Africa 3 PeaksInformation Pack

www.coco.org.uk

Organised by

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Thank you for choosing to take on COCO’s biggest challenge to date - three of Africa’s highest peaks in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania! I’m sure you will all have a wonderful time and experience some of the unique culture that East Africa has to offer – along with physically challenging yourself along the way!

This will prove to be an experience you will never forget and once you reach the summits of Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon and Mount Meru, all of the hard work will have been worth it and you will have some great stories to tell. The challenge is organised and run by Kilele Afrika, who have led similar treks for us in the past and will make sure you have a fantastic trip.

This booklet is designed to give you all the information you will need for the challenge, but if you have any additional queries don’t hesitate to get in touch with the COCO staff who can help to answer your questions.

Best of luck.

Steve Cram CBECOCO Co-Founder

Welcome!

Contents

Welcome ...................................................... 1The Challenge .............................................. 2Fundraising .................................................. 3Training ........................................................ 4Itinerary .................................................... 5-7

Altitude Sickness ........................................... 8Insurance, Visas, Other notes ........................ 9What to Pack ........................................... 10-11COCO’s Projects ...................................... 12-13

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The Challenge... Along with a team of other COCO supporters you will be attempting to summit three of Africa’s highest peaks - Mount Kenya in Kenya, Mount Elgon in Uganda, and Mount Meru in Tanzania. The three peaks stand at 5199, 4321 and 4562 metres above sea level respectively, so this is a tough challenge! Although this is one of our toughest challenges to date - don’t worry! Our experienced partners, Kilele Afrika, and their team of local guides will be with you every step of the way.

What fitness level do I need?

In order to reach the three summits you will need a good level of fitness. The trekking itself isn’t particularly strenuous but the high altitude makes it more of a challenge. We’ll spend time acclimatising before we take on the summits to help ease the effects of altitude. The largest height gain in a day is just over 1000m so you should have plenty of time to adjust. Equally, don’t worry about your technical mountaineering abilities; this is a non-technical route so you don’t need technical experience to take part. We will also arrange a training day in advance to iron out any questions or concerns you might have too.

Weather

It can get cold on the mountains but the routes are not exposed and when the sun comes out it’s very comfortable. The crisp mountain air will be a nice break from the warmer temperatures we’ll get lower down where it should be around 20-25°C. Temperatures on the mountains can range from around 18°C in the sun at midday to -10°C at night. On summit days we could set off during the night when it is cold!

The funds you have pledged to raise for COCO will cover the majority of costs associated with your trek, the rest of your fundraising will support our Schools for Life programme, providing quality education to poor, marginalised communities in East Africa.

The fundraising target is £4500 plus a £450 non-refundable deposit to secure your place, a total of £4950.

Fundraising deadlines and cumulative targets:

31/01/2020 - £450 (deposit) 31/05/2020 - £1500 (Total £1950)29/02/2020 - £1500 (Total £3450)30/06/2020 - £1500 (Total £4950)

One of the best ways to fund raise is to set up an online donations page. We request that you use Wonderful (www.wonderful.org). You can also transfer money directly to the COCO bank account using the payment details below. Remember to put your name and event as the payment reference, so that we can make sure your funds are added to your fundraising total, for example JohnSmith3Peaks.

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Fundraising

We also accept cheques payable to COCO.

Lloyd’s102 Grey StreetNewcastleNE99 1SL

Sort Code: 30-93-71Account number: 37499860Account name: COCO

• International flights• Personal Climbing Equipment• Sleeping bag (available for hire) • Snacks• Personal items such as laundry, beverages• Travel insurance• Tips to guides and porters

Included: Not Included:

What is included in your fundraising?

• All local travel included• All park entry and camping fees• Services of a trained guide and porters• All accommodation and Banda

accommodations• Most meals

TrainingGreg Whyte is the man responsible for training the Comic and Sport Relief celebrities for their treks. His advice is as follows: “There are two main challenges you will face on your trek: the first is the physical challenge and the second is the altitude challenge. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to reach the three summits, but the better physical condition you’re in, the easier the climb will be.”

The general advice for training is walk, walk and walk some more. Training for the three peaks isn’t like training to run a marathon, it’s about getting used to spending time on your feet. Get used to going on long outdoor walks and try to simulate the conditions you will face on the mountains by carrying a rucksack and ‘breaking in’ (getting your feet really used to) the boots you will be using on the trek... After all, it’s better to get blisters when you have time to rest rather than midway through your trek!

