Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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109 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Reviewed July 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

A fantastic week on Kilimanjaro. This was my 2nd attempt @ Kili after previously climbing on the Rongai route. I was under the misguided impression that this would be easier. How wrong! Each day was significantly harder than the Rongai route and in my mind the final ascent was just as hard as previously. It is a long day! It took me 9 hours to get to Stella point, another 5ish to get down, then a quick lunch break before the final 2-3 hour walk to Millenium camp. This trip is far harder than you believe it will be however you will form great friendships and ultimately have one of the most memorable weeks of your life.

Most Inspirational Moment

Amongst our group was a grandfather travelling with his 2 grandsons. The speech given by the grandfather upon receiving his certificate choked me and many of our group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group of 15 was supported by a network of over 50 local staff. Abraham was our group leader and his skills at managing this large group were exemplary. He was always happy, had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the mountain and I was never in doubt that our safety and enjoyment of the time on the mountain was his top priority.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was my second trip to Kili and there are a couple of points I think are vital · HIRE A SLEEPING MAT! They are thicker than anything you could buy here and are carried separately to your luggage therefore do not take up space in your holdall/15kg allowance.· The scales at the Moivaro lodge are incorrect. They stated I was 3 kg over my allowance however after getting rid of some peanuts and wet wipes, my bag only weighed 12kg when weighed by the porters. · Take more cash than you ever intended for tipping. You will need to add to the group kitty but then so many individuals play an important part in your journey you will want to show your appreciation to them directly (i.e. the porter who carries your bag / the guide who gets you to the top of the mountain) I promise that whatever you expect to tip you will want to double when you see how far everyone goes out of their way to help you.· Tuck your trousers into your socks when walking through the jungle or else biting Ants will make the journey north. My friend had to rip her trousers down to find 2 ants biting her legs dangerously close to her knicker line! · READ MY BELOW ADVICE ON DONATING CLOTHES TO THE PORTERS!

Suggestions

onOn our trip one porter wore a pair of plastic overtrousers held together with masking tape therefore we were all keen to donate as much equipment as we could. A bag was left for us to donated unwanted equipment to the porters and this was later sorted onto a sheet placed infront of the porters during the tipping ceremony. It was quite distressing to see that the choicest items we donated were taken by the guides before they were even offered to the Porters! I would recommend you hold back on adding items to this bag and merely add them to the sheet placed directly infront of the porters….or else give as gifts to the porters directly

Reviewed April 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

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!

Most Inspirational Moment

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!

Thoughts on 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.

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.

Suggestions

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!

Reviewed February 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

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!

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on 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.

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.

Suggestions

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!

Reviewed February 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Truly spectacular trip that will probably be one of the most challenging and memorable of my life.

Most Inspirational Moment

The moment when I reached the first summit- I was so overwhelmed by the achievement and the exhaustion that I very nearly cried. The other moment when I got in the shower when we reached the lodge at the end of it all. Running water never felt so good. I've never done anything on a holiday before where I felt such a sense of accomplishment (and maybe a bit of relief that it was over and that i'd made it!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Matthew, the group leader, was a great guide and always there to keep our spirits up as we walked. On the way down from the summit he supported me through a whole section of scree, literally holding me up in parts.

Advice for Potential Travellers

All the websites seem to recommend chocloate bars like Mars to take as a summit snack. Don't do this! The caramel freezes solid and believe me when I say that there's nothing more frustrating than being desperate for a energy fix and trying to gnaw your way through a snack with the consistency of a brick.

Suggestions

DO IT! It's hard, could make you cry, will definitely make you laugh and stays with you forever.

Reviewed January 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Fantastic trip. A liftime experience that you will not forget – very well organised and great value.

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great guy - very calm collected and experienced. Never had any doubts in his abilities as a climber, leader or organiser.

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.

Suggestions

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.

Reviewed January 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Fantastic, a holiday of a lifetime

