Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtedly getting to the summit as dawn was breaking was the highlight of the trip, but there were many memorable sights and moments along the way. The leaving ceremony (which includes the distribution of tips) on the last day on the mountain, with the majestic backdrop of Kili, and the songs and smiles on all the faces will also remain a very long time with us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader (Makeke) was great - he managed all the logistics (for 8 trekkers, we had him plus 3 assistant guides, a chef and 32 porters), gave good briefings (sufficient information for the following day, but without so much detail that it worried us), was patient when required, and lifted the spirits when we were tired and needed it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Neither of us had done any trekking before, but we did go on a guided practice trek in Surrey, did a number of long walks together with full kit and backpack (including 3-4 litres of water) and tried to get tips and advice from as many people as possible who had done it before. We both did some fitness work and ensured that we had the right kit. Some people say that you don't need to be very fit to climb Kili. Having done a marathon last year and kept the running going, I considered myself reasonably fit, but it was still tough at times. I would certainly recommend lots of quad exercises (ski fitness perfect), particularly for the way down. Everyone says it, but pole pole (slowly slowly) hydrate and eat are the keys to minimising the affects of altitude sickness (you will be very lucky not to get any impact from AMS) - and listen to your guides - they know what they are talking about. You also need to think early in your planning about your electricity power strategy - being unable to plug in any devices for 8 days requires some thinking, but with portable batteries etc, it is definitely manageable, getting to the top and running out of power in your camera/smartphone would be upsetting!

Suggestions

Africa Walking Company, who provide the guides and porters, were excellent and their reputation of being one of the best guiding companies, seemed well deserved. The food we had on the mountain was better than we expected and we continually marveled at how the chef managed to produce this on the ratios and the resources he had.

Most Inspirational Moment

Setting off from Barafu camp at midnight to see a zig-zag line of torches heading up the mountain, with guides singing as we climbed. Magical!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Florence Chrispin was a fantastic leader. He was so support & very clear about the expectations regarding the climb. He was a kind & nurturing leader who clearly had climbers best interests at heart. He led by example & his team were a happy unit who obviously enjoyed working with him & all got on well together. He was stringent in checking our fitness as the climb progressed. He gave his assistant leaders opportunities to shine. All 3 (Hans, Fred & Jonas) were a great support & encouragement to us. He was very clear on the expectations for each day. A genuine & lovely person.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train hard before you come! I had - but still found the climb a tremendous challenge, reaching Stella Point but not Uhuru. I have to be happy with that achievement because I know that there was no way I could have walked for another hour uphill to Uhuru. I also found the descent very hard work & was so grateful for the amount of encouragement given by Jonas. Read as much information about Kilimanjaro before you embark on your trip. There are some wonderful & honest accounts of climbs that present an honest picture of what to expect. I recommend "Kilikmanjaro Summit of Africa" by Jacquetta Megarry (She's climbed all routes). "Kilimanjaro" by Moushabeck & Schultz (beautiful photos & detailed account of the Lemosho route.

Suggestions

I cannot imagine how hard it would have been to be climbing with a team other than Exodus. The efficiency & comfort was superb. The small group is always a better option as it must be difficult for leaders to closely monitor the well-being of individuals in a 20+ group.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Stella point just as the sun rose. I felt I was at my absolute limit, the sun rising over Kilimanjaro provided that final bit of inspiration and energy for the final, oxygen deprived push to Uhuru Peak!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Florence was the best leader I could've hoped for! Safety was addressed very seriously throughout the trip and we would not have reached the top without the strong leadership from the guides. They were there to support us every step of the way and all staff members were very passionate about Kilimanjaro. The guides have been up to the peak more times then they can remember!

Advice for Potential Travellers

- Bring lots of soft tissues, my nose was often blocked at night. - Volcanic ash gets everywhere, bring a nail brush if dirty nails bother you. - Make sure you bring the warmest sleeping bag you possibly can, you will not regret the investment. - Drink lots and lots of water.

Suggestions

Forget all the pre-trip worries or doubts and GO FOR IT! :)

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the summit

Thoughts on Group Leader

Makeke was a superb leader. He was fun, looked after our every need but also made sure we were safe.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is very cold on the summit. There is no substitute for quality equipment

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Stella point after many hours of walking in the dark was exhilarating. Going on from there to the summit was easy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was great. We all felt very safe and he was 100% approachable.

