‘Iceman’ Runs Up Kilimanjaro, Shatters Record for Fastest Ascent

Wim Hof is not really made of ice, but he might as well be. The fifty-five year old extreme sports enthusiast has shattered the record for the quickest ascent up Mt. Kilimanjaro on January 15, 2015.

In a mere 31 hours and 25 minutes, Hof and a group of eighteen other climbers reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, which sits at a cool 19,340 feet above sea level.

For the Iceman, it’s just another world record that he’s broken, (#26 in fact) but to us, it’s a feat that’s so impossible we’re still not sure how he accomplished it.

Even scientists aren’t quite sure how his body was able to overcome the strain of the ascent. But they’ll soon have a better idea because Wim is going to run up the mountain again and blood samples will be taken by researchers at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.

Wim Hof says his ability all stems from his special breathing technique, which he rightly calls The Wim Hof Method. He claims that he can control his body’s thermostat through deep meditation, which allows him to withstand temperatures that would be fatal to nearly everyone else.

Although nobody knows for sure how Wim accomplishes his superhuman feats – he surely keeps proving that nearly anything is possible. He once ran a marathon in the Namibian desert without drinking water and managed to climb Mt. Everest with only a pair of shorts on.

Mt. Kilimanjaro may just be another checkmark on Wim Hof’s list of accomplishments, but for you it could be the beginning of the greatest adventure of your life.

We offer guided tours that will take you to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, but don’t worry; we will not force you to run up the mountain. We would actually advise against it – your safety is paramount to us.

A guided ascent up the mountain can take anywhere from 5-9 days depending on your fitness and experience. Be aware that when you climb faster your chances of reaching the summit decrease – unless you’re the Iceman, of course. Longer ascents are less strenuous, and therefore, the chances of summiting increase.

If you’re feeling up to the challenge of scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro be sure to contact us soon. The dry season is here, which will allow the best conditions for climbing.

But the season won’t last long, so reserve your spot on our guided tours today!

ZARA TOURS TO HOST THE EIGHTH ANNUAL NGORONGORO MARATHON

Tanzania, Africa — As a proud representative and supporter of a number of community development projects throughout Tanzania, ZARA Tours—currently the No. 1 Kilimanjaro outfitter in Tanzania, and one of the largest safari operators in the country—is excited to host the 8th Annual Ngorongoro Marathon, taking place 18th April 2015 in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

As a unique, community-themed, multi-cultural event, this year’s Ngorongoro Marathon has been designed to offer a variety of entertainment packages, including, but not limited to: adventure safaris (pre & post marathon tour packages), open festivals, overnight carnivals, football matches, stage performances and a red carpet award ceremony. All events and celebrations (including pre-events) will take place over a five-day period in the heavily concentrated town of Karatu.

History:
In 2008, Ms. Leila Ansell and Mama Zainab Ansell—each CEO’s of ZARA Tanzania Adventures—came up with the idea to create a unique community outreach and development initiative under Zara Charity Tanzania, and the first ever Ngorongoro Marathon was born. Together, with various stakeholders, the race was positively accepted and promoted to its success. Up until its 7th season, the Ngorongoro Marathon took on promotional campaigns for Malaria, and was entitled, “The Race Against Malaria.”

Community Development and Support:
In addition to Malaria—which presents a visible prevalence setback of 8.7 to 0.4 to date—the Ngorongoro Marathon has positively impacted other important issues throughout Karatu and neighboring places and people, such as Maasai women and children empowerment. Furthermore, the Ngorongoro Marathon aims to:

• Promote art and culture by bringing together both locals and foreigners at a multicultural festival.
• Raise funds for charity works and other community interventions.
• Promote both local and international tourism in Tanzania.
• Create awareness for health and environmental conservation issues.
• Promote education.

The Ngorongoro Marathon is officially registered and recognized with international standards of athletic associations, worldwide. For more information on the 8th Annual Ngorongoro Marathon, or to learn how to register, please visit the event’s WordPress page.

To learn more about ZARA Tours or the company’s charity program, ZARA Charity, go to Zara Tours and Zara charity

About Zara Tours:
ZARA TOURS, founded in 1987, is currently the No. 1 Kilimanjaro outfitter in Tanzania and one of the largest safari operators in the country. Proud to be known as one of the best operators in the region with a reputation for providing an exceptional, unforgettable and safe experience, ZARA TOURS owns and operates two hotels and three tented camps, has 88 safari and climbing expert guides who speak English, German and Spanish, and a fleet of fully-equipped vehicles that take tourists on safari adventures or treks up Mt. Kilimanjaro. ZARA TOURS also runs ZARA Charity, which plays a vital role in the local community by supporting important community development programs, such as the Maasai women’s group, education, children empowerment and more.

The Peak Time to Reach the Peak: Climbing Kilimanjaro

Timing your trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro is important if you want the best chance to reach the summit in the safest and most pleasant conditions. Because of its geographic position near the equator, Mt. Kilimanjaro doesn’t experience the seasonal shifts in weather that coincide with winter and summer. Rather, there are dry and wet seasons. It’s possible to climb year-round, so you have to choose a time wisely if you’d like the best experience possible.

Month	Temperature	Precipitation	Cloudiness	Crowds
January	Warm	Medium	Low	High
February	Warm	Medium	Low	High
March	Moderate	High	Medium	Low
April	Moderate	High	High	Low
May	Moderate	High	High	Low
June	Cold	Medium	Medium	Medium
July	Cold	Medium	Low	High
August	Cold	Low	Low	High
September	Moderate	Low	Low	High
October	Moderate	Low	Medium	Medium
November	Moderate	High	Medium	Low
December	Moderate	Medium	Medium	Medium

The best times to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro are during the warmer, drier months (January through mid-March and June to October are the best times). These conditions make it easier and safer to climb to the summit, and your safety is always our number one concern. During the wet months it’s often cold, rainy and snowy, which make for very strenuous and potentially dangerous conditions to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro.

With better weather comes better conditions, but in those periods of time you’ll also experience more foot traffic on the mountain. If you’d like a more intimate ascent you could choose to go in non-peak periods like March through May.

Summiting in the Moonlight

Some climbers choose to summit at night under the illumination of a full moon. This is considered by many people to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as the scenery of Kilimanjaro under a full moon is other-worldly.

Full Moon Dates

Month	2014	2015	2016	2017
January	15	4	23	12
February	14	3	22	10
March	16	5	23	12
April	15	4	21	11
May	14	3	21	10
June	12	2	20	9
July	12	1, 31	19	8
August	10	29	18	7
September	8	27	16	6
October	8	27	15	5
November	6	25	14	3
December	6	25	13	3

To summit during a full moon, a 7-day climb should start 5 days prior to the full moon. It’s not necessary to summit on the exact full moon date to take advantage of moonlight. A summit on the day before or day after will also lend the same amazing experience to you.

It should be noted that climbs during full moons are often very crowded. If you wish to avoid crowds you may want to begin your climb on an ‘off’ day. For the most part, people begin the 6-7 day hike on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays. Avoid these days if you want a more solitary experience.

We’re currently in the dry season, so if you’re thinking of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, we suggest you get in touch with us as soon as possible to take advantage of these great conditions. Spots fill up quickly at Zara Tours, so be sure to reserve yours now.

We’ll see you at the top!