Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top was amazing. I never realised how hard it was just to keep going!
What did you think of your group leader?
Brilliant
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a battery powered MP3 (but keep the batteries inside your clothes), research altitude sickness and take the longest route time you possibly can. We had all our thermals on from about the second day so take a couple of sets at least!
A 'must do' challenge of a lifetime. If you're in two minds about which route to take on Kilimanjaro, choose the Northern Circuit. It offers maximum acclimatisation opportunity before the summit attempt and enough time to truely experience the diverse landscapes of the mountain with spectacular and varied views of Kibo.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Realising I'd reached Stella Point and then setting off again and just knowing I would get to Uhuru Peak - a dream come true. The unbelievable and awesome views from the summit of a snow covered Kibo - totally amazing - I'll never forget it. The whole team of nine making it to Uhuru Peak (albeit at slightly different times!) it was a real achievement for everyone. The guides and porters never fail to amaze and astound me in all that they do - they're truely remarkable and become your friends.
What did you think of your group leader?
Simon Moshy is an incredible leader, his organisational skills are excellent and everything ran like clockwork. He and his assistant guides, Davis, Daio, Noel and Pablo cannot be praised enough for their support, encouragement, advice and friendship - an amazing bunch of guys. Their evening singing sessions in the mess tent together with some of the porters was totally brilliant and entertaining.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Most of our group of nine suffered from the altitude at some time or other including me (some taking Diamox and others not), but this route really does allow sufficient time to recover and succeed. This was my second attempt on Mt Kilimanjaro (with another operator previously) and the African Walking Company, the Tanzanian company Exodus use, offer a superior service with guides who really care about what you want to achieve - at times when I did feel unwell their support and encouragement totally aided me and my belief that I could succeed. I cannot recommend them enough.
A good warm sleeping bag is a must (last time I was too cold every night with a 3 season bag & liner) a 4 season plus bag and liner kept me very snug this time and I slept well. Going slowly is definitely the way forward and drinking lots of water cures niggling headaches. Take a platypus but also a sigg bottle, the bottles are great as hot water bottles at night. Keep all your kit in the trek bag and your day sack in dry bags - the weather is varied and it certainly knows how to rain! But it was worth it all for the snow on the summit. Some days involve long days walking so you do need a reasonable level of fitness and a well used comfy pair of boots.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I travelled by myself (for the second time!) and met an amazing group of travellers, it can be a worry not knowing who you're travelling with but they will always be like minded people. We were never short of laughs and I wholeheartedly enjoyed the whole experience from start to finish. You should keep a 'positive mental attitude', as the guides say, and embrace the wonders of camping at altitude and enjoy every day - it's a true adventure. Tanzania is a third world country, don't expect too much and enjoy the Tanzanian laid back attitude, they are wonderful people. I had such a fantastic time that I'd go again tomorrow if I could :)
Do it, do it, do it!! This will be one of the best experiences of your life. Exhausting and exhilarating!! I'm sooo glad I challenged myself to do this.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
All 11 members making it to Uhuru Peak. That was something special! We took it slowly, doing what one of the members called 'the Kili Shuffle' (head down, tail up!), and made it! The Northern Circuit gives you lots of time to acclimitarize as well as seeing lots of stunning scenery that you wouldn't see on the shorter routes. I'd really recommend this route.
What did you think of your group leader?
The African Walking Company (who Exodus use for this trip) were brilliant. You can't help but admire their local knowledge and physical strength in getting tents, kit and the equipment up the mountain. They made the experience fun, but also took care of us making sure we were okay every step of the way.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get fit! Make sure you have the right kit (warm sleeping bag, very comfy boots, lots of layers, take an iPod/MP3 player especially for the final ascent, etc). Drink lots. Keep snacking. Take it slowly - it's not a race. And most importantly, keep smiling! : )
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I went with a fantastic group of travellers who kept smiling and laughing - even when hitting the diamox to cope with the headaches and nausea! Time spent getting fit beforehand is definitely time well spent so you can enjoy the days walking. Don't be fooled into thinking this is easy because Comic Relief went up it! You'll soon have huge respect for them. Be prepared to be dusty (no amount of washy wash will shift the dust that accumulates over 8 days!), to be so tired you're ready for bed by 7.30pm, to laugh, to sleep wearing your thermals and woolly hat whilst clinging to the side of a mountain, and most of all to have a fabulous time!!