Suggestions

You probably don't need to take as many snacks as you think as you are provided with chocolate and cake or bananas each day

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, it was getting to Stella point. I struggled on summit night and was almost spent by that point! I was rather emotional when we arrived, but the leader (Chris) and the rest of the group gave me the push I needed to reach the summit! Other highlights for me were the Barranco Wall - it looks intimidating but it's so much fun and was very different from any other day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chris was brilliant. Cool headed, calm, and completely in control. It was very reassuring to have someone like him in control. The assistant guides were also fantastic, our full team of 45 guides and porters (for a group of 11 passengers) could not do enough for us! From bed tea, warm water for washing, delicious and varied meals served to us and our camps set up when we arrived in the afternoon - everything was taken care of.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are anything like me, take more than enough layers! I get very cold, and even with the high quality hired sleeping bag, my thermals on at night and a hot water bottle I'd still wake up a little cold! I highly recommend hiring the gear - the down jacket was brilliant, and cumbersome as it is you will be thankful on summit night. Hand/foot warmers were also invaluable to me. You are well catered for so don't need masses of sweets and snacks, but I found it helpful to have something to keep you going that you can put in your pocket (also - the guides LOVED my toffees - if anyone needs any suggestions of gifts to take!) Some of the group had clip devices that they put their cameras in - this is something that would make things a lot easier - getting your camera out of your pocket is difficult at the best of times and it would dissuade me from taking photos. Diamox is an interesting one - we were 50/50 and 9 out of 10 made it to the top. It is very much a personal choice, I didn't take it, and I was glad I hadn't, but for some I think it proved invaluable.

Suggestions

Do your research on selecting the best route. I chose the Lemosho as it gave the longest amount of acclimatization, which was exactly what I needed. Prepare by walking (obviously), and do as much cardio work as you can beforehand - the fitter you are, the better you'll feel whilst walking. If you have spare kit at the end of the trek the porters really appreciate small gifts - they are grateful for anything that you leave behind. Last of all, ENJOY IT!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many inspirational moments, but the top ones for me are: Seeing the stars for the first time at camp, the clear view of Kilimanjaro at night, the moment you realise you are above the clouds and you see a bed of fluffy clouds in the distance. Standing on top of Shira Cathedral and enjoying the magnificent views of Shira Plateau. Sharing the adventure with the people in our group, we became great friends and it was a pleasure to have reached the top and to have shared the journey with them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had Mussa and his team for our expedition and he was amazing, very knowledgeable and social, he was like a big brother to us, making sure we had everything we needed and that we were completely safe. He'd give us briefings every day after dinner and answers any questions we put before him. Mussa and his team works extremely hard, his assistant guides leads the walks and Mussa only took lead on Summit night, this was to ensure that he was the last one to leave camp and that everything was organised and on schedule. Mussa's team was amazing, the assistant guides were excellent, experienced and well versed in english, they set great paces and even if the team did split there was more than enough guides on route with us to reform the groups, so each segment never had to slow down for the other. Mussa works extremely hard, on the final day he was the last to leave the camp and he ran to the final check point to ensure everything was organised and ready for our arrival. On our last night in Tanzania, we had the privilege of going into town with Mussa and a few of the guides to party the night, something that often does not happen. We had such a great connection with Mussa and all future adventurers that are guided under him should count themselves very lucky!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light and don't over do it! I know many of you would have read on various sites to pack a lot of gear, have a lot of snacks etc, but let me tell you this, you are extremely well catered for! You will have a hot meal served to you every dinner, packed lunch given when needed and a hot lunch for days when you are expected to arrive at a camp early, snacks and treats are also provided as well. You only need energy snacks for summit day and nothing else, I'd recommend taking energy tablets for the water which helps you drink the required amount of water per day. (You don't need to do water purification, it was treated for us and everyone was fine drinking it). Bring some entertainment, a pack of cards or a book, some days you arrive at camp early and you often have a lot of hours to burn. Bring a pillow case to put your down jacket in for nights when you're not using it, silk liner is recommended as nights can get extremely cold! Bring a good quality camera! on our trip many bought DSLR's, the weight is fine and the pace is slow enough that you'll be taking a lot of photos! Paracetamol or Ibuprofen a must!! Headaches will come and go and this will help significantly. Diamox is a choice, only 3 out of 14 people in our group took it, research it and decide if you need it, the guides do have it but it's always better to have your own for your own convenience. VISA! try to get this before hand if you're close to the embassy in London, if arriving at Kilimanjaro during the peak time you may find the queue quite big!! Bring something to leave behind! They do so much for you, and have very little, leave what you can behind to help them.

Suggestions

Treasure every moment you're on there! Book now!!! I wish the trip was much longer, it was one of the best experiences of my life!

Most Inspirational Moment

I'd love to say it was triumphing heroically on the summit of the continent, but i had to retreat at top speed in a fit of altitude sickness and vomiting, which looking back on things seems rather more exciting than it was at the time ! What i really loved was getting up slowly each morning from a nippy tent, and seeing the clouds far below us for day after day - truly fantastic

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abraham was a colossus - a big guy, with a big personality, and a capable leader ready with advice for the mountain, an extra supply of diamox, and many a loony tune. And I'd like to apologise to Riccardo, because I kept wanting to call him Rodrigo, which led to other members of the gang wanting to call him Rodriguez.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was a really top trip, but we did have problems at the airport on the way back. Kili airport is small and chaotic - you absolutely must turn up for your flight as far in advance as possible

