Our journey to the summit of Uhuru Peak was the ultimate experience of our lives. Words cannot express the care and kindness we received from Godlisten and his team each moment of the way. We will cherish our eight-day climb up Kilimanjaro, via the Lemosho Route, for the rest of our lives and will never forget the beautiful group of people that made it all possible.

We highly recommend Godlisten's team and Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone interested in reaching the rooftop of Africa. Through all of our research, we discovered tour companies that charge twice as much as Ultimate Kilimanjaro to climb the mountain, but we guarantee you won't find better service or guides out there.

Thank you Ultimate Kilimanjaro, Godlisten and team!

Desiree & Billy Hessel
Denver, CO

A few years ago, our son suggested that we climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with him, but we were quite hesitant, because we were 60 at the time. We have done quite a bit of hiking, including Mt. Whitney, but never anything higher that 14,500 feet. After reading about this great hike on the Ultimate Kilianjaro site, we decided to go for it. So, we trained for two years, and our son, Eric, two of his friends, Sasha, and Nick, and my husband, Karl, and I, (Linda) went on an eight day Lemosho route hike.

Our guide was Theofil and assistant guides, Thomas and Peter. Gaspar took care of us in camp, and Rasheed did some excellent cooking for us. The mountain was amazing, and our guides and the whole crew were kind, helpful, very friendly, respectful, and made our hike a fantastic adventure. They helped us every step of the way. We even had our own, little private toilet set up for us each day by one of the porters.

They called my husband Papa, and me Mum, and they made sure we were safe and had a great time. Theofil, Peter, and Thomas trained us to go pole, pole, and so we all successfully reached the summit. We loved every minute of our adventure, and part of our hearts are still in Tanzania.

Our seven year old grandson asked if we would climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with him, so it is on our calendar for 10 years from now, when he is 17 and we are 72. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to get Theofil, Peter, Thomas, Gaspar, and Rasheed to guide us to the roof of Africa one more time.

Linda W.
Escondido, CA

My husband and I recently successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. We are so glad that we made our arrangements through Ultimate Kilimanjaro; that we took the Lemosho Route; and most of all that you provided us with such a competent and caring guide in Joseph “Photo”.

There were eight people in our climbing group from all over the world. We ranged in age from 26 to 69 and all eight of us made it up the mountain thanks to the excellent support of the Ultimate Kilimanjaro team and the careful guidance and preparation that Joseph Photo provided. Although we were strangers at the start of our climb, we bonded during our hearty meals in the mess tent and on each day’s climb. We were best of friends – across generations and continents - by the end of the trek.

When we arrived at camp on most days, we rested (thankful that our tents were already set up, there was hot food waiting and good water) and then Joseph made sure we went out again for another acclimation hike later in the afternoon. We noticed that some other groups did not go for those afternoon hikes, and they were the ones that had more trouble with the altitude later in the hike. Joseph’s vast experience – more than 150 times up the mountain - paid off for us many times. He also has an extensive knowledge of the plant life at each zone of the mountain and his identification (in both Latin and English!) of the varied bushes, trees and plants on Kilimanjaro enhanced our experience immensely.

We also appreciated the efforts that our cooks, guides, and porters made to help us learn some basic Swahili which brought many smiles from other Tanzanians during our trip and when we went on safari after our descent.

We highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro for your Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. And ask for Joseph Photo to be your guide – you’ll thank him every step of the way!

Joyce N.
Evergreen, CO

I have been home for a couple weeks since summiting Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route with Ultimate Kilimanjaro, and have let the various concerns of city life delay this letter, but I feel that adding my voice to the many testimonials already on your website is important. It is how excellent guides get recognition and Salim certainly deserves that.

I have type 1 diabetes, and I knew this would be a challenge in some respects, certainly in regards to keeping my medication safe in very hot and very cold environments. But I was also worried that perhaps my team wouldn't understand some of the symptoms and problems and could potentially confuse hypo/hyperglycemia with AMS. Salim put those fears to rest, however. He was, in his words, our "doctor on the mountain," and took his job seriously, taking time to learn about my condition and medications. He was also exceptionally careful with my mother's progress without being condescending, which is important to a woman with a bum knee but plenty of climbing experience.

