Direct consultations with our US-based founder · Denver, Colorado (310) 465-6178 · allsevensummits@gmail.com
Kilimanjaro climbs · Tanzania safaris
Our mission

High-end, safety-first Kilimanjaro climbs, paired with seamless Northern Circuit safaris.

We plan your Kilimanjaro ascent and your post-climb safari through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire as one trip, customized to you, with clear up-front prices.

8

Maximum climb group

Never more than 8 climbers per group, compared with 15–20 at the big operators. You get more guide attention and more flexibility.

2×

Daily medical checks

Western medical-grade protocols on every climb, with continuous-flow oxygen and pulse oximeters.

1:1

Personal pre-trip support

We customize your itinerary and build a conditioning plan around your fitness and experience, with weekly check-ins to keep you on track.

US

White-glove from day one

Talk directly with an expert guide or our US-based founder by phone or video before you book, and all the way to the summit.

Climb Kilimanjaro. Then go on safari.

Africa's highest peak at 5,895 m (19,341 ft), followed by the wildlife of Tanzania's Northern Circuit.

Kilimanjaro climbs

Choose your route to the Roof of Africa

All routes & itineraries ›
Tanzania safaris

After the summit: the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire

All safari options ›
How it works

Personal support from first call to final game drive

  1. Free consultation

    A phone or video call with an expert guide or our US founder, before you commit to anything. Request yours ›

  2. Your custom itinerary

    Route, dates, extra acclimatization days, safari length and lodge level, all built around you.

  3. Conditioning plan

    A pre-climb workout plan fitted to your fitness and experience, with weekly check-ins.

  4. Gear check & rental

    We review your kit against our packing list. Anything missing can be rented from our gear store in Moshi.

  5. The climb

    Groups of 8 or fewer, WFR-certified lead guides and medical checks twice a day.

  6. The safari

    Straight from the mountain to the Northern Circuit in a private 4x4 with a pop-up roof.

Meet the founder

Mark Parella

U.S. Navy veteran · Eagle Scout · Expedition leader

5 of 7Seven Summits climbed
2Denali expeditions as team leader, 2023 & 2024
6Climb Against Cancer expeditions, 2017–2024
1:1Personal consultations with every client

Mark Parella is a U.S. Navy veteran, Eagle Scout and seasoned expedition leader based in Denver, Colorado. He has stood on five of the Seven Summits and led teams on Denali for the US Nepal Friendship Team in 2023 and 2024.

In 2017 he founded Climb Against Cancer, leading six expeditions through 2024 to raise money for the Cancer Support Community in Redondo Beach.

Freedom Peak is his next chapter: a company that puts vetted local guides, local jobs and fair, up-front prices at the heart of every climb and safari.

Read Mark's storyBook a call with Mark

Safety & operations

Based in Moshi and Arusha, built around your safety

Our ground team works at the foot of the mountain. That keeps us agile on the ground and lets us deliver top-tier service at every step.

Ground operations

Run with a trusted, audited, TALA-licensed local operator in Moshi. They supply the vehicles, gear and mountain crew.

Guide standard

Lead guides are Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified professionals from the Kilimanjaro region.

Medical equipment

Continuous-flow oxygen, pulse oximeters and a full medical kit on every climb.

Twice-daily monitoring

Every climber gets a medical check each morning and evening, including oxygen saturation, pulse and altitude-sickness symptoms.

Full gear rental store

Sleeping bags, down jackets, poles, gaiters and more. Rent whatever you need for the trip.

Small groups

A maximum of 8 climbers, with extra guides on summit night so no one is left behind.

Our local partner

Certified local guides from Kilimanjari Explorer

Every climb and safari is operated on the ground by our partner Kilimanjari Explorer, a certified local guide company based in Moshi, Tanzania.

  • Up-front costs at the most competitive prices. You see what you pay before you book.
  • Local jobs, local support. Our goal is to support the community by creating jobs for Tanzanian guides, porters, cooks and drivers.
  • The best service and experience, from your first call in the US to your last night in Tanzania.