Try to find time to do some back-to-back long walks during your training. Getting used to waking up in the morning and walking off any aches and pains from the previous day will help you on the trek. That said, if it’s pouring with rain or you’re really fed up of walking, give yourself a break... You don’t want to be tired out before you’ve even started!

COCO will organise a training day in the build up to your challenge. This will also act as an opportunity to meet your fellow trekkers. It is a great chance to exchange ideas on kit and also to meet up with training partners - it’s easier to train together on those long walks! Many members of the COCO team have gone on overseas treks, so we are able to give you hints and tips to help you out. Just drop us a line!

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ItineraryDay 1 - 4th September 2020: UK | Nairobi Enjoy your first day of travel to Nairobi where you will start to prepare for the trek.

Day 2 - 5th September 2020: Nairobi | Kitale TownAfter morning breakfast at your hotel in Nairobi you will be picked up for a transfer to Kitale Town a 5-6 hrs drive arriving late afternoon or evening to your hotel where you are booked in for dinner.

Day 3 - 6th September 2020: Kitale Town | Chorlim Gate | Mutamaiyo CampAfter breakfast we transfer to the Chorlim gate accompanied by your guide and entire crew. Thereafter you will start your 4-5 hour hike to Mutamaiyo camp, arriving in the evening after covering 14kms and having ascended to 2950m. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Day 4 - 7th September 2020: Mutamaiyo camp - Road End (2950m | 3500m) Starting the day at 6am you will head off for the trail. You will trek for 6-7 hours through the mountain forest, gradually ascending with stops for water and to catch your breath. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Day 5 - 8th September 2020: Road End - Koitobos – Summit (3500m | 4222m| 3500m)A 5am start with simple breakfast then head out for the summit attempt at 6am. It will take 5hrs to hit the summit of Mount Elgon at 4222m, then you return to Mutamaiyo Camp for dinner and overnight camp.

Day 6 - 9th September 2020: Mutamaiyo - Kitale - Nairobi This is the last day in the mountains - you will descend from Mutamaiyo to the park gates with a visit to Kitum, Makkingeny caves, then back to Nairobi to your hotel.

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Itinerary cont...Day 7 - 10th September 2020: Nairobi | Sirimon Gate | Old Moses Camp (2650m | 3300m)Today you will be driven for 3-4 hours to Sirimon Park gate (2650m) where you will trek up through magnificent mountain forest, bamboo and giant heather zones before reaching the high altitude moorland and our first hut (Old Moses camp 3,300m) for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8 - 11th September 2020: Old Moses | Shiptons Camp (3300m | 4200m)Continue the trek over Ontulili River and Liki North River to Mackinder’s Valley surrounded by stunning scenery. Shipton camp awaits which is a surreal setting below the towering peaks and glacier.

Day 9 - 12th September 2020: Shiptons 4200m | Oblong & Hausberg Turn 4600m (Accl. Day).Time to acclimatize and take a rest day at the Shipton camp. Short walks are possible on the summit climb to Oblong and Hausberg tarns before returning to the camp for lunch. Your afternoon is free to relax!

Day 10 - 13th September 2020: Shiptons | Pt. Lenana | Mt. Kenya Banda’s (4200m | 4985m | 2800m).An early start (3am!) but worthwhile - you will reach Point Lenana (Mount Kenya) on time for the African sunrise. Take advantage of the incredible pollution free sky to give you one of the best views of the stars anywhere on Earth! You will also see Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon. After an exhilarating start to the day, you will descend to Minto’s hut for full breakfast, then another short trek past The Temple, Lake Michaelson, Mushroom rocks and Giant billiards table. Dinner and overnight stay at the Bandas. You can enjoy log fires, hot showers and bed at the Bandas!

Day 11 - 14th September 2020: Chogoria Bandas | Chogoria Town| Nairobi There are two options depending on how you are feeling! Either get picked up from Chogoria Bandas or descend on foot through bamboo and virgin rain forest (10 km) to then get a transfer to Chogoria town. Enjoy a night at Nairobi where you will have time to relax and enjoy dinner with fellow trekkers.

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Itinerary cont...

Day 12 - 15th September 2020: Nairobi | Arusha Hotel A more relaxed day as we travel from Nairobi to Arusha in readiness to climb Mount Meru. Enjoy the amazing views of the African scenery!

