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As a company we place a lot of emphasis on the safety of our treks, and are not prepared to compromise on the safety of our clients in order to keep our prices in line with other operators who do not offer a product of a similar quality.
We have spent the last 5 years working with our Tanzanian local agent and our medics to bring our Kilimanjaro ascent profile as close to that recommended by the British Mountaineering Council as possible, without making the trip prohibitively expensive. We added an extra 2 days to the itinerary to allow more time for trekkers to acclimatise, and have found that this has greatly increased our summit success rate. We have also changed our staffing ratio from 1 ATD staff member for every 15 participants, to 1 ATD staff member for every 10 participants. We have also worked to become members of the IMEC Partnership for Responsible Travel by meeting the porter protection guidelines set by the Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project.
Across the Divide does not claim to be the cheapest operator of Kilimanjaro treks, but we do pride ourselves on being one of the safest operators on the mountain. If you are looking at other suppliers who offer a cheaper Kilimanjaro trek than we do. I would ask that you consider the following points before making a decision as to which operator to use:
- We take 7 days to summit which is 1 day more than our competitors. This makes us more expensive than those who offer a shorter itinerary; however the additional day allows participants more time to acclimatise and therefore dramatically increases their chances of summiting.
- We ascend the mountain using the Rongai Route on the north-eastern side of the mountain which, unlike some of the other routes, retains a true sense of wilderness. The Rongai Route benefits from fewer trekkers (usually one-tenth of those on the Marangu – or “Coca-Cola” - trail, which is the route that Classic Tours take) and is generally considered to be one of the easiest of the quality routes on the mountain. We believe that by taking 7 days to climb the mountain via the Rongai Route, we offer the best chance of summiting and are confident that this is the best choice for those looking for a quality Kilimanjaro experience with the least chance of difficulties.
- We have a ratio of 1 member of ATD staff per 10 participants. Any staff we send on Kilimanjaro treks have prior altitude experience. This helps to dramatically reduce the risk of serious injury or death due to altitude related illnesses. We also carry a fully-equipped high altitude medical kit inc. oxygen and a Gamov bag, which allows for the immediate treatment of life-threatening cerebral and pulmonary oedema, reducing the risk of death. I would clarify the situation with regards to other suppliers participant-to-staff ratio and their use of “volunteer doctors”.
- We have a 100% safety record on the mountain, even with some incidences of serious illness, including one participant who had a suspected heart attack at 5,600 metres. Our doctors have saved the lives of people trekking with other operators that did not have the same high level of support. We believe we offer the highest level of medical support should you fall ill on the trek.
- Our summit success rate for 2011 is 93%, with 97.5% of trekkers reaching Gilman’s Point (on the rim of the volcano). 2 of our trips this year have had a 100% summit success rate: the average for Kilimanjaro is just 42%. We believe that the quality of our staff and the time we have built into the itinerary for acclimatisation contribute to our high success rate.
- We care about porter protection and we ensure that local staff are paid a fair wage. We are proud to be a member of the International Mountain Explorers Connection’s Partnership for Responsible Travel Program which recognizes those tour operators committed to fair treatment of Kilimanjaro porters. I note that not all operators are not a member of the porter protection / responsible travel programme.
- We use a local agent with 30 years’ experience.
- Our groups fly into Kilimanjaro Airport, saving 7 hours of overland transfers. This means that participants have more chance to recover from their longhaul flight before starting the trek, leading to a better chance of summiting.
We strongly believe that budget is not necessarily best when it comes to climbing Kilimanjaro. Whilst we could reduce our costs by losing the acclimatisation days, reducing our staffing levels, using a local agent who does not meet porter protection guidelines, and so on, we will not compromise on the safety of our trekkers, and feel that we offer a quality, ethical trek at a reasonable cost.
Book your trip of a lifetime to Kilimanjaro with Across the Divide
March 5th, 2012 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments | 
We are all very excited indeed, as Friday marks the start of the BBC Children in Need – Rickshaw Challenge. Matt Baker, from The One Show, will cycle from Edinburgh to London in 8 days on a Rickshaw!
We are delighted to be working on such a fantastic new event, ATD will of course be making sure Matt Baker from The One Show has all the support he needs as he cycles the rickshaw.
Matt will embark on his arduous journey on the morning of Friday 11th November from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade and will attempt to complete the marathon 484 mile journey to the BBC in London, finishing live on The One Show’s Children in Need special on Friday 18th November on BBC One.
Throughout the challenge, Matt will be picking up passengers along the way, these will be a variety of surprise guests and Children in Need’s very own Pudsey Bear. He will brave the harsh winter elements and battle steep hills, to cycle his rickshaw for up to ten hours each day and burn up to 9000 calories daily
Route Summary
Day 1 Edinburgh to Hawick 53.5 Miles
Day 2 Hawick to Hexham 59.2 Miles
Day 3 Hexham to Barnard Castle 49.0 Miles
Day 4 Barnard Castle to York 70.6 Miles
Day 5 York to Lincoln 78.0 Miles
Day 6 Lincoln to Peterborough 73.2 Miles
Day 7 Peterborough to Cambridge 41.0 MilesDay 8 Cambridge to London 59.3 Miles
Follow the event as it happens on our Facebook page. Good luck to Matt and all the team.