His staff, which we understand were picked by him, was excellent. Goda, the waiter, was a more attentive one than many I've had in fine dining establishments here at home. The cook was able to make delicious meals out of very simple fare; I'll never forget his creativity with the nightly soup. All the porters were friendly, enthusiastic and, most importantly, effective.

Salim, beyond taking exceptional care of us, was also a very pleasant hiking companion. His English was great, and he was quite the conversationalist. He also took time out of his in-between climbs break to have dinner with my mother and I and to show me around Moshi the day after our return, helping me avoid getting completely fleeced by the friendly but hustling locals. I consider him not just a guide but a friend, and would recommend him and Ultimate Kilimanjaro in a heartbeat.

Tobias Coughlin-Bogue & Kerry Coughlin
Seattle, WA

Ultimate Kilimanjaro was our guiding company and we were pleased with their competence and supportive approach.

CDF Kilimanjaro climb blog

Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada

I spent many months preparing for it and yet I still felt completely unprepared when I first set my eyes upon Mt Kilimanjaro's peak that reached above the clouds and that was far too close to my airplane window! I felt that feeling of sheer panic again when I saw the vast mountain from our truck window as we approached the park gates on the first day of our climb. My luggage had also been lost and so this added to my anxiety.

My first night sitting around the table with almost 7 other strangers my feelings of anxiety soon began to subside: laughing and joking around a delicious meal that surpassed all my expectations of what we were going to eat on the mountain, we became an instant team. As our climb went on, our entire team, including our most excellent guide Godlisten, our assistant guides, and our porters grew very close. Our guide made sure I had everything I needed to be safe and comfortable on the mountain despite my lost luggage and the Ultimate Kilimanjaro crew ensured that our spirits remained high throughout the entire climb. 7 of our team of 8 reached the summit and it is a moment in my life that I will never forget. I have travelled around the world quite a bit but I must admit that I have never walked away from a trip with such an amazing sense of accomplishment and I want to thank Ultimate Kilimanjaro for the special memories I will hold dear forever.

Kathleen V.
Ottawa, Canada

My trip with Ultimate Kilimanjaro was beyond awesome! Honestly I was a bit nervous on who I was going to end up paired with on my trip. I couldn't have had a better team and we all had a blast and half. After days of tough slogging our nights were full of laughs and fun, I took the Lemosho route because of the high summit success rate and because of how beautiful the route is supposed to be and it didn't disappoint. It was gorgeous and I got some awesome pictures. Although I will say that just because of the high summit success rate doesn't mean it's the easiest route, from the very beginning we all knew that it was going to be an eight days to be reckoned with. Seven out of eight of us made it to the top (including myself) and it was a fine end to a tough but very rewarding experience. Our main guide Richard V. was fantastic, very caring and well mannered he took care of us all very well. For instance on the way back down from the summit I blew out my back, Richard and our assistant guide Johnson walked the slow and steep downhill path with me, never begrudgingly but with a smile and good encouragement whenever I thought my back had finally had it. So amazing was everyone on my team it was like a match made in heaven.

I absolutely recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone considering taking on this great challenge, if I were to ever go back and climb her again, Ultimate Kili would be my FIRST choice! I will never forget the friendships that were made and memories that will remain in my heart forever!

Charlie C.
Covina, CA

I have just come back from my trip. I would like to inform you that my two friends and I had a wonderful time. We were truly impressed with the wonderful service that was provided by all the porters, guides, and cooks. I would also like to take a moment to mention about our guide Richard. The day before the climb our nerves were high and we were quite anxious, but meeting with Richard for the first time he reassured us and and put our minds at ease. He continued to do this for the rest of our climb, always encouraging us, making us laugh and being there for us whenever we needed him. The night we headed out for the summit climb I was feeling a little ill, and Richard was always there to encourage me and comfort me with an arm around me. Richard and his team were kind, selfless, and really fun to be with. I am really grateful for having a guide like him. I want to thank you for all the arrangements that you have made to make our trip a memory that I will cherish forever.

On behalf of my group I want to thank Richard, Johnson and the team for a wonderful trip.

Giselle S.
Toronto, Canada

Both Joe and I summitted at Uhuru and it was overall a great experience. Thanks very much for your patience in answering our questions. It all contributed to a very positive experience.

