Updated Intinerary

Here's the updated Itinerary, we have chosen to take the Machame route now and be staying at the Millenium rather than Mweka camp on the way down.

Pre-Safari:

Sun, Aug 20 Transport London -> Kilimanjaro Airport -> Arusha (Arusha Country Style Bungalow)

Safari:

Mon, Aug 21 Safari Day 1: Lake Manyara National Park (Lake Manyara Serena Lodge)
Tue, Aug 22 Safari Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater (Ngorongoro Serena Lodge)

Pre-Climb:

Wed, Aug 23 Transport Safari Area -> Arusha – part day in Arusha, prep for hike (Arusha Bungalow)

Climb:

Thu, Aug 24 Trek Day 1: Macheme Camp
Fri, Aug 25 Trek Day 2: Shira Camp
Sat, Aug 26 Trek Day 3: Borranco Camp
Sun, Aug 27 Trek Day 4: Karanga Valley
Mon, Aug 28 Trek Day 5: Barafu
Tue, Aug 29 Trek Day 6: Summit day, descend to Millenium Camp
Wed, Aug 30 Trek Day 7: Descend to Mweka gate, and transport to Arusha Bungalow

Post-Climb:

Thu, Aug 31 R&R Relax and Re-packing (Arusha Bungalow)
Fri, Sep 1 Transport Arusha -> Kilimanjaro Airport

Mike has suggested that we add an extra day for the safari to make it an even two week trip. I have plenty of vacation time, so I agree.

Mobile Phone Coverage

Would still have to confirm with someone, but there seems to the possibility of cell phone use at the peak. Vodacom Tanzania uses GSM on both 900 & 1800 Mhz frequency but I'm not sure if they allow roaming. But that means we could probably rent/buy a cheap phone rather than using a satellite phone (or none at all). My trusty Sony Ericsson T616 can use 1800 but not 900 band.

Altitude Check

A few comparisions of why to climb Mount Kilimanjaro:

• Mt Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak - 19344 feet / 5895 meters
• Jungfrau Peak 13,642 feet / 4158 meters
• Sunshine Village Ski Hill's Top Altitude - 8954 feet / 2730 meters
• Calgary International Airport - 3736 feet / 1139 meters
• Mt Everest Base Camp - 17,500 feet / 5350 meters
• Mt Everest Summit - 29,028 feet / 8848 meters
• Mt Mckinley Peak 20,032 feet / 6194 meters
  

Note that the last two are pretty remote and not easily accessible and also that at 18,000 feet the oxygen is about 50% of that at sea level.