Visit kilimanjari.com ↗

Two travelers in safari clothes standing up through the open roof of a safari vehicle on the savanna, one looking through binoculars
2026–2027 price list

Prices per person, in US dollars

The more people in your group, the lower the price per person. Prices are valid for departures from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.

Booking terms. A 20% non-refundable deposit confirms your booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure. Cancellations: 75% refund of amounts paid 60+ days before departure, 50% refund 30–59 days before, and no refund within 30 days. Prices may change until your booking is confirmed. High and low season dates are available on request.

Home / Kilimanjaro Routes

Mt. Kilimanjaro Trekking

The tallest free-standing mountain in the world. No technical climbing is needed, just good preparation, a steady pace and the right team.

5,895 mUhuru Peak5Climate zones8 maxClimbers per group2× dailyMedical checks
Compare routes

Which route is right for you?

Longer itineraries give your body more time to acclimatize, and that is the biggest factor in reaching the summit. For most climbers we recommend 7 or 8 days.

Also available

More routes, priced on request

Rongai Route · 6–7 days

The only route that starts on the northern slope, near the Kenyan border. It's quieter and drier, passes Mawenzi peak, and descends via Marangu so you see both sides of the mountain.

Umbwe Route · 6 days

A short, steep and direct climb from the south that joins the Southern Circuit at Barranco. Only for experienced hikers in strong physical shape.

Northern Circuit · 8–9 days

The longest and newest route, with excellent acclimatization, very few crowds and one of the highest success rates. A 9-day version with crater camping is also available.

Request a quote

What's in the price

Included & not included

Included

  • All Kilimanjaro National Park fees
  • WFR-certified lead guide, assistant guides, porters and cook
  • All meals and treated drinking water on the mountain
  • Camping equipment (hut accommodation on Marangu)
  • Twice-daily medical checks, full medical kit, emergency oxygen
  • Airport and trailhead transfers
  • Taxes / VAT
  • Pre-trip consultation, custom itinerary and conditioning plan

Not included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Hotel nights before and after the climb (we can book these for you)
  • Travel insurance and Tanzania visa fees
  • Tips for your mountain crew
  • Personal gear rental (available from our rental store)
  • Personal items and souvenirs
Good to know

Kilimanjaro FAQ

When is the best time to climb?

The driest months are early June to late September and late December to late February. The long rains (masika) usually fall from mid-March to May, and shorter rains (vuli) come from November to mid-January. Marangu's huts make it a good option in wetter months.

How fit do I need to be?

You don't need to be an athlete. If you can comfortably walk up to 15 km a day, you're in good shape for the climb. Your personal conditioning plan will focus on cardio and hill hiking, starting 2–4 months before your trip.

What's the biggest reason people don't summit?

Going too fast. Very fit climbers often push hard in the first days and struggle with altitude later. Fitness helps with fatigue, but acclimatization comes from time and a slow pace ("pole pole"). That's why we recommend longer itineraries.

What happens if I get altitude sickness?

Your guides check your oxygen saturation, pulse and symptoms every morning and evening. Mild symptoms are managed with rest and fluids. Serious symptoms mean an immediate descent, supported by continuous-flow oxygen.

What gear do I need?

We send you our full Kilimanjaro packing list after booking and review it with you before departure. Sleeping bags, down jackets, trekking poles and more can be rented from our gear store in Moshi.

How big are the groups?

Never more than 8 climbers. On summit night the guide ratio is at least one guide for every two climbers.

Home / Safaris

Tanzania Wildlife Safaris

Private Northern Circuit safaris in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. Take one on its own or add it straight after your climb.

2–8 daysTrip length2 levelsMid-Range or LuxuryPrivateVehicle & guide
Safari options

Northern Circuit safaris with set prices

Choose Mid-Range lodges or Luxury lodges and camps. Prices are per person and drop as your group grows.

Signature safaris

Longer journeys, quoted for your dates

These itineraries follow the seasons and the herds, so we price them for your travel dates and lodge choices.

Add-on

Finish on the beach in Zanzibar

Add 4–6 nights on the Spice Island after your climb or safari: Stone Town, spice farms, coral reefs and white sand.

