Three climbs. One purpose.
In 2027 there are three ways to stand on the roof of Africa (19,341') and leave something behind that outlasts the photos: repaired water wells serving villages in rural Malawi. Every trip follows the Prairie–Peak–Purpose arc — safari on the Tanzanian plains, the ascent, then two days in Malawi where wells your fundraising repaired come back to life in front of you.
"You will never know your true potential unless you leave your comfort zone."— Dr. Buumba Bubala, Zambia
Mike takes no fees for leading these trips — he is fully self-funded. Every dollar you raise goes to well repair through Child Legacy International (EIN 93-4081451). Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb: no ropes, no prior mountaineering. What it asks for is fitness and heart.
Trip 1 — The Classic · Jun 19 – Jul 7, 2027 (19 days)
~$5,525 + airfare · $1,900 deposit by Jan 16, 2027. Full safari (Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater — where the 2025 team saw the Big Five in a single day), the 8-day Lemosho Route (the most beautiful line up the mountain, with the best acclimatization), then Malawi.
| Part | Dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Jun 19–20 | Houston (IAH) → Kilimanjaro (JRO), overnight flight |
| Prairie | Jun 21–23 | Tarangire NP and Ngorongoro Crater safaris; drive to Moshi via Lake Manyara; pack for the hike |
| Peak | Jun 24–Jul 1 | 8-day Lemosho Route: Mti Mkubwa → Shira 1 → Moir → Lava Tower & Barranco → Karanga → Kosovo Camp → midnight summit push to the Crater Ash Pit and glaciers → celebrate at Mweka Gate |
| Flights | Jul 2–3 | JRO → Dar es Salaam → Lilongwe, Malawi; settle in, possible short project tour |
| Purpose | Jul 4–5 | Rest day, church, and Malawi project tour; then hands-on water well repairs and Bible stories with the villages your climb serves |
| Home | Jul 6–7 | Lilongwe → Istanbul → Houston |
Options: skip Malawi and fly home after the climb (15 days) — though including Malawi is highly recommended; it's the part climbers call life-changing. Add extra days at Child Legacy (~$125/day).
Trip 2 — The Compact · Jul 7 – Jul 22, 2027 (16 days)
~$4,105 + airfare · $760 deposit by Jan 16, 2027. A shorter itinerary and a lower cost, with a different warm-up: Arusha National Park and an acclimatization hike on Mt. Meru before a 6-day Shira Route ascent.
| Part | Dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Jul 7–8 | Houston (IAH) → Kilimanjaro (JRO), overnight flight |
| Prairie | Jul 9–10 | Full-day Arusha NP safari; Mt. Meru acclimatization hike to Miriakamba Hut; pack for Kili |
| Peak | Jul 11–16 | 6-day Shira Route: Moir Camp or Shira II → Lava Tower & Barranco → Karanga → Kosovo Camp → summit to the Crater Ash Pit and glaciers → out at Mweka Gate |
| Flights | Jul 17–18 | JRO → Nairobi → Lilongwe, Malawi |
| Purpose | Jul 19–20 | Malawi church and project tour; water well repairs and Bible stories |
| Home | Jul 21–22 | Lilongwe → Istanbul → Houston |
Options: skip Malawi (12 days); add Child Legacy days (~$125/day).
Trip 3 — Dry Season · Sep 4 – Sep 22, 2027 (19 days)
~$5,525 + airfare · $1,900 deposit by Jan 16, 2027. The same beloved shape as Trip 1 — full safari and the 8-day Lemosho Route — in Kilimanjaro's clear September window, with flights routed through Istanbul both ways.
| Part | Dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Sep 4–6 | Houston → Istanbul → Kilimanjaro (JRO) |
| Prairie | Sep 6–8 | Tarangire NP and Ngorongoro Crater safaris; drive to Moshi |
| Peak | Sep 9–16 | 8-day Lemosho Route to the summit, Crater Ash Pit, and glaciers; out at Mweka Gate |
| Flights | Sep 17–18 | JRO → Dar es Salaam → Lilongwe, Malawi |
| Purpose | Sep 19–20 | Rest day, church, project tour; water well repairs and Bible stories |
| Home | Sep 21–22 | Lilongwe → Istanbul → Houston |
Options: skip Malawi (15 days); add Child Legacy days (~$125/day).
Good to know
- Fundraising: every climber gets a personal fundraising page — friends and family give directly toward well repairs in your name. How it works →
- Experience: none required. Mike has led Kilimanjaro 16 times; watch his talk "Seventeen Secrets to Successfully Summit Kilimanjaro."
- Gear & FAQ: full equipment list and FAQ will live right on this page. (Demo note: currently in Google Drive — moving on-site.)
- Cost worries? In Mike's words: there is always grace. Talk to him.
Not sure which trip is yours?
That's exactly what the dinners are for.
RSVP for an info dinner in The Woodlands