High mountain and forest expeditions in Africa

A visa is required in all five countries, but the exact process depends on nationality. Entry requirements should be checked with the relevant authority for each destination and with your own country's consulate before booking. For Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, applying for an e-visa online ahead of travel is generally the most reliable route. For Algeria, a visa must be obtained from the competent consulate before departure, and proof of medical evacuation insurance is typically required.

Yellow fever vaccination is explicitly mandatory for entry into Uganda and strongly advised for Kenya and Mauritania; in Tanzania, proof of vaccination is often requested in practice even though it is formally required only from travellers arriving from endemic areas. DTP, hepatitis A/B, typhoid and meningitis vaccines are recommended across all five countries. A travel health consultation 4 to 6 weeks before departure allows the protocol to be tailored to the specific itinerary; check current requirements with your own country's health authority, as rules vary by nationality and change over time.

Yes, malaria is present in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and southern Mauritania (Senegal River valley, August-November period), though it is largely absent at altitude on the higher massifs (Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Rwenzori) where the cold climate limits the mosquito vector. The main exposure window is during low-altitude transfer and acclimatisation days. Antimalarial medication prescribed by a doctor, together with mosquito protection, is recommended. Malaria is not a significant concern in the Algerian Hoggar (desert climate).

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) affects a significant proportion of climbers above 3000 m, with symptoms such as headache, nausea and unusual fatigue; its severe forms (high-altitude cerebral or pulmonary oedema) are rare but life-threatening. On Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and the Rwenzori, prevention relies on a gradual acclimatisation schedule built into the itinerary, increased hydration, and close monitoring of each participant's symptoms by the guiding team. The only effective response to worsening symptoms is immediate descent, sometimes combined with medication (acetazolamide) prescribed in advance by a doctor. These principles follow general mountain medicine guidance (such as IFREMMONT).

Insurance covering search, rescue and medical evacuation costs is essential, with a coverage ceiling suited to the altitude involved (5109 m to 5895 m for the East African summits). For Algeria, repatriation/evacuation insurance is a mandatory part of the visa application. Evacuation from altitude on these African massifs generally relies on porterage or vehicle transport to the nearest road access point, since helicopter evacuation is not systematically available on these ranges. Confirming this point directly with the insurer before departure is recommended.

The security situation varies from one country and region to another. For more than 30 years, we have safely guided travelers and mountaineers in these destinations thanks to our in-depth local knowledge, experienced local partners, and continuous monitoring of the situation. Our itineraries are designed to avoid sensitive areas, are reassessed before every departure, and are adapted whenever conditions require.

On the high-altitude massifs (Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Rwenzori), guiding staff trained in first aid continuously monitor participants and initiate an accompanied descent as soon as concerning symptoms appear, with porterage relaying to the nearest road access point and on to a medical facility. In the Hoggar and in Mauritania, remoteness means longer evacuation times, which makes high-ceiling insurance and constant contact with the operating agency particularly important. Satellite communication equipment is generally carried by the guiding team in areas without mobile network coverage.

The difficulty varies considerably between summits. Kilimanjaro (5895 m) is a walking ascent on non-technical trails, accessible to a regularly active hiker in good physical condition. Mount Kenya (5199 m at the technical summit of Batian; around 4985 m at Point Lenana, the usual objective for non-mountaineers) and the Rwenzori (Mount Stanley, 5109 m) involve glacier or rocky terrain requiring crampons and ropes depending on the route chosen. Check the specific trip's technical sheet for the exact level required.

For Kilimanjaro and the Mauritania camel trek, no technical experience is required, just good physical condition for multi-day trekking. For the Rwenzori (Mount Stanley) and some Hoggar climbs (PD grade), prior experience with roped progression and crampon use is a prerequisite. Mount Kenya falls in between depending on which summit is targeted (non-technical Point Lenana versus technical Batian).

Progressive cardiovascular training over several months is recommended for all programmes, with particular emphasis on hiking with elevation gain for Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and the Rwenzori. For programmes longer than three weeks (the African trilogy, the Mauritania crossing), building endurance for repeated day-after-day effort is also worth working on. Technical programmes (Hoggar, Rwenzori) benefit from prior practice with ropes and crampons on a climbing wall or crag.

A medical certificate confirming no contraindication to exertion at altitude or in a desert environment is generally requested before departure, particularly for programmes above 5000 m. Anyone on long-term medication or with a history of cardio-respiratory conditions is encouraged to consult a sports physician or a mountain medicine centre before booking.

The two most favourable windows in East Africa are the dry season from late June to October and the one from January to mid-March, between the two rainy seasons. The Rwenzori, which receives more rainfall year-round due to its terrain, remains climbable in these same windows but with a higher likelihood of muddy conditions than Kilimanjaro. The exact choice also depends on which Kilimanjaro route is selected, since some are more sheltered than others.

The Machame and Rongai routes differ mainly in their approach side (south-west for Machame, drier north-east for Rongai) and in how busy they are, Rongai generally being quieter. The Northern Circuit combines several routes into a longer itinerary, which improves acclimatisation and summit success rates. The choice depends on the time available, a preference for a busier or quieter route, and how much weight is given to gradual acclimatisation.

The Hoggar and the Mauritanian desert are best visited outside the hottest months, with the November-to-March window offering more manageable daytime temperatures for walking and camping. The Sahelian rainy season (August-November) also increases malaria risk in southern Mauritania, which further supports choosing this cooler window for the camel crossing.

Across the sample of programmes offered in this category, prices range from around €2,650 for an 11-day Kilimanjaro climb to close to €14,800 for a 30-day African trilogy combining three summits. Mid-range programmes (Rwenzori, Hoggar, Mauritania crossing) most often fall between €5,000 and €8,000. These amounts vary with duration, comfort level, group size, and whether international flights are included.

No, for most programmes in this category the international flight is not included and adds to the listed price. Only certain specific programmes, such as a Rwenzori-and-safari combination or the Mauritania crossing, include it: this is indicated individually on each trip's page and should be checked before comparing two prices.

The listed prices generally cover guiding staff, park or restricted-area entrance fees, group equipment (tents, cooking), meals in the field, and porters. What is usually left for the participant to cover includes the international flight unless stated otherwise, personal technical gear (boots, crampons, cold- or heat-weather clothing depending on the destination), insurance, and tips. The exact breakdown is listed on each programme's page.

Support varies with the stated group size, from 2 to 12 participants depending on the programme, with a tighter guide-to-participant ratio on the more technical routes (Hoggar, Rwenzori) and a looser one on the classic Kilimanjaro routes. Guiding is provided by French-speaking local guides, backed on some destinations by a porter and cooking team. The exact certification level of the guides and whether an expedition doctor is present are specified on each technical sheet.

Yes, privatisation is possible on most of these programmes, particularly those already showing a small group size (2 to 6 participants), with a price adjustment. This option suits a group of friends, a company, or a family wishing to adapt the dates or the pace of the walk to their own constraints.

This category covers very different profiles under a single continent: non-technical high-altitude ascents (Kilimanjaro), technical glacier or rock climbs (the Rwenzori, some Mount Kenya routes, the Hoggar), and desert camel trekking in Mauritania. Combined programmes such as the African Trilogy or the Seven Summits/Seven Volcanoes challenges are aimed at climbers looking to link several objectives in a single trip rather than discover just one mountain.