Mount Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route: Trekking Holiday, Tanzania, Africa

Our Clients’ Reviews

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...

Average Review Rating: from 75 reviews.

Sophie Driessens

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written January 2012
A great adventure, well organised by the African Walking Company. A must if you like a bit of walking and can put up with a frosted tent in the morning.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top!!
Thank you for our guides for the great support and the signing.
What did you think of your group leader?
We did not have a Exodus group leader as the trip was ran by the AWC. I was actually a little disappointed by the service provided by the Exodus representatives. They were not forthcoming with information, missed a floor mat order and on departure day just left us at the airport. Whilst I am a frequent traveler it would have been a little re insuring that someone stayed with us at the airport at least until we all checked in.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be ready for cold nights and warm days and do not give up you can do it!
Laura Lucas

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written January 2012
Brilliant experience. It will no doubt end up being the best and worst thing you've ever done.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Turning the corner on day 2 and seeing Kibo covered in snow basking in the African sunshine. Overall it's a far more beautiful trek than I expected and the summit itself was breathtaking - literally!
What did you think of your group leader?
Simon was very organised and experiences having climbed Kilimanjaro over 200 times. He had lots of very good advice for us and made sure we were well taken care of. He was also keen to make sure we gave them feedback to ensure that the trip was going as well as possible.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make sure and go out of the tent occassionally at night! It's not tempting but the starlight views at midnight and dawn (around 6am) are breathtaking.
Take more wet wipes than you think you need. Also Aquaphor cream is great for sunburn, windburn, chapped lips, and very painful runny noses which you will probably get on summit day! For night visits outside it's good to pack essentials into the pocket of your down jacket (wipes, headtorch etc) so you can just grab it and go. Sheepskin boots are really comfortable after a day's walking and always warm - even in the higher camps. Take a sigg or similar to use as a hot water bottle (but check they've purified the water so you can drink it when it cools down)
And if you have them it's worth taking a pair of goretex socks in case you do end up with more rain than you expect (umbrella is also handy as the rain just pours down)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
You don't need to be superfit but you should do as much walking up (and also down!) hill before you go particularly with a bit of weight in your pack. 3 or 4 litres of water can make a big difference over a few hours of walking. Worth remembering that you get 7 days to do the uphill but you'll be coming down over 4000m in 2 days and no amount of time on the stairmaster at the gym will help with that!
One downside - the group flight had a really long layover in Ethiopia on the way back which was far from ideal - it's worth trying to check and if I was going again I'd be tempted to arrange my own flights.
George Shanks

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written January 2012
Fantastic trip, wonderful experience, highly recommend. Guides, Porters and stomach engineer (aka, chef) all did an excellent job. Trekking is not particularly arduous although summit day is more demanding given A) you ascend overnight, (B) the cold and C) the lack of Oxygen at that altitude.If you have a reasonable level of fitness then, all things being equal, you should manage to make the summit.While it can be warm during the day it can get cold at night. We woke several mornings to frost on the ground so take warm clothes with you and a good sleeping bag, either your own or a hired one.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the sun rise over Africa from Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, was magical. Well worth the overnight hike. Oh, and having my photo taken at the summit to prove I made it!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Simon from the African Walking Company, was superb.
He was organised, approachable, calm, patient, enthusiastic, encouraging and had excellent English. He led his team of porters and guides very well. A true leader.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You might want to consider taking Diamax to help combat the possibility of altitude sickness.
The fitter you are, the easier it will be and the more you'll enjoy it. Try doing some hill walking in the Highlands, the Lakes or Snowdon before going. It will help build up your fitness levels.
Take warm clothing. While it is warm during the day it can get cold at night. We woke up to frost on several mornings. The ascent to the summit is done overnight, that does get cold. I'd recommend thermals for legs and upper body. In addition I'd suggest you have another 3-4 layers of warm clothing. On top of my thermal vest I had another vest, a warm shirt and a windbreaker then my jacket. Gloves, a balaclava and a hat were also used. On top of my thermal longjohns I had lined trousers designed for wearing in the Scottish winter. That kept me warm.
You'll be sleeping in tents so take a torch and a head torch. You'll need a head torch for the overnight climb to the summit. Make sure you take, or hire, a warm sleeping bag and good quality ground mat. The tents can get cold.
Take cash in US dollars. Moivaro Lodge, where we stayed before and after the climb, don't accept Sterling but do take US Dollars as well as Tanzanian Shillings. Take your US dollars in small denomination notes. Tips for the guides and porters are paid in US Dollars. Most shops, street traders etc accept US Dollars.
If you leave getting your visa until you arrive in Tanzania be prepared for delays. Try and be one of the first off the plane; first come first served. It's all a bit chaotic but they eventually get there.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Tanzania is a poor country. If you have clothes/boots/hats/walking poles etc that you no longer need then leave them. The guides and porters can make use of them. They will be very grateful to receive any such items.
David Shelton

