EXPEDITION KILIMANJARO | SUMMER 2027
The roof of Africa
For those who want to reach a world icon on willpower alone.
The story of this expedition
From Brussels you travel to Tanzania, to the foot of the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Then begins what makes this expedition unique: in one week you climb through five climate zones, from tropical rainforest to the glaciers on the crater rim. No ropes, no crampons. Just altitude, rhythm and perseverance. Whoever reaches Uhuru Peak at sunrise does so on willpower alone.
You start among monkeys and ferns in the rainforest and end between glaciers at almost 6,000 metres. No other mountain shows you so many climate zones in a single climb.
On Kilimanjaro it is not the fastest who wins, but the one who masters their pace. Pole pole, slowly slowly, becomes your mantra. Every day gets slower, thinner and more intense.
At midnight you set off in freezing temperatures for 1,200 metres of ascent in the dark. At sunrise you stand on the crater rim of Africa.
We deliberately choose August and September: the heart of the long dry season, with the most stable weather and the clearest views on the mountain.
The story of
this expedition
From Brussels you travel to Tanzania, to the foot of the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Then begins what makes this expedition unique: in one week you climb through five climate zones, from tropical rainforest to the glaciers on the crater rim. No ropes, no crampons. Just altitude, rhythm and perseverance. Whoever reaches Uhuru Peak at sunrise does so on willpower alone.
You start among monkeys and ferns in the rainforest and end between glaciers at almost 6,000 metres. No other mountain shows you so many climate zones in a single climb.
On Kilimanjaro it is not the fastest who wins, but the one who masters their pace. Pole pole, slowly slowly, becomes your mantra. Every day gets slower, thinner and more intense.
At midnight you set off in freezing temperatures for 1,200 metres of ascent in the dark. At sunrise you stand on the crater rim of Africa.
We deliberately choose August and September: the heart of the long dry season, with the most stable weather and the clearest views on the mountain.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
For a week you live on the mountain in tented camps, carried by a close-knit team of X Guides and local crew. Higher every day, colder every night.
You learn to keep your pace slow, breathe at altitude and keep going on summit night when it is freezing and dark, guided by an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions. They work together with a certified Tanzanian mountain team with many years of experience on the mountain.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, daily health checks with oxygen saturation measurement, emergency equipment for altitude sickness, an evacuation plan and local support in Tanzania.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions. They work together with a certified Tanzanian mountain team with many years of experience on the mountain.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, daily health checks with oxygen saturation measurement, emergency equipment for altitude sickness, an evacuation plan and local support in Tanzania.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
For a week you live on the mountain in tented camps, carried by a close-knit team of X Guides and local crew. Higher every day, colder every night.
You learn to keep your pace slow, breathe at altitude and keep going on summit night when it is freezing and dark, guided by an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule focused on endurance and altitude, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Imagine: starry nights above the clouds, glaciers glistening in the first light and a view reaching far across the savannah.
On Kilimanjaro you are immersed in a climb through five worlds, up to the highest point in Africa. From rainforest to moorland, from alpine desert to the glaciers on the summit.
Imagine: starry nights above the clouds, glaciers glistening in the first light and a view reaching far across the savannah.
On Kilimanjaro you are immersed in a climb through five worlds, up to the highest point in Africa. From rainforest to moorland, from alpine desert to the glaciers on the summit.
Frequently asked questions
No. Kilimanjaro requires no technical climbing. It does require good endurance and the will to push on at altitude. Via ons voorbereidingstraject (screening, trainingsschema en gerichte trainingen) bouwen we jouw niveau in 3 tot 6 maanden doelgericht op tot expeditieniveau.
We deliberately choose a long route with optimal acclimatisation. On top of that: daily health checks, oxygen saturation monitoring and WFR certified guidance.
Almost everything on location is included: X Guides, local mountain team, permits, camps and meals, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Not included: flights, personal clothing and insurance.
Frequently asked questions
No. Kilimanjaro requires no technical climbing. It does require good endurance and the will to push on at altitude. Via ons voorbereidingstraject (screening, trainingsschema en gerichte trainingen) bouwen we jouw niveau in 3 tot 6 maanden doelgericht op tot expeditieniveau.
We deliberately choose a long route with optimal acclimatisation. On top of that: daily health checks, oxygen saturation monitoring and WFR certified guidance.
Almost everything on location is included: X Guides, local mountain team, permits, camps and meals, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Not included: flights, personal clothing and insurance.
Ready to reach the roof of Africa?
Limited spots. Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake. Exacte datums leggen we vast samen met de groep, binnen het droogseizoen.
Koen De Leeuw
Expeditieleider | Element X
“Als expedition leader zie ik op elke hoogte expeditie hetzelfde gebeuren: mensen stijgen boven zichzelf uit. De Kilimanjaro vraagt geen techniek, wel karakter. Wie zijn ritme vindt en volhoudt, staat bij zonsopgang op het dak van Afrika. En daar bereiden we je in het voorbereidingstraject stap voor stap op voor.”
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