Explore Zanzibar
What's in the price

Safari inclusions

Included

  • All accommodation on the itinerary
  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
  • All national park and conservation fees
  • Meals as listed in your itinerary, plus drinking water
  • All activities unless marked optional
  • Airport transfers, taxes and VAT

Not included

  • International flights
  • Hotel nights before or after the safari
  • Travel insurance and visa fees
  • Tips for your safari guide (about $30–50 per day per vehicle)
  • Optional activities such as hot-air balloon flights
Home / Founder

Mark Parella

Navy veteran. Eagle Scout. Five of the Seven Summits. And a firm belief that the best adventures leave something behind for the people who make them possible.

FounderFreedom Peak Expeditions & AdventuresDenver, COHome base
From service to summits

A life built on preparation, teamwork and service

Mark Parella learned early that big objectives are reached one careful step at a time. As an Eagle Scout, and later as a U.S. Navy veteran, he built a foundation of discipline, planning and responsibility for the people around him. It is the same foundation every safe expedition depends on.

That mindset carried him into the mountains. Mark has climbed five of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on five continents, along with many other notable mountains around the world. Along the way he developed deep expertise in mountaineering, expedition logistics and the physical conditioning it takes to perform on long, demanding climbs.

In 2023 and 2024 he served as a team leader for the US Nepal Friendship Team's expeditions on Denali, North America's highest peak and one of the most demanding climbs on the Seven Summits circuit.

Climb Against Cancer

Mark founded Climb Against Cancer to turn his passion for the mountains into support for people facing cancer. Over six years and six expeditions, the campaign raised money for the Cancer Support Community Center of Redondo Beach, helping local people and families affected by cancer.

Mark climbs for more than the summit. He climbs for the people and places that make the journey possible.

Milestones

Leadership on and off the mountain

  1. 2017

    Founds Climb Against Cancer

    Mark launches a campaign that turns mountain expeditions into fundraising for people facing cancer.

  2. 2017 – 2024

    Six expeditions for a cause

    He leads six Climb Against Cancer expeditions, raising money for the Cancer Support Community Center of Redondo Beach, California.

  3. 2023

    Team leader on Denali

    He leads for the US Nepal Friendship Team on Denali (6,190 m / 20,310 ft) in Alaska.

  4. 2024

    Back to Denali

    He returns as a team leader for a second US Nepal Friendship Team expedition.

  5. Today

    Freedom Peak Expeditions & Adventures

    Mark brings that experience to Kilimanjaro and Tanzania's Northern Circuit, with small groups, high safety standards and personal support for every client.

What Mark brings to your trip

Expedition experience, working for you

Real mountain judgment

Advice on routes, acclimatization and summit strategy from someone who has led teams on some of the world's hardest climbs.

Training that fits you

A conditioning plan built around your fitness, schedule and experience, with weekly check-ins so you arrive ready.

One point of contact

You speak with Mark directly, before you book and all the way to the trailhead. No call centers, no hand-offs.

Why Freedom Peak

Adventure that gives back

For Mark, philanthropy did not end with Climb Against Cancer. He founded Freedom Peak Expeditions and Adventures to support and promote vetted local guide companies in the countries where our expeditions and safaris take place, starting with our partner Kilimanjari Explorer in Moshi, Tanzania.

Working directly with local operators creates more jobs and more income for guides, porters, cooks and drivers, and keeps prices fair. Our trips are priced up front and never inflated for excessive profit. You get a world-class experience, and the communities that make it possible get their fair share.

Book a free call with MarkExplore Kilimanjaro routes

Home / Safaris / Zanzibar Beach Holidays
The Spice Island

Zanzibar Beach Holidays

White sand, turquoise water and a thousand years of Swahili history, a short flight from Kilimanjaro. The perfect way to rest after your summit or safari.

4–6 nightsRecommended stayAdd-onTo any climb or safariPrivateTransfers & guided tours
Zanzibar add-on

Trade your hiking boots for the Indian Ocean

Off the coast of Tanzania, the Zanzibar archipelago is a world of palm-fringed beaches, wooden dhows under sail and fragrant spice farms. For centuries its main island, Unguja, was a crossroads of African, Arab, Persian, Indian and European trade. That history is still written into its streets, food and music, including the darker chapter of the East African slave trade.

