This route is completed over eight days and allows ample time for healthy acclimatization, as well as a high summit success rate (more commonly used routes attempt the summit in just five or six days, requiring extreme elevation gains, and inadequate time to acclimate).
Travel through multiple climate zones as you ascend the mountain. At the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park, pass plantations full of bananas and coffee. These agricultural lands give way to thick forest inhabited by Colobus monkeys, tropical birds, bush babies, and other wildlife. In this forest, spend your first night at Mti Mkubwa Camp. Make your way through higher elevation montane forest and clusters of ornamental hagenia trees before arriving at the Shira Plateau. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a stunning expanse of ancient lava flows covered in heath, moorland, and alien-like giant groundsels. We overnight on the plateau’s West Side Camp, then at Moir Camp on its eastern side.
Moorland gradually transitions into alpine desert, a breathtaking environment dotted with moss and grass. It is home to the Lava Tower, an impressive 300-foot high volcanic plug jutting out from the mountainside that you visit on an acclimatization hike. From here we complete the Southern Circuit, trekking around Kilimanjaro’s south-facing glaciers, passing volcanic rock formations, and spending nights at Great Barranco, Karanga Valley, and Kosovo Camps.
Finally, we enter the arctic zone and make our summit attempt of Kilimanjaro’s 19,340-foot Uhuru Peak at sunrise. Take in bird’s eye views of the surrounding icefields, the savannah thousands of feet below, and the shadow of Mt. Meru in the distance (Africa’s fifth highest peak). Celebrate your hard-earned summit and snap a group photo to document your accomplishment. Descend and spend a final night at Mweka Camp on the edge of the forest zone, then a short hike out to the park’s Mweka gate the next morning where we say farewell to our guides.
Arusha — 2 days
Drive to the nearby town of Arusha for a celebratory group dinner at our lodge on the lower slopes of Mt. Meru, an impressive stratovolcano that towers over the surrounding countryside. Take a full day to rest and relax after your climb, explore a local market, and prepare for our safari adventure.
Safari & Maasai Village — 4 days
Set out on a safari organized by close friends of Putney, who introduce you to two of Tanzania’s most famous wildlife parks. In Tarangire National Park, from the safety of our safari vehicles, search for lions on the banks of the Tarangire River and spot elephants wading in Silale Swamp. Then ascend the Rift Valley Escarpment and continue to Ngorongoro Crater for more wildlife viewing in this ten-mile-wide caldera, home to cheetahs, rhinos, and other rare megafauna. Drive through grassland, swamps, along lakes and rivers, and encounter lions, zebras, elephants, monkeys, flamingos, wildebeest, jackals, bat-eared foxes, hyenas, and birds of prey. Outside of Ngorongoro, visit a traditional Maasai home, or boma, and learn how livestock herding is central to this pastoralist community’s way of life. Join in campfire discussions with our professional safari guides about the history of wildlife conservation in Tanzania and successful projects underway to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in communities surrounding national parks.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Arusha, Tanzania, to New York City with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Program Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review specific program questions here. For more general information, visit our full FAQ:
What are the main focuses of this program?
Our high school Kilimanjaro program centers on the multi-day trek to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, as well as cultural immersion in Tanzania. Students progress through distinct ecological zones and work together toward a shared summit objective. Along the way, the program emphasizes teamwork, resilience, pacing, safety, and outdoor leadership in a high-altitude environment.
The program is also designed to foster cultural and environmental connection in Tanzania, primarily through daily interaction with our local guides and porters. The program concludes with a wildlife safari in Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Together, these experiences foster confidence, perseverance, and a deeper appreciation for East Africa's extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and cultures. To learn more about our Exploration programs click here.
What is the technology and cell phone policy?
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney Student Travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to and from the program. During in-country orientation, leaders facilitate a call home, then collect and securely store all phones for the first half of the program. At the end of this tech-free period, leaders return student phones for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Will students have the opportunity to practice the local language?
Students on our high school Kilimanjaro program have regular daily interaction with our local guides and porters, which creates authentic opportunities to practice basic Swahili. This usually includes greetings, expressions of gratitude, and simple conversational phrases that come up naturally during the climb. Even a small effort to use Swahili is typically encouraged and warmly received, and it can be a meaningful part of building connection and rapport with the mountain crew, adding another layer of cultural engagement to the expedition experience.
What is an Independent Project?
All students on Putney programs pursue an independent project as a way to more deeply engage with aspects of local culture that are of particular interest to them—in Tanzania, you might compile a booklet of Swahili language greetings, document the training required to become a mountain guide, research the geological processes that created Mt. Kilimanjaro, study mountain weather, or explore local folklore or traditional music.
How physically active is this program?
Putney’s Kilimanjaro program is our most physically challenging adventure. The ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro involves eight days of hiking and camping, with considerable time spent at high elevations. While no technical climbing skills are required, participants must be physically fit. In the spring, Putney will provide training suggestions to help prepare you for a successful climb. You hike each day with your daypack, carrying only what you need for that day. All other gear is carried to the next camp by porter staff. You should come to the program with an open mind, eager to participate in outdoor experiences, and interested in exploring another culture and way of life.
Does this program visit high altitudes?
Yes. Our Kilimanjaro program spends extended time above an elevation of 10,000 feet. Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mt. Kilimjanaro, sits at 19,340 feet (5,895 meters).
What are the accommodations for this program?
In Machame and Arusha, the group stays in small mountain lodges. During the Kilimanjaro climb and on safari, we stay in tents provided by our local outfitters. Leaders reside together with students throughout the program.
What are meals like in Tanzania?