Day 13 - 16th September 2020: Arusha Hotel | Momella gate | Miriakamba Hut (1500m | 2500m) Departure early to Momella gate, the starting point. Along the route you will catch spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Momella lakes. Get ready to see cape buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs and bushbucks, to name a few! Your trek will end up at Miriakamba Hut where you will be spending the night.

Day 14 - 17th September 2020: Miriakamba Hut| Saddle Hut (2500m | 3500m) Enjoy the amazing views of the Meru crater, the ash cone and Little Meru. Keep your eyes peeled for buffaloes and the black and white Colobus monkey. Your trek will end up at Saddle hut where you will be spending the night and will include a 1 hour acclimatization trek to little Meru (3810m).

Day 15 - 18th September 2020: Saddle Hut | Socialist Peak (3500m | 4562m) | Miriakamba Hut (2500m) A midnight start awaits you as you start your final steep ascent to Socialist Peak at the top of vbig Meru. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Meru crater and ash cone, as well as the chance to see animals such as Klipspringers and mountain reedbucks. Descend to Miriakamba Hut where you will be spending the night.

Day 16 - 19th September 2020: Miriakamba Hut | Momella gate (2500m | 1500m) | Arusha HotelBegin with your final descent to Momella gate using the southern route. During your descent you will pass through the mountain forest where you will see the amazing Fig Tree Arch. Upon arrival at the Momella gate, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel back in Arusha town.

Day 17 - 20th September 2020: COCO Partnership visit & fly home!Discover what all your efforts are achieving by visiting one our partners. You will see first hand what your amazing fundraising pays for and meet some of the people who are benefiting from fund raisers just like you! Then we fly home. Relax and be proud of the contribution you have made!

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Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is the name given to a syndrome that encompasses a number of negative responses (conditions) to high altitude. These conditions can be relatively simple, i.e. headache, nausea and poor sleep, through to more serious problems. The less problematic symptoms (headache etc.) occur in about 30% of trekkers at altitude. It is important to note that serious problems occur in very few trekkers, therefore, you are unlikely to be seriously affected. Symptoms of headache and more, however, can make the trip feel miserable.

The best way to combat altitude sickness is to:

• Acclimatise by spending time in the country before the trek• Climb at a slow pace - don’t work too hard• Rest as much as possible• Keep well hydrated and keep eating a lot, particularly carbohydrates

Medical Help for Altitude Sickness

The general advice is that you can carry mild painkillers for light headache i.e. paracetamol and ibuprofen - but ALWAYS inform your guides if you intend to take them. The medication recommended by the NHS for combating altitude sickness is DIAMOX (Acetazolamide).

DIAMOX (Acetazolamide) is a prescription drug which helps to maintain oxygen levels in the blood during sleep and prevents oxygen levels dropping very low, thus reducing the symptoms of altitude sickness. However, there are some common side effects associated with its use as well as specific reasons why some people must not take it.

If you are considering using DIAMOX you must seek advice from a medical professional with knowledge of expedition medicine.

Insurance, Visa, Other notesInsuranceTravel insurance is a really important part of organising your journey and is definitely worth shopping around for. Whilst it is very unlikely that anything will go wrong during your trip, it is important to have the right insurance policy as it can be very expensive if problems occur. As well as the trek, please consider any other activities or additional travel you may be taking part in.

Make sure your policy covers trekking at altitude!

VisaYou need a visa to enter Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and it is easiest to get these in advance. Please ask if you need any advice on this.

CurrencyThe three currencies are: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS); Kenyan Shilling (KES); and Ugandan Shilling (UGX). Other accepted currencies are US Dollars, Pound Sterling and the Euro. All can be exchanged in country at banks or money changing offices, as well as in hotels. ATM’S are also available in major cities.

TippingCOCO will provide an up to date recommendation for how much to tip the local guides after the trek. We ensure that we use tour operators who pay fair salaries, but it is customary to leave a tip if the guides have been great.

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What to Pack:EssentialsIt doesn’t matter how much training you managed to get through if you forget your passport! Here’s our recommendation

• Passport, travel tickets• Money, credit card, travel insurance• Copies of important documents (passport, visa, insurance)• Waterproof folder for all important documents and money

Medical Hopefully you won’t need many of these, but worth having just in case.