Dean F.
Cambridge, Canada

HUGE thanks to Kevin and our local guides/team Theo, Buga, Gasper, George, Peter et al. You helped bring our dream to life. Our best experience EVER, our unreserved recommendation to anyone thinking of climbing Kilimanjaro - go do it and use these guys as the service, the support, the planning and the way you are looked after is superlative.

Alan and Nicole C.
Warrington, UK

I took my twin sons up Mount Kilimanjaro for their 21st Birthday in January 2013 and I couldn't think of a better activity to do. I first saw the mountain from the Kenyan side 28 years ago and thought I'd be back but to do it with my sons made the trek even more worthwhile.

After checking out various websites I selected Ultimate Kilimanjaro based on price and testimonials. I wasn't disappointed as the staff at Ultimate were all really helpful and responded promptly to my queries. On arriving in Tanzania all activities happened to plan. The people were all all very friendly and helpful and there's a good atmosphere at Springlands Hotel with trekkers coming and going.

I was really impressed with the way the guide and porters toiled to look after us. After striking camp they would forge ahead with uneven loads on their heads to ensure we had a tent over our heads and a warm meal ready to eat when we arrived at the next camp. Our guide was Godlisten and I'd really recommend him. He maintains a good rapport with his team of porters and is genuinely concerned for their welfare. This all works well for an enjoyable trek.

My respect for Godlistern really increased on summit day when one of my sons came down with AMS. Godlisten quickly assessed the situation and whisked him down the mountain to Barafu Camp before any harm was done. That's the decisiveness I would expect in a guide when your welfare is very much in their hands. My other son and I went on to the summit with the assistant guide. Godlistern is quite a spiritual man and made the point of singing a hymn in Swahili to us each night. Maybe he assessed we needed it but on the mountain we were prepared to accept any assistance we could get.

My take aways from the climb are several. We took the Lemosho route and I would highly recommend this for the additional acclimatization it affords and the wonderful scenery and flora. Trekking along the Shura plateau was one of the highlights for me. The sun is incredibly intense at altitude so next time I'll definitely wear a bandana and cover up more - the sun burns any exposed skin in no time at all. Although we carried Diamox we decided not to take it. In the case of my son who suffered severe AMS it might have made the difference between summiting or not. But there were others who took Diamox and still suffered from AMS. I also vacillated over whether to pay for a private toilet or not. In the end I took Ultimate's advice and did so. It really did make life much more convenient and provided a job for another porter at the same time.

Kilimanjaro was a fantastic experience and wouldn't hesitate to use Ultimate once again.

Jon D.
Bangkok, Thailand

Kilimanjaro is seen in the mountaineering community as a mountain easily accessible and of no great technicality, I think it is for this reason that Killi has one of the highest failure rates out of all the seven summits. Many come to Africa expecting an easy hike and get turned around on the last day when the hike becomes an 8 hr grind to the summit. The mountain wasn’t easy and I definitely won’t be one of the people that say they have conquered the mountain. No climber ever conquers a mountain, we ask permission to walk on her sides and stand upon her summit and if the mountain lets you up and down without injury then be thank full.

It was 4 days up to Kibo hut which is situated at the base of the steepest part of the climb and the beginning of summit day. On the 5th morning we woke at midnight and pushed 7.15hrs to the summit of the largest free standing mountain in the world. It was a slow painful grind in the surprising cold with multiple false summits to really twist your mental when all you want to be is finished. Some quick photos on the summit for my sponsors and then a two hour decent back to Kibo. After two hours of rest and a quick meal it was a further thousand metres down and 10km before we could finally call our summit day over.

I have been to Africa three times before and every time I fall in love with its people and its simple way of life. “No hurry in Africa” is a phrase you will hear over and over again and to Sydney ears this can sound like profanity at first but once you accept it and go along with it you will find a simple way of life that just works no matter how chaotic or prehistoric it seems.

Luke Richmond
Oatlands, Australia

[note: Luke is attempting to be the youngest Australian to climb the seven summits. He has climbed five so far. Follow his progress at olocadventures.com,au.]

Reaching the top brought on a crazy mix of sharp and precisely focused senses – accomplishment… jubilation… exhilaration… privilege. There’s more, but mere words can’t do it justice. Making the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

World Wide Wondering climb blog

Katy and Michelle

If you want to have a