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written January 2012
This was an excellent trip - very well organised with excellent food and guiding. The pace was just right to enable acclimatisation and January seems to be a good time to travel in terms of weather. The Kilimanjaro climb is the hardest day - unlesss you are a professional sports person!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It has to be reaching Uhuru Point after 6 hours steady climb up in the dark. The timing was perfect as we arrived as the sun was rising on a perfect day.
What did you think of your group leader?
Davis was excellent - as was Johaness, the assistant guide. They were very knowledgable, easy to get on with and knew exactly how to manage a group of varying abilities. They set exactly the right pace and gave us real confidence that we could make it to the top.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Nearly everyone took Diamox and it seemed to help - so do consider this. There is no need to be "super-fit" but you do need to be able to walk for long periods (distances are relatively short - up to 6 miles) - but the altitude slows everything down. Stamina to cope with the climb is very important. Make sure you have the right kit - the list that Exodus supplies is exactly right and don't short cut this - or you will be cold! You will be spending $ everywhere - you only need a very small amount of local currency. Read the other summaries like these - they contain invaluable guidance. Finally, if you want to maximise your chances of making it to the top the longer routes (e.g. Lemosho) will really help. It is worth spending a bit extra if you can - the failure rates on the short routes are much higher.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you are fit and not sure whether or not to sign up for this go for it! It is a very well managed trip and the guides, porters, food and hotel at the beginning and end are excellent. you won't be disappointed!
Julia Garvey

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written January 2012
I have to be honest and say that I didn’t enjoy much of the trip due to the lack of support from the rest of the group. I still think about the trip even though I’ve been back for two months – the mountain gets inside your head! I wish I’d tried for the summit, but it’s a different feeling being back home than being at base camp at midnight on a very cold and windy night (it was the worst wind they’d seen all season) and the temperature went down to -20 on summit night. I will try it again one day!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
As I did not reach the summit, climbing up the Barancha wall was a real achievement – especially after our guide told us that he tried to help Roman Abramovich up the wall, but he gave up by the kissing stone!
What did you think of your group leader?
All the assistant guides were great, but I wasn’t impressed with the chief guide. I struggled quite a lot to stay with the rest of the group, and I didn’t find him particularly encouraging. When I said I wasn’t going to try for the summit, he didn’t encourage me at all. My husband attempted the summit, but had to turn back due to altitude sickness. Twice the guide told him to push on, even though he had been sick and had a very bad headache. He should have taken my husband down to camp much sooner.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Definitely hire an exodus sleeping matt, well worth it. It gets very cold at night. Only the first 2 nights were warmish, the other nights were freezing! Wear lots of layers in bed.About half of our group didn’t take Diamox. Two that didn’t take it ended up having to take it on summit night to help them reach the summit. Stick together as a group as much as possible. It’s not a race.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If I did the climb again, I would definitely do it with people I know. The other members of our group were not at all interested in walking Pole Pole (slowly slowly), as advised by the guides. Even when I was asked to walk directly behind the guide, the rest of the group were trying to overtake me. At the end of everyday, certain members of the group were complaining that they could have walked faster and longer. On day one, everyone said that if we all stayed together, we would all make it. This was quickly forgotten and it was every man/woman for themselves. The guides didn’t try to discourage this, so the group was split everyday, 5 in one group, and myself and my husband in one group. I found this extremely demotivating, being away from the rest of the group. On summit night, I decided to stay in camp, and no-one tried to encourage me to try for the summit. I felt extremely let down by the rest of the group and the guides. Having watched the celebrities doing the Kili climb for Comic Relief, I was hoping our trek might be the same – everyone encouraging everyone else. Our trek was not like that at all.I still achieved everything that the other members of the group did (apart from reach the summit), albeit a bit slower – but that is the philosophy of the guides, slowly slowly.On the plus side, the porters are fantastic – they’re simply not human! To carry what they do every day is amazing. And the chef was awesome, the food he served was better than some I’ve had in some restaurants! To be served chips at over 3000 metres was super!
Michael Johnson

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written October 2011
Very enjoyable but summit trek was tough. Relieved to get to the top.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Standing on the summit definitely, with the rest of the group.
What did you think of your group leader?
Joseph was excellent. Young but very confident and dealt with everything in a calm and efficient manner.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't be fooled by the fairly easy going first 6 days. The climb up to the summit is hard work because of the cold, lack of sleep the evening before and altitude. But you will get there eventually. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
All the guides and porters, equipment, food and general organisation were excellent. Special mention of Dixon, whose knowledge of flora and fauna is amazing. Only regeret is that I did not get to see more of Tanzania, not even Arusha, the town near where we stayed. Because of the flight times - departing late on the first day and returning early on the last - it was really a 10 day, rather than a 12 day trip. I would recommend staying on a couple of extra days to see some of the national parks.
Jon Coleman

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written October 2011
Fantastic trip. A liftime experience that you will not forget - very well organised and great value.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Last 20 minute climb to Stella point - after a tough climb then seeing the sun rising off to your right and feeling the warmth of the sun, giving a great sense of achievement and happiness! Big smile as itching to get up to the Summit and take in the fantastic views and scenery.
What did you think of your group leader?
Great guy - very calm collected and experienced. Never had any doubts in his abilities as a climber, leader or organiser.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Pay very close attention to your kit - make sure you have what you need and practise packing and unpacking. Prior preparation and planning....... Also make sure you have good waterproof wear and when the rain and mud comes :) You can make the most of everything then without worrying, i.e. the scenery, the company, the experience :)
Fitness I did not think was such a big issue - but that depends on you personally. You dont need to train for a marathon but make sure you are in good shape. The final climb is a long way up and you will feel it - but don't worry and keep going you will make it - its as much mental fitness as physical for the last climb.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Food on trip is fantastic - hard to believe that eating such good food is possbile up a mountain!!! You will have an appetite and eat a lot as you will need the energy.