• First Aid Kit (example contents include painkillers, antiseptics, plasters, prescription medication, antihistamines, travel sickness tablets, throat sweets, cold / flu medications, medication for any ailments you’re prone to…)

• Laxatives / Anti-diarrhoeals / Rehydration Sachets• Blister prevention pads• Emergency contact details (plus any notification of allergies – e.g. penicillin)• Altitude sickness tablets (if desired)• Insect repellent• High factor sun cream / sun block, after-sun

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Equipment Guidance: The list of equipment that is highlighted below is what we recommend you bring.

You must bring the following items:

Personal equipment: • Mountain Boots• Hold bag - 80-100ltrs• Good quality walking socks• Wicking underwear• Trekking trousers/pants • Waterproof and breathable jacket with full hood and over trousers• Thermal underwear (thick tights or long-johns)• Base layer shirts or T-shirts • Fleece jacket/jumper• Warm jacket (down) • Light weight Sun hat or cap • Warm fleece hat & neck gaiter / scarf• Eyewear – Sunglasses with high UVA / UVB rating (Wrap around type glasses around are superb)• Sun protection (including total bloc for lips) Factor 20+ • Warm inner ‘thermal’ gloves or mittens • Waterproof / wind-proof over-mittens • Compfortable shoes/trainers for evenings• Small wash bag and toiletries (small travel towel & antibacterial hand-wash) • Small padlock (to lock hold bag)• Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents dry) • Daysack: 40-50 litres• Head torch with spare batteries (essential)• Trekking poles x 2 (optional) • Water bottles 1 Litre / 2 pint (x2)• 4 season sleeping bag

The following items are optional: • 3m of para chord, spare laces, thermos flask, sleeping bag liner, pocket-knife (remember to

pack sharp objects in hold baggage), repair kit – (e.g.. needle, thread, duct tape), camera, spare batteries, travel clothes, Earplugs (especially if you are not the one doing the snoring!)

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COCO’s PartnershipsCOCO’s vision is a world where every child has access to quality education. We believe that this provides children with the best possible opportunity of breaking the cycle of poverty. We work towards this by partnering with communities in East Africa to develop Schools for Life.

Schools for Life

Graduates from Hoja Secondary School in Southern Tanzania have achieved the best results in their region since 2013 and the school is now able to cover its own running costs. COCO is working to replicate this success across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, from nursery through to college level.

COCO’s Schools for Life programme incorporates six key elements, which ensure that students graduate with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to lift themselves out of poverty:

ShelterQuality classrooms and safe accommodation for

students.

PowerSolar energy to power lights

and computer labs. Water and Sanitation

Clean water and toilet facilities.

EntrepreneurshipConfidence and leadership

in the job market.

FoodSustainable agriculture for healthy food and

income generation.

Sport and RecreationActivities for healthy living, friendship and

motivation.

COCO works with the whole community to ensure that every child has access to education and to empower parents and caregivers to be able to provide for their families. Small loans and business support gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to set up a small business. Sustainable agriculture training uses affordable, environmentally friendly methods of farming to increase crop yields and, in turn, increase household income and improve food security.

Sustainable Futures

Meet Shirleen

Shirleen is 8 years old and is in class 3 at Mercy Primary School. She lives with her mum, who is a teacher, and has 2 younger sisters who live with her father. Her parents’ jobs mean that they have to live apart. Shirleen’s favourite thing to do is read and she is enjoying the new books at her school. Her favourite subject is English and she dreams of becoming a pilot when she’s older. Shirleen would like new classrooms in the school. Mercy Primary School is located on the shores of Lake Victoria in a village called Luanda, not far from Mbita town. The school was set up by the community to provide quality education for their children, as the local primary school was over crowded, under resourced and unsafe. Since COCO partnered with Mercy Primary School, children like Shirleen are able to learn and play in a safe environment. The school now boasts a food forest, playground and composting toilets which benefit 252 children. COCO is currently fundraising to provide four new classrooms at the school so that each year group can have their own classroom.

By climbing Mounts Elgon, Kenya and Meru and fundraising for COCO, you will be helping to provide a brighter future for Shirleen and thousands of other children living in remote parts of East Africa.

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Africa 3 PeaksInformation Pack

This pack should contain most of the information you need ahead of your trek.

If you require any additional information, please contact the COCO office.

COCO, 3rd Floor, 14 Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4HZ 0191 261 7427 matt@coco.org.uk www.coco.org.uk

Comrades of Children Overseas (COCO) is a registered UK Charity, number SC030428.Registered office address 21 Ravelrig Park, Balerno, Midlothian, EH14 7DL