It’s safari time!

September 26th, 2024

: Getting ready to take off for Serengeti (Max Bond)

: Landed at Seronera (Max Bond)

: Big elephant in Serengeti park (Max Bond)

: Giant crocodile at Seronera (Phunuru)

Max reports the team had a great start to their safari yesterday, with a flight to Seronera out in the middle of the Serengeti Park. Landing at Seronera sometimes requires the pilot to buzz the runway at low altitude first, to chase off the animals which are everywhere! Once on the ground (dirt runway) the team met up with their safari drivers, for a game drive that eventually took them to their super luxurious safari camp. Along the way they saw hippos, giraffes, elephants, lions and cubs, and much more! This is the dry season so the wildlife is localized in the vicinity of the water sources (like the Seronera River) which makes for some fantastic game viewing.

IMG Manaslu climbers all down and the camps are cleared

September 25, 2024

: Looking up from camp 4 (Phunuru)

: Steep spot below the summit (Phunuru)

: Heading to the summit on a starry night (Phunuru)

: Summit of Manaslu Sept 24 2024 (Phunuru)

: Base Camp toast (Phunuru)

: Entire Manaslu team celebrate after summit

Phunuru reports that all the climbers are back to Base Camp and all the gear and camps have been pulled down. Perfect timing, as this afternoon it started snowing up high with some light rain at Base Camp! The team are all doing well and enjoying a celebration dinner tonight, with their plan to descend to Samagaon tomorrow. If all things go smoothly, they hope to be back to Kathmandu in the next few days. In the meantime, Phunuru has sent some great shots from their summit day. Enjoy!

Kili climbers back to Moshi; safari up next

September, 25 2024

Happy September Kili climbers with their summit certificates (Max Bond)

Max Bond reports that yesterday the team had a nice hike back down through the forest to the Mweka Gate. After paying off and tipping their Chagga crew, they headed back to Moshi for showers, beer, repacking, and a team celebration dinner. This morning the team departed to the airport for the flight to Seronera out in the middle of the Serengeti. They will spend three nights in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro area for some fantastic wildlife viewing. All’s well in Tanzania!

Last Call for Mt Vinson Massif, just one spot available.

September 24th , 2021

Summit Ridge Mt Vinson (Porter McMichael)

Join International Mountain Guides and senior guide Porter McMichael in Antarctica to climb the southern-most of the 7 Summits. Fly to Antarctica via Punta Arenas, Chile and climb Mt Vinson Massif 16,050′ only 660 miles from the South Pole. IMG started operating on Mt. Vinson in 1988 and hasn’t missed reaching the summit since. Contact us today office@mountainguides.com and let the adventure begin!

100% on Manaslu!

September 24th, 2024

Summit of Manaslu Sept 24, 2024 (Phunuru)

The IMG Manaslu team departed Camp 4 with all seven team members, and reached the top at dawn. Congrats to Phunuru, Annemie, Dean, JC, Ang Karma, Chhiring Tendi and Mingma Sonam! They have now descended to Camp 2. The weather was very good for the summit day, but now it is changing so their timing was excellent. On the descent Phunuru was able to send out a summit photo, and we’ll look forward to seeing some more shots and getting all the details when they get down to Base Camp. Well done team!!

Kilimanjaro Summits!

September 23, 2024

: Sunrise over Mawenzi (Max Bond)

: Summit shot (Max Bond)

: Descending towards Barafu Camp (Max Bond)

Max Bond called overnight to report that the team had reached Uhuru Peak, the true summit of Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa. They had a sweet climb with perfect weather. The team has now descended to Barafu Camp for a rest, some food, and to repack their porter duffels before continuing their descent to Mweka Camp at 10,000 feet. It’s been a long day, but the team did an excellent job and will sleep well tonight in the thicker air. Well done, team!

Kilimanjaro climbers ready for summit day

September 22, 2024

On the way to Barafu (Max Bond)

Barafu Camp is located on the ridge ahead at 15000 ft (Max Bond)

Max checked in from Barafu Camp to say that the team are doing well. The benefit of doing the 7-day ascent of Kili is that today (moving to high camp) is a short one (3.5 hours), so the team had all afternoon to relax and get ready to the climb tonight. They had an early dinner and went to bed, planning to get up at about 11pm for a midnight departure. If things go well, they should be near the summit at dawn tomorrow!

Manaslu climbers on the way up

September 22, 2o24

Camp 1 on Manaslu (Phunuru Sherpa)

Camp 2 (Phunuru)

Camp 3 (Phunuru)

Manaslu climbers departing Base Camp (Phunuru)

Phunuru checked in from Camp 3 to say that the team are moving up and doing well. They departed yesterday from Base Camp and went to Camp 1, then today they moved up to Camp 3. They will wake up early tomorrow and check the weather, hoping it will be possible to move to Camp 4. Fingers crossed for the weather to cooperate!

Kili team reaches Karanga

September 21, 2024

Team at the viewpoint at top of Barranco Wall (Max Bond)

Traversing below the South Face of Kilimanjaro (Max Bond)

Traversing to Karanga Camp (Max Bond)

At Karanga Camp (Max Bond)

Max reports the team had another great day of trekking. This is one of our favorite days, as the route climbs the steep trail of the Barranco Wall to a fabulous viewpoint, then traverses east below the Southern Glaciers, or whats left of them, reach Karanga. This camp is also about 13,000 feet, so it’s a perfect place for acclimatizing. Karanga is also the last water, so the we’ll have porters carrying water tomorrow up to Barafu Camp (15000ft). The team will make it up there in time for lunch, which will give them all afternoon to rest and prepare for the summit. All’s well on Kilimanjaro!

Kili climbers reach Barranco Camp

September 20, 2024

: The Kili climbers by a giant grounsel on the way to Barranco (Max Bond)

: Lava Tower (Max Bond)

: The team at Barranco Camp (Max Bond)

: Barranco Camp with the Breach Wall and Icicle above (Eric Simonson)

Max Bond reports the team had another nice day of trekking, and everyone is doing well. They started at 12,500 ft at Shira Camp, ascended to about 15,000 ft at Lava Tower for lunch, then descended to Barranco Camp at 13,000 ft. This is a perfect acclimatization profile: “climb high, sleep low”! From Barranco Camp the team has great views of the steep south side of Kili, including the Breach Wall and Icicle.