During our climb of Kilimanjaro, breakfasts and dinners are prepared at camp by a trained cook. Lunches are eaten picnic-style on the trail. Meals are nutritious and rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Breakfasts consist of juices, granola, fruit, eggs, toast, pancakes, or french toast. Lunch includes fresh bread, cold cuts, vegetables, and a variety of sandwich-making supplies. Dinners include hot soups, salads, pastas, rice, chicken, fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Coffee, tea, and filtered water are always available. In Machame and Arusha, we eat our meals at our accommodations. While on the safari, we prepare meals in camp with the help of our safari guides.
What type of student is most successful on this program?
Putney’s Kilimanjaro program is designed for high school students (grades 9–12) who are motivated by challenge, enjoy spending time outdoors, and are excited to push themselves beyond their comfort zone. This program is an excellent fit for students who are physically active, resilient, and willing to work as part of a team while hiking for multiple consecutive days at high altitude. Previous backpacking or mountaineering experience isn't required. Students succeed and gain the most from this unforgettable experience when they come with a positive attitude, good physical preparation, and a determination to embrace both the physical and mental demands of the climb.
It’s equally important for students to be curious, respectful, and interested in engaging with our local Tanzanian guide, taking their learning beyond just the climb itself. Students who do best on this program are those who show resilience, a collaborative spirit, and a genuine desire to push themselves toward a meaningful goal.
What makes Kilimanjaro a good experience for a Putney Student Travel program?
Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most iconic and accessible high-altitude treks in the world, and Putney students have been summiting it since 1972! Kilimanjaro is uniquely well-suited for a high school student group because it is a non-technical climb—meaning that no ropes or mountaineering experience are required—but it still demands commitment, teamwork, and mental resilience. The gradual ascent allows students to safely experience high altitude while learning to manage pacing, acclimatization, and group dynamics. Each ecological zone we pass through—from rainforest to alpine desert—adds an educational layer, making the mountain a living classroom.
With our many decades of experience in Tanzania and on Kilimanjaro, we have intentionally designed the program experience to support both challenge and growth. Longstanding relationships with local guides and porters ensure safety, cultural exchange, and a deeper understanding of Tanzanian perspectives. For students, Kilimanjaro is more than a physical challenge. The experience is a structured journey where themes like perseverance, leadership, and global awareness come to life every single day.
How does the Kilimanjaro program compare to Putney’s other Exploration programs?
Putney’s high school Kilimanjaro program is our most physically intensive program, and also one of the most clearly defined and goal-oriented programs in Putney’s Exploration lineup. While many programs blend activities and move between locations, this experience is centered around a single, shared objective: summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
That focus shapes the entire experience. Compared to other programs, it is more physically and mentally demanding, with a sustained, multi-day expedition that builds toward the summit. There’s less variety in daily activities, but students become fully immersed in the rhythm of the climb, learning perseverance, pacing, and teamwork in a very tangible way. Each day builds on the last, both in altitude and group cohesion, creating a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment. Like all programs with Putney Student Travel, the Kilimanjaro experience emphasizes small group learning and leadership, but plays out in an expedition setting where students rely on one another daily.
Do students need prior experience or specific skills to join this program?
Students do not need prior mountaineering or technical climbing experience to join the Kilimanjaro program in Tanzania—climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a non-technical trek. However, prior hiking experience is helpful, and students should have a strong baseline level of fitness and be prepared for sustained physical activity. This program involves multiple consecutive days of hiking, often for several hours at a time, at increasing altitude. Comfort with long walks or hikes, and having the stamina to stay positive through fatigue and changing conditions, is important. Mindset is also important: students should come ready to challenge themselves, support their group, and fully engage in a demanding but highly rewarding experience.
What outcomes, skills, or growth can students expect to gain from this experience?
The Kilimanjaro experience is a powerful one for students. Students gain confidence from doing something genuinely difficult, form close bonds through shared effort, and come away with a broader sense of what they’re capable of, along with a meaningful connection to a place far beyond their everyday world.
On a practical level, students build outdoor competencies in trekking, hiking, camping, and adapting to changing conditions, while also gaining a deeper understanding of environmental systems and Tanzanian culture. Seeing mountain peaks, different ecosystems, and the natural beauty of the savanna often makes a lifelong impact. Cultural experiences, including time with a Maasai community, add perspective on Tanzanian life, history, and the balance between urban and remote communities.The intangible outcomes and soft skills are just as important. Students develop confidence by stepping outside their comfort zones, independence by contributing to daily group responsibilities, and resilience by meeting physical and mental challenges. Living and traveling closely with a small group fosters strong friendships, empathy, and collaboration.
Many students leave with a broader sense of perspective on the environment, on different ways of life, and on themselves. For some, it can spark new academic or personal interests; for others, it clarifies what kinds of future challenges and experiences they may want to seek.
A Day in the Life: Kilimanjaro Climb
Due to the traveling nature of this student program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day on Kilimanjaro.
- Morning
6:00am
Eat breakfast in camp, and review the day’s hike with your guides
7:00am
Prepare your daypack and set out on the trail
9:00am
Stop for a mid-morning rest and snack, and refill water bottles
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Break on the trail for a picnic lunch and rest
1:00pm
Continue with the day’s hike and take in the views downslope
4:00pm
Arrive at the night’s camp, rest, clean-up, play games, or write in your journal
- Evening
5:00pm
Eat dinner as a group at camp
7:00pm
Discuss the next day’s plan in the mess tent and have a group meeting
9:00pm
Return to tents for a good night’s rest
“The experience overall, but especially the midnight summit hike, proved to me that I can do anything with the right mindset of perseverance, ability, and self-belief.”
—Aisling K., The Nightingale-Bamford School, New York, NY