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit and watching the sunrise.Also watching our porters carrying all our gear on their heads and making it looks so easy!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Really good, could not fault him.The whole team worked very well, we were given a briefing every morning and night so we were always clear on what we would be doing each day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Nomad Travel were excellent - they provided much better medical advice than my own GP and helped us put together a personal travel pack and at very reasonable cost.Invest in a good down sleeping bag, you won't regret it, and we used the lightweight blow up mats from Therma Rest, these were very comfortable and warm.Take plenty of one dollar notes - we did not and it felt awkward when we could not tip as we only had large currency, once in Tanzania it is hard to get any further dollars and tipping is widespread and all done in american dollars.Do not buy a hat that is not adjustable and can be loosened off. Everyone in our group had to cut their hats as we got higher as they really started to dig in and this does not help with any headaches. This is the same for sunglasses, they need to be fairly loose.Aspirin seemed to be the leaders drug of choice for headaches rather than Paracetomol or IbuprofenThe leaders did not encourage the use of Diamox unless you showed symptoms of AMS and they would then recommed when to take it. In fact they did not want you to take any medication without telling them first, including headache tablets. This way they could moniter you much better for AMS than if you were trying to treat yourself. We purchased Diamox to take with us so if we did have to use it we could at least take our own medication but luckily neither of us had to use it. Others in our group did take it in the final 2/3 days but it is difficult to know if it really helped as it certainly did not cure their symptoms, although the AMS may of got worse without it. Keep drinking - those in our group that drank anything less than 3 litres whilst walking certainly seemed to develop symptoms of AMS much quicker. Those that used water bottles seemed less inclined to keep reaching round to grab a drink than those that had a bladder and drinking tube close to your mouth. I veiwed my water as my medicine to prevent AMS and kept sipping every few minutes. This certainly worked for me and I had no AMS symptoms at all over the whole trip. By day 5 I had up'd my water intake whilst walking to 4 litres and grabbed any oppotunity to have drinks with our meals as additional fluid.Keep eating - even when you really don't feel like food you must eat! Take plenty of nice snacks with you and boiled sweets. I found Power Bars good and they are light to carry and certainly give you a long lasting boost.Take at least a 35 litre ruc sac - you don't have to fill it but it makes it easier to pull clothes out quickly if you haven't had to squash them in. On summit night you will take and use all your clothes as by 3am its very cold and you are not generating any heat as the walking pace is very slow. This is when the larger sac really helps.Train before you go - best form of training and the only training we did was walking and lots of it, especially using the walking boots you'll be taking with you. We trained with heavy ruc sacs and this really helped us on Kili, not that you carry a really heavy pack it just meant we were used to it.Washing - you are provided with a bowl of hot water at breakfast and before dinner. Take a light flannel and we used baby wipes as a top up. Take 2 hand gels, we kept one in our day pack and one in your wash kit.

Suggestions

If you love walking and a challenge this is the trip for you. If you have a good level of fitness and a strong determination there is a very good chance you can watch the best sunrise in the world!!

Reviewed January 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

The climb itself was exceptional. The African Walking Company were incredibly hospitable and cheerful. The representative from Exodus however, was less than helpful. In london, i confirmed the schedule over the phone – he had told us that we were sceduled to leave in the morning.. in fact the walking company were to arrive the next day in the afternoon.. and there was another nights stay at a differing hotel.I had to call from Tanzania, spoke to said representative and he assured me that someone would be picking us up that day. However, he was incorrect and once i had spoken to him a second time he did not apologise for the mistake and was most unhelpful. Due to this representative of Exodus, i am very sceptical of usign Exodus again.

Most Inspirational Moment

Singing the Kilimanjaro song with the team and learning about their histories and life experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Team Leader and the other members of the team were exceptional. They were fun, helpful, supportive and knowledgeable about the mountain and the wildlife.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would book directly through the African Walking Company and bypass Exodus. Their customer service is awful.

Suggestions

Tom Bowring, the representative, was unresponsive, gave false information and had spoiled the beginning of a 'trip of a lifetime'. He has also lost future business for Exodus due to his lack of customer care skills.

Reviewed January 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

it was hard, harder than I can put into words but still the best trip I have been on

Most Inspirational Moment

how hard the porters and guides were willing to work to ensure that all the party had an enjoyable trip and reached the top

Thoughts on Group Leader

excellent organiser and leader who worked well with his team. Informative and willing to offer advice when required

Advice for Potential Travellers

stop thinking about it and book the trip, you will not regret it

Suggestions

be positive, don't entertain any other thoughts other than reaching the top and you will get there, listen to the advice from your guides they know what they are talking about, take your time walk slowly! (pole pole)

Reviewed January 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

The most thrilling, rewarding and emotional adventure I have ever been on.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to mention, but here are a few:Setting off from Stella Point in the knowledge that I was going to make it to Uhuru Peak prompted me to burst into tears. An amazing and unexpected personal experience - I hope no one saw me.The camaraderie with guides and fellow trekkers. Personal bonds made for life.So much laughter, especially in times of despair.Getting to the top of the Barranco Wall and, of course, Uhuru Peak - a truly spiritual moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abraham was calm, inspirational, knowledgeable and, by the end of the trip, a true friend. And I have the upmost respect for his whole team, all wonderful people.

Advice for Potential Travellers

First of all read Henry Stedman's book. That's the only guidebook you'll need.Take wet wipes.Plenty of hiking before you go with a heavy load. I hiked 250 miles during the 5 months leading up to the trip.Take something to wee in at night time - you really won't want to leave your tent at night.Hire their mats.Take all the time you need and be positive and remember to laugh and laugh.Talk to the guides and porters, they are such wonderful people.The only time I got blisters was on the way down - that day and a half of descent was an unexpected torture.

Suggestions

I'd been thinking (and talking) about this trek since my late teens. I finally got round to at 49 years of age. Why did I wait so long. If you're thinking of doing it, stop the talking and go for it - it's an adventure that will live in the memory for ever.

Reviewed January 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Brilliant experience. It will no doubt end up being the best and worst thing you’ve ever done.

Most Inspirational Moment

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!

Thoughts on 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.

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)

Suggestions

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.

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