To donate £5, text “MATT” to 70705. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message, £5 will go to BBC Children in Need. Go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey for full terms and conditions You must be over 16 and ask the bill payer’s permission.
November 9th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, Comic Relief, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building | No Comments |
We know that price is almost everything in this day and age and we understand that, but we are not budging on our values. We have very high safety standards which means that we are not always the cheapest option, but we are one of the safest. We endeavour to have a UK medic on every trip, and provide up to date medical equipment and the latest in technologies out in the field. We never compromise on our safety standards and we hope you’ll take this into account when choosing your overseas or UK challenge operator.
We recently asked a few key clients why they booked with us and these were some of their responses…..
- You are very trustworthy
- We know how much you value safety on the treks and appreciate the importance you place on this (i.e. a doctor on all treks, taking an extra day to ensure everyone gets to the Kili summit etc)
- You help us to create the itineraries that we want and that sell so well to our corporate supporters.
- Your in-country partners are usually fantastic
- You send great teams of Expedition Leaders, Guides and Doctors on our Challenges – who pretty much always get excellent feedback from participants.
- Your office staff are very responsive – I feel we have an excellent relationship and that you always get back to us promptly and add value wherever you can.
- All of you are very friendly, approachable and experienced.
- You really look after our participants well
- You are a small but committed team and we really appreciate that and the fact that we know you all – we know who to speak to about which element of the trek and appreciate getting the same familiar (expert!) voice
- The knowledge that we have a fully qualified doctor who is trained to deal with emergencies in extreme environments is a huge comfort when taking 40 supporters of the charity abroad.
- The ATD trip leaders really take all the stress and pressure off the charity staff members. They run the projects extremely efficiently and are excellent at dealing with all situations whether it is an emergency or dealing with difficult participants. The support provided at the information evening is also hugely appreciated and really helps to reassure any nervous or high maintenance participants.
So if you are speaking to your current overseas challenge supplier make sure you check about UK staffing ratios, if they supply a medical kit and what’s in it, and if a UK Doctor is on the trip. These are key values which we know our clients appreciate over cost.
August 16th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, cancer run, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity run, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, fundraising marathon, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Those of you who have taken part in any of our high altitude treks will know the feeling: you’re short of breath, legs feel like lead, and you’ve slowed to a mere shuffle. Then a group of porters pass you, carrying at least four times the load that you are, yet moving at four times the speed!
The work that porters do is often key to the success of a trek, and yet not all operators recognise this. On Kilimanjaro in particular, local crews carry loads of up to 25kg up the mountain, before pitching tents, setting up the dining tent and catering area, collecting and boiling water and preparing a hearty meal for the trekkers. They often still find the energy to sing and dance, to welcome the group into camp!
At Across the Divide we are committed to the fair treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro, and work closely with our local agent, Good Earth Tours, to improve the working conditions of porters on the mountain and ensure that they receive a fair wage for their work. We are therefore delighted to announce that we recently became a Partner for Responsible Travel with the International Mountain Explorer’s Connection (IMEC). IMEC created the Partnership for Responsible Travel Program to recognize those tour operators committed to fair treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro. In order to become a partner you must consistently meet IMEC’s guidelines for proper porter treatment on Kilimanjaro: this is monitored by IMEC’s local initiative, the Kilimanjaro Porters’ Assistance Project.
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August 10th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate Event Solutions, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Our trekker of the month is Katie Bizzey, who has now completed two treks with Across the Divide plus taken part in four Just Walks. We asked Katie some questions about her treks, motivation plus much more.
1. What made you want to do a charity challenge
My daughter Laura has Muscular Dystrophy. With no treatment or cure for the disease, as a parent I feel hugely helpless that there was nothing I could do to help my child. When I saw a charity trek challenge advertised by our disease-supporting charity, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, I decided that this would be something positive for me to do in the face of this terrible disease Laura lives with. I have always enjoyed a ‘good walk’ and have tramped in NZ, gone ‘off road’ walking in India and so on, but never walked to any level of challenge in a group.
2. Why did you choose Morroco
Morrocco was a coincidence! I chose to trek in aid of Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and that was their trek location! Luckily for me, it is, in my opinion, a good ‘starter trek’.
3. Why did you choose ATD
ATD is Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s chosen adventure challenge company so they weren’t MY choice, but an excellent choice made by MDC and I would never even look at a competitors website: if ATD cant take me to a specific location, I will stay home!!
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July 26th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, desert trek, Endurance, Just Events, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Our emphasis on safety means we are not the cheapest but we think we are one of the safest out there. The benefits of going with ATD are:
- 7 days to summit (+1 more than our competitors) meaning better acclimatisation. Benefit – participants will feel better with our ascent profile and have a much better chance of summiting.
