Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition — July 2021

 

Exploradus is proud to bring this unique, holistic expedition combining a journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with a daily yoga practice.

Imagine traveling over dry, arid African plains inhabited by large varieties of wildlife. Everything is flat, not a hill in site, until Kilimanjaro. Considered one of the world’s most massive, extinct volcanoes, Kilimanjaro is a mountain all its own. Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest freestanding mountain, with a vertical gain of over 15,000′ from the plains to the summit. With an unprecedented elevation gain, climbing Kilimanjaro is a spectacle of diversity as one traverses its many ecosystems and climactic changes. Enhanced with complex volcanic geology and glaciations, Kilimanjaro is a brilliant encounter with the mystery and awe of nature.

Our extraordinary team is further enhanced by the inclusion of certified yoga instructor, Kristi Paxton, providing all the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga practice in the wilderness. Complete your cultural immersion by experiencing the wonders of Tarangire National Park, home to all of Tanzania’s most iconic animals, from the diminutive dik-dik, towering African elephants and giraffes, the epic huge flocks of pink flamingos at Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater – the world’s largest inactive, unbroken and unfilled volcanic caldera.

Potential Yoga Offerings
In addition to our trek, we can offer the following options:

  • In-trek breathing techniques (Ujjayi Pranayama) with instruction from our certified yoga instructor. Ujjayi Pranayama can potentially provide the following benefits:
    – Improve concentration
    – Instill endurance and build energy
    – Stimulate energy channels bringing mental clarity and focus
    – Strengthen the connection between body and mind
    – Support multiple aspects of physical health including lung function, blood pressure and brain function
  • Daily trek yoga offerings to include sun salutations mixed with Vinyasa Flow, and/or recovery post-trek cool-downs including restorative stretches with asana
  • Post-trek sound healing with crystal chakra singing bowls/tuning fork sessions
  • Optional guided meditation (Yoga Nidra)
  • Optional offerings for safari yoga classes

Preview our pre-trek and post-trek yoga sequences in the videos below in which Kristi Paxton demonstrates many of the restorative poses we will offer.

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Team Leaders

Expert Expedition Leadership — Jim Williams

Jim Williams founded Exploradus in 1985. He’s has been touted as the Ernest Shackleton (a renegade Polar explorer of the 1900s) of our time. From successfully guiding the Seven Summits (the highest mountains of each of the seven continents) in under one year, to retracing Shackleton’s epic crossing of South Georgia Islands in the hazardous Antarctic to co-leading the first Ski Expedition to the South Pole, Jim has earned a world-class reputation as an explorer and mountain guide.

Jim has been honored numerous times for his prowess and dedication: recipient of the National Park Service Search and Rescue Award – 2003; Named a member in 2005 of the “Durable Dozen” in Best Life Magazine (along with Ulysses Grant, Ernest Shackleton, Chuck Yeager, and others) for Seven Summits guiding achievement; the prestigious Explorers Club – 2009 Lowell Thomas Award; and the 2009 Exum Award for Excellence in the Art of Guiding Jim is also an AMGA Certified Alpine and Rock Guide.

Email Jim Williams »
Facebook: Exploradus

 


Wilderness Leadership from Soldier to Explorer — Jim Sumpter

Wilderness Leader Jim SumpterJim Sumpter has over 25 years expedition experience across four continents, both leading and guiding in remote and global locales. Following years of training and deploying elite Army recon teams across foreign deployments, Jim embarked on his civilian pursuit of exploration and discovery. He is a Certified Wilderness Instructor for the Professional Association of Wilderness Guides and Instructors (PAWGI) in South and Central America. Jim also offers numerous military qualifications in wilderness leadership and advanced warfare. He is a member of the Explorers Club.

Jim is also a certified leader in the world’s leading Duke of Edinburgh International Youth Award, and was recognized by HRH Prince Edward for his leadership mentoring young adults.

Email Jim Sumpter »
Instagram: sumpterjim


Global Teacher and Healer — Kristi Paxton

Kristi Paxton - Mounta Kilimanjaro 2021

Meet Kristi Paxton, our world-class Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT500) with a truly global background. Her initial yoga instructor training began in 2011 at Balance Health Studio in Seagrove, Florida with a certification in Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Following ownership of a successful yoga studio and teaching nationally with Wanderlust International Yoga Festival, Kristi took her passion for global adventure and a pursuit of advanced, anatomy-based yoga studies internationally with Yoga Medicine 2013 (@yoga_medicine). Yoga Medicine is a global community of instructors who teach a fusion of science and research with traditional practices and experience.
Her additional certifications include: SUP Yoga Instructor, BogaFit Master Trainer and Sound Healer.