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This was published 14 years ago

Your questions

Question

My granddaughter and I are planning to volunteer our time in January at an AIDS orphanage in Kenya. Prior to that, my granddaughter wishes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, which I think is unwise. I hope that you can give us advice of something else to do there that will satisfy her but is not so dangerous.

- C. Bourke, Dubbo, NSW

Answer

I understand your concern but climbing Mount Kilimanjaro need not be considered especially dangerous if your granddaughter is fit and goes with a reputable operator.

January is one of the best months of the year to do the trek and there are several different routes, of varying difficulty, to choose from.

STA Travel (statravel.com.au) would be a good company to advise on the best route and operator if she is determined to do the climb.

Getting expert advice on preventing altitude sickness and other illnesses will further ensure her safety.

There are plenty of other things to do in the area; the most obvious is wildlife viewing, which can be done on foot as well as from a vehicle.

It would be a shame to leave Kenya without seeing the Masai Mara reserve or a wildlife-rich national park such as Lake Nakuru, known for its flamingos, among other things. The Ngorongoro Crater in adjacent Tanzania is also a fantastic place to see wildlife.

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If your granddaughter is interested in snorkelling and scuba diving, the Kisite Marine National Park would be another alternative. The weather should be good in January, so you will have a nice choice of activities.

- JANE E. FRASER

If you have travel questions, we'd love to hear from you. Write to travelshd@fairfaxmedia.com.au. Personal correspondence cannot be entered into. Only questions appearing in print will be answered. If your question is published, you will win a Lonely Planet guidebook.

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