- We are open and transparent. Benefit – no hidden costs and you know exactly what you get for your money ££££
- A leader experienced at managing groups at altitude, and managing risk in wilderness environments. Benefit – brings UK safety standards to the event, gives a higher chance of summiting and reduces the health risks of climbing Kilimanjaro
- An UK trained doctor with experience of working at altitude. Benefit – dramatically reduces the risk of serious injury or death due to altitude related illnesses
- Gammo bag and O2. Benefit – immediate treatment for life threatening Cerebral and Pulmonary Oedema, reducing the risk of death.
- Route is chosen for rapid decent. Benefit – means better casevac options and reduced risk of serious complications resulting from altitude related medical conditions
- Fully inclusive – need to list all of the inclusions and tally them up to give the potential hidden costs of other suppliers. Benefit - no hidden costs ££££.
- Flights into Kilimanjaro airport saving 7 hours of transfers. Benefit – Chance to recover from the long haul flight leading to a better chance of summiting.
- Porter protection. We ensure that local staff are paid a fair wage. Benefit – peace of mind, and ethical
- Local agent with 30 years experience – benefit – Peace of mind, slick and well run event.
- 100% safety record on the mountain, even with some incidences of serious illness. Saved lives of other groups that did not have the same high level of support. Benefit – the highest medical support offered should you fall ill.
- High levels of support, advice and knowledge given to participants. High focus on getting you prepared fully for your challenge. Benefit – better chance of summiting.
Book now!
June 27th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Our trekker of the month is Tricia McGrath, who has now completed two treks with Across the Divide. We asked Tricia some questions about her treks, motivation plus much more.
1. What made you want to do a charity challenge?
I’d done one before to Patagonia for Dublin Simon but this time I wanted to do it for another charity, Barretstown
2. Why did you choose Peru?
Peru has been on the wish list for some time, mainly because of Machu Picchu and the history of the Inca people. Also of the choice of open charity hikes Peru was top of the list. Some of the people on the Patagonia hike had glowing reports of the Peru trip so that also made the decision easy.
3. Why did you choose ATD?
I’d been on a previous hike with ATD in Patagonia and really loved the way they plan and deliver the hike. It’s first class all the way, camping, food, knowledge, local guides etc etc. In addition I’ve always felt safe and looked after on their hikes.
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June 21st, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
We have just received some great feedback from our recent trip to Kilimanjaro with Oxfam Ireland, it was a fantastic trip with a great group and with 100% success rate. Whoo Hoo!
Grace O’Neill from Oxfam Ireland who was on the Kilimanjaro Trek, 26th-9 March 2011 – “ALL SUMMITED”. Re Paul Collins the Expedition Leader – “motivational, inspiring and commanded confidence”. “Paul was great – took the time to know everyone in the group and was excellent at encouraging us to work together as a team. The group all acknowledged post-summit, that is was great they all made it up together, which is something very different to other groups experiences we had heard of. He inspired confidence in the team’s ability. He also was good fun in the evenings and kept people’s spirits up when they were tired.
I think he genuinely bonded with quite of few of the pax – it didn’t seem to be just another trek to him, he took time chatting to individuals.”
Tim Farrelly - “Summiting Kilimanjaro was a lifetime achievement which was only made possibly by ATD’s excellent itinerary and expert leadership.”
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June 14th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Our Operations Manager recently headed up to Kilimanjaro and has written up a fantastic account of the trek.
One of the expedition leaders has been ripping the innards from the leader files, and we suspect it may be a certain Ceri Williams. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to accompany Mr Williams to Tanzania and to find out whether he is indeed the Leader-file-Ripper. And so it was that I found myself on the Cancer Research UK Kilimanjaro trek with Ceri, Sonya and Julia: my first overseas trip with Across the Divide.
The 7-hour bus journey from Nairobi to Moshi gave us a sense of the scale of the East African plains, and several opportunities to buy some small carved wooden animals. I had imagined that we would see Kilimanjaro looming on the horizon as we crossed the border into Tanzania, but it was not until the following day when we stopped at Mshuwa shop for Coca Cola that I got my first glimpse of Kilimanjaro poking its head out of the clouds.
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June 13th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, Trek | No Comments |
Fancy setting yourself a challenge this year? Take part in UNICEF’s trek for the Children of Namibia, which takes place in the stunning landscape of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world; in southern Africa.
What is more, taking part in this trek is a unique opportunity for you to get to know more about UNICEF first hand. The visit to one of the UNICEF projects is a chance to see how much difference your support makes to the children of Namibia and just one of the many highlights of the trip.
For more information, please visit their website: http://www.unicef.org.uk/Fundraise/Get-active/Trekking/Namibia-trek/
Alternatively, contact them on 0844 801 2414 or email challenge@unicef.org.uk
Date – 30 August – 9 September 2011
June 6th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, desert trek, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