Felicity Paton
KILIMANJARO CLIMB - NORTHERN CIRCUIT
Written
Although climbing Kili has become a typical 'charity' trek. You have to do it to know how wonderful and awesome it is to summit this bad boy. It is no easy 'red nose' saunter and still one of my proudest moments to date.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I guess it has to be the summit!! After all that is your ultimate goal - It took us all night to get there, leaving approx midnight and arriving approx 8am - It really is tough and still something I look back to saying to myself, if i can do that....I can do anything!! It was dark, cold and my water froze which made it really tough but all that is swift forgotten when you get to have your pic taken at that infamous kili summit sign (yes blown up on my wall) It was the biggest thing i'd ever done and the whole group got to the top which was great, i also raised £2,500 for Charity!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I chose to do the Northern Circuit as had had some trouble on my trip to altitude the year before, and i had heard that a lot of people don't make it to the top of kili which worried me. I liked that fact that it gave you an extra day or two to acclimitise and it obviously worked as our whole group got to the top and none of us were ill either. Id definitely reccommend this route as it's a long way to go to not reach your goal...
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Made some great friends on this trip, and am still friends with my tent mate, we both decided to run the Brighton Marathon last year and both completed it within minutes of each other - must have been the kili training. Head down, tail up - do the kili shuffle - this was a group mantra!!!!
John Merrick
KILIMANJARO CLIMB - NORTHERN CIRCUIT
Written
Hi, This was one of the best adventures that i have ever gone on, the team of porters, and guides were of tremendous help, it made the trip more enjoyable, pole pole ( slowly) is the way to go and the northern circuit is the one to go for if you want to acclimatise in advance of the night climb. Our guide was Matthew and both he and Francis were in tune to how the altitude waas effecting us as we travelled up and down hill during thjose 9 days. definitely would recommend a exodus trip again. as for the food, we had more than enough to eat, fed like Kings and excellent choices of foods for all to eat. Nothing left out, thanks for all the help in getting to the top, that made it all the more special.john merrick
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Standing on Kilimanjaro and been able to see the sunrise as well as the snow covered top with the glaciers ,it was some sight to behold.
What did you think of your group leader?
Well Matthew was our Guide, very capable, trustworthy and friendly, very in tune when some of our group were effected by altitude sickness, was able to advise and sort us out. as well as ensuring that were were o.k and were going to make it.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
travel with exodus, not just been biased, this was a trip of a lifetime, one worth doing right and been able to reach the top, acclimatising is a good factor of this trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Maybe stay an extra day or do a safari at the end. A very big thank you to the porters who carry your equipment, their tips are really important to them, your looked after 100 percent.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Barafu hut, when we knew we were going to reach uhuru, truly amazing
Watching Doinyo lengai erupt
Sun up at Stella point, Seeing the summit sign from about 500m away
The PORTERS & GUIDES, what they carried, what they wore, what they ate, their whole attitude. You cannot fail to be inspired by these young lads.
What did you think of your group leader?
Mathew, what can we say! Mr smiley, a clever subtle way about him, always close by with a sharp eye, he missed nothing and asked everything. His determination to help get us all to the top was truly genuine.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The most important factor of making it to uhuru is self belief, and drinking, drinking and more drinking (water that is) somthing stronger goes down very well after !
As tempting as it is try not to use plastic drink bottles as hot water bottles (the lads will be glad to fill them for you) Well its a great idea until you sit on it !!! after having placed it in your sl bag to warm it through. Still it was fun trying to squeeze into 1 bag.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Having attempted Kili in jan 2007 taking the Rongai 5 day trek ( with a different tour operator) and only reaching Kibo we were delighted to discover the N curcuit 9 day route appear in the Exodus newsletter. most of us got some form of altitude discomfort at some stage but with the extra time on this route it gives plenty of time to recover and adjust. The N Curcuit also offers 2-3 days total solitude from any other form of human life, terrific views of the plains, every angle of Kili possible, great views of Mt Meru, and if lucky Mt Doinyo Lengai erupting clouds of ash. In breif the Northern Curcuit route is an absolutly stunning route from start to finish with the best chance of aclimatisation with different breathtaking views every day,and allows time to fully apreciate this stunning mountain. The hotels at start and finish are also georgous. Thank you to Exodus for making this exelent trip possible for us.
from 13 reviews.
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