Most Inspirational Moment

The people! I lucked in with my fellow travellers, that really is just fate, however the local guides and porters were quite simply outstanding. I am humbled to have met so many kind people who gave so much and have so little. I have learn't so much from them and will not forget conversations, words of encouragement and being sang to in order to get us to the top. Other moments, the Dream Team singing at the top of Shira Cathedral, the Baranko Wall, being above the clouds, sunrise on the way to Stellar Point and the glaciers at Uhuru, forget the pictures these memories won't fade.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Makeke definitely has the local knowledge and gives a very detailed briefing of what each day will bring. The organisation of the support team, 57 in total for 14 clients, runs like a well oiled machine. Whoever picks the team is spot on. The 6 guides are outstanding in both terms of knowledge but also compassion. Makeke and the team really do care about what happens to each individual and feel personally responsible for each person. Breath of fresh air in the art of putting others first.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Right this is where I ramble on BUT anyone who does this trip will have a massive penny dropping experience and refer back to this.... Firstly facilities around camp. You will be amazed. There are toilets, not flushing but they do the trick, not holes in the ground, therefore apart from up the mountain where you "send emails" you won't need 100's of loo rolls. Likewise, each day you get hot water in the morning and evening to wash, therefore you won't need 20 packs of wet whipes. Nights can be cold, heat packs are great for warming up your sleeping bag (feet mainly) while you are eating dinner. Which brings me on to food, it's outstanding, how they do it I'll never know! This also mean't to me that I didn't need again 2lb in weight of snacks! Lunch is a packed lunch or hot meal. I would say store supplies for Summit day as it is a long day but apart from that I probably picked on a Cliff Bar during the day on other walks, or bar of chocolate/jelly babies here and there for a boost. The food is generous. Water is essential, if you can get a 3 litre camel pack do it as so much easier to drink that dragging out a bottle, plus you tend to sip on the way. Find out day temperature. I presumed it would be cold as we went up, wrong, day time I didn't have enough t-shirts and shorts and could have swapped the ratio with cold weather clothes. Your bag up the mountain is 15k so pack wisely. Water tastes ok regardless of reports. Finally the guides and porters. Don't underestimate how little they have. Tipping is controlled BUT there is also a gifting of your items if you wish. In hindsight I would have taken old trainers to wear around the camp to leave to them, same with t-shirts and other clothing, hats, water bottles etc. we have too much, they have so little.

Suggestions

Diamox. Very much a personal choice. Research it well and make your own decision so you only have yourself to answer to as to whether you should or shouldn't take it AND do exactly what you are told to do by the guides and leaders. Eat, drink, walk slowly and enjoy!

Most Inspirational Moment

It wasn't the summit - the cloud cover was too low and we didn't see much even though it had been a beautiful clear night with a full moon. (What percentage of summit climbs end up with clear dawn views anyway??) There were many individual inspirational moments - a view, managing to make it to a particular point, watching as the porters carried huge bags up the mountain. When you have made it to camp at the end of a long days walking you will have a great sense of achievement whatever your ability and everyone is very supportive of each other.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All the main guides, including the group leader were employed by The African Walking Company for our climb. Without exception they were kind, helpful, informative and good fun. The cooking was outstanding considering the conditions and to see the porters carry your heavy possessions at twice your speed will leave you feeling humble. The guides ensure no one goes to fast and runs out of steam. Other tour companies are not so vigilant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for the climb by doing plenty of hill walking. Build up to making the walks as steep and as long as possible. This is the best preparation in addition to perhaps cycling or swimming. Think about paying extra for a single tent. If you haven't camped for a while try doing it again a few of times to get used to it. Being able to get a decent nights sleep under canvas is essential to a good days walking the following day. The mat provided by Exodus is fine. I didn't use my blow up mat at all. Take a pee bottle so you don't have to get up and go outside to the loo in the middle of the night! Take a good sleeping bag and a liner (mine was a fleece liner) Again the more you can ensure you get a good nights sleep the better. Most people in our group took Diamox for altitude sickness and seemed fine with it. And most experienced some form of altitude sickness in the form of the odd headache but it did not last more than a day. The Diamox pill I took gave me a lot of pins and needles all over my body and it made me feel worse do I did not take it again. I did have dull headaches but nothing serious.

Suggestions

An alternative to the Lemosho route might be the northern circuit. We did the climb in peak season and if you do the same, do not expect total isolation. Kilimanjaro has become a very popular destination. You will meet and pass many other groups and the camps can resemble refugee camps. Having said that, it did not spoil the adventure. On reflection I think I would have preferred to have climbed to the summit during the morning, returning to base camp in the afternoon. (I am not sure Exodus offer this). This would have involved an extra night at base camp but a less tiring summit day and a longer nights sleep before the climb. The following day could be a trek down to a lower camp than advertised and then the final day would be much shorter. We spent two hours queuing to sign out of the national park after a long walk. We then had to walk to the nearby village for a packed lunch. Most of the other tour companies seemed to bring their mini buses right up to the national park exit. In summary this walk was a great adventure for me (52 year old male) and has inspired me to do more walking in our mountains in Britain. If I had all the money in the world I would book up now to do some challenging mountain treks in the Andes and the Himilayas. Kilimanjaro is a perfectly doable climb for those who want a challenge, haven't any experience of trekking, but are prepared to do some preparation.