At its heart is Stone Town, known in Swahili as Mji Mkongwe ("old town"). Its coral-stone houses, carved wooden doors, bustling markets and sultans' palaces earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.

We recommend four to six nights on the island after your climb or safari. We arrange your flight, transfers, hotel and excursions as one seamless add-on, so all you have to do is unpack.

Getting there
A short domestic flight from Kilimanjaro or Arusha to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ)
Best time
June to October and December to February are the driest months. The long rains fall around April and May.
Where to stay
A night or two in Stone Town, then beach days on the north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) or the quieter east coast
Hotel level
Mid-range boutique hotels to luxury beach resorts
Flying home
Many international connections leave directly from Zanzibar, so there's no need to backtrack
Things to do

Make the most of your Zanzibar holiday

Relax on the sand, or mix in a few of these favorites. Every excursion is guided and can be added to your plan.

Stone Town

Stone Town walking tour

A guided walk of about three hours through narrow lanes of coral-stone buildings. Visit a local market, the memorial and church at the site of the old slave market, and the former sultan's palace, with time to shop for spices and crafts.

Half day · Small group or private
Central Unguja

Spice farm tour

Zanzibar's spice trade boomed in the 19th century under the Omani sultans, who made the island their capital. Walk a working farm with your guide to touch, smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and tropical fruit, and learn how each is used in food and medicine.

Half day · Great for families
North coast

Nungwi & Kendwa beaches

At the island's northern tip, about an hour's drive from Stone Town, Nungwi and Kendwa have some of Zanzibar's finest sand, calm water for swimming and the best sunsets on the island. They're an ideal base for your beach days.

Beach stay · Sunset dhow cruises
Coral reefs

Scuba diving & snorkeling

Zanzibar's reefs are generally shallow, with calm, clear water and rich marine life, making them ideal for first-time divers and experienced divers alike. Snorkelers can join boat trips to the reefs around the island.

Half or full day · All levels
Kizimkazi, south coast

Dolphin watching

The fishing village of Kizimkazi is home to bottlenose and humpback dolphins, often spotted after a short boat ride. Afternoon trips are quieter and kinder to the dolphins. Watch for turtles and rays too.

Half day · Best in the afternoon
South-central Unguja

Jozani Forest

Zanzibar's only national park is the place to see the rare Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on Earth. Troops are used to visitors, so you can watch them feed and play up close, then walk the boardwalk through the mangroves.

Half day · Wildlife & nature
How it fits your trip

From the summit to the sand

  1. Climb or safari

    Finish your Kilimanjaro ascent or Northern Circuit safari as planned.

  2. Fly to Zanzibar

    We transfer you to the airport for a short flight to the island, and meet you on arrival.

  3. Stone Town

    Spend a night or two in the old town, with a guided walking tour and rooftop dinners.

  4. Beach days

    Move to your beach hotel on the north or east coast, with excursions whenever you want them.

  5. Fly home

    Fly home directly from Zanzibar, or back through Kilimanjaro.

  6. Rested & ready

    Go home with a summit certificate, a safari camera roll and a tan.

Pricing

Quoted for your dates and hotel

Zanzibar prices depend on the season, your hotel and the excursions you choose, so every add-on is quoted personally, with up-front costs and no surprises.

Typically included

  • Airport and hotel transfers on Zanzibar
  • Hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Guided excursions you choose, with entrance fees
  • Booking support for your flight to the island

Not included

  • Domestic and international flights (we can book these for you)
  • Meals not listed in your plan
  • Travel insurance and visa fees
  • Tips and personal expenses

Request my Zanzibar add-onStart with a climb

Plan your trip

Book a free call with our founder, Mark Parella

Tell us what you have in mind. We'll set up a phone or video call, then send you a custom itinerary with up-front pricing.

Founder
Mark Parella
Phone
(310) 465-6178
Email
allsevensummits@gmail.com
In Tanzania
Operated by Kilimanjari Explorer, Moshi
Consultation by

Your request goes straight to Mark at allsevensummits@gmail.com.

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