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

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 75 reviews.

Matthew Pillinger

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written March 2010
To describe this holiday as amazing would be unplaying it. Getting to Kibo will be one of the best moments of your life, but this holiday is about so much more than that ...
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to Kibo is brilliant, but given UK wide about 1/3 don't make it (about 1/20 with Exodus I believe) it is important to not get too fixated on this goal. Spending time with the guides is really good, getting to know other people in your group and 'roughing it' for a week are all enjoyable.
Barranco and Karranga camps were particularly good for looking out at the plains below and realising you were 3,500 metres above them.
What did you think of your group leader?
Obote (spelling is probably wrong) was excellent, as were all the guides, always willing to share knowledge, tell you about their life, carry your rucksack and generally help out in any way they can.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Imodium & loo roll - the porters carry loo roll but several of us weren't 100% so we ran out 1 night.
Take a light waterproof jacket and trousers, the weather is extremely changeable, but it tends to be dry in morning and wet in afternoon, when it's warm and wet you definitely want light (ie not lined) water proofs.
The climb up to stella point, on the scree slopes will probably be the hardest thing you've ever done, it's hard to train for this specific bit, but regular uphill walking helps.
I bought Henry Steadman's book - Kilimanjaro, a trekking guide to africa's highest mountain before I went (about £8 on amazon), highly recommended and tells you far more than I ever could.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Kilimanjaro isn't a cheap mountain to climb, but the couple of hundred more you pay for exodus over a cheaper operator is worth it in terms of taking your time (which makes it more enjoyable and gives you a better chance of summiting) and the food (which was excellent, not just good for the conditions, but genuinely good).
Exodus use African Walking Company as the leaders on the climb, everyone I've spoken too and everything I've read suggests they are on of the best, you get what you pay for & they are one of the best.
I'd totally recommend this holiday (if you can call climbing to 19,340 ft a holiday) to anyone, Kilimanjaro is superb and doing with Exodus makes it even more enjoyable.
Douglas Alexander

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Written February 2010
Amazing walk with great views and variety of scenery. Well worth the extra day to acclimatise.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Making it to Uhuru Peak was an incredible feeling and the whole reason for doing the trip. Especially if the whole group makes the peak.
I also got to see an unforgettable sight upon reaching Stella Point. After spending 6 hours hiking and cresting the crater rim, seeing the full moon at eye level with tiny wisps of cloud floating in front of it. The crater rim and glaciers lit by moonlight and behind me, the sun just below the horizon lighting up the clouds and other glaciers. Could of happily finished there after seeing that view, but going that extra distance to reach Uhuru peak and standing at the top with the other people in the group, awesome.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our Tour Leader, Makeke was great. Extremely helpful, fun, explained everything and gave detailed information about the hiking for the next day. Never had any problems and everything appeared to run very smoothly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
On summit night keep any snacks on you as you probably won't want to rummage through your rucksack getting them and so that they don't freeze in the casae of cereal bars.
The night we did the summit the weather was about -25°C with wind chill and the wind was reasonably strong. Just things to bear in mind.
Have faith in the guides if during your trip you suffer with the altitude. They want to make sure you are safe but also want to see you get to the top.
At the end of the trip you can leave gear (clothes etc.) for the porters and guides. Another way of saying thank you on top of the tip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Hope you get as great a group as I had on the trip and have an amazing time if you choose to do this holiday.
Very well organised, amazing scenery [weather permitting :-) ] and an incredible sense of achievement at the end.
Enjoy.
Gareth Bartlett

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

Written November 2009
Very well organised and good people to do the climb with, helpful and kind. Very much a team effort.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the porters carry heavy loads up hill effortlessly and standing on the crater rim.
What did you think of your group leader?
Matthew was very disciplined in his outlook on the trip and kept it all together. Very focused.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do make sure you have a reasonable fitness with emphasis on training that strengthens the leg muscles. Check weather patterns before you go, the rainy season started early and we got caught in it.
CLIVE PANNELL

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

Written October 2009
I absolutely enjoyed this holiday. I recommend this trip to anybody. The guides and porters were absolutely excellent, they were extremely helpful and friendly. The trek was fantastic. The guides set the pace extremely well ensuring that everybody gets to the Uhuru Peak ok. The final accent to the top was hard but it was worth it. Trekking with my fellow trekkers was great.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Obviously reaching the summit (Uhuru Peak) was the pinnacle but basically everything about the trip was just amazing, the scenery was amazing, the companionship of other trekkers. There wasn't one inspirational moment, there were loads.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader, Passian, was great. He was very friendly and very helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty of layers to wear as it does get cold in the evenings, do prepare before you go to get fit as it is physically hard work when doing the final accent to Uhuru Peak and keep positive at ALL times. It is both mental and physical that keeps you going. And take a good quality pair of trekking boots.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I had such an amazing time on this trip. It will stay with me for a very long time. This is definately the best holiday I have been on.
Stuart Furzer

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

Written July 2009
We all had a fantastic trip and will long smile about the happy memories of a great experience!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the top of the highest free standing mountain on the planet surely is enough inspiration for anyone thinking about embarking on this trip?
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was very good, though the real quality was in the assistant guides: their knowledge, passion and committment to seeing us to the top was immense! They were literally brilliant and made our trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Thoroughly plan everything before you go and then feel free to really immerse yourself in the trip, safe in the knowledge that you're as prepared as humanly possible and don't have to worry about anything you may or may not have remembered!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Nothing other than a fantastic time was had by all and I would thoroughly recommend it to one and all who may be interested.
Andrea Newman

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

Written March 2009
An amazing trip for those that love a challenge.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Waking up to camp covered in snow and dropping down a few hundred metres to a sunny valley covered in giant plants. Being expertly led down a path that had been turned into a fast moving stream by a sudden storm of huge hailstones a real feeling of being alive.
What did you think of your group leader?
All our guides were great people and had been walking Kili for years. I always felt well directed and safe. The Africa Walking Company are the local operator and highly recommended.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take your time and go on one of the longer trips such as shira or lemosho glades for maximum acclimatisation. All of my group made it - we met the Rongai group at the airport and they weren't as successful. Don't forget a waterproof cover for your daysack! Stamina is key - not fitness. Train by long walks rather than or as well as running.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't miss this!
Rachel L Jones

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

Written March 2009
An absolutely brilliant experience and one I won't forget in a hurry. Every cold night in that tent was worth it and I would recommend this trip to anyone I thought would enjoy it.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching Stella Point was the big moment for me, it was actually more emotional than reaching the summit. It was such a long tough climb, and you are tested mentally as well as physically, everyone in our group made it which was fantastic and it was a wonderful moment to share.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was great, he learned everyones names straight away and always made sure we were feeling okay. He gave good advice to those people not feeling well and was extremely knowledgeable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take lots of evergy snacks to eat along the way. Although the guides will give you chocolate bars and fruit i would recommend taking some of your own. Kendal Mint Cake comes highly recommended!
Also, buy the highest season sleeping bag you can get, it is cold in those tents, and if you can't sleep it does not bode well for the next day. Also invest in some good thermals. Its worth paying a bit extra.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was a tough trek, but worth every minute of it. I thought the conditions (toilets, washing etc) would be a struggle, but for me it just made the holiday more interesting. (And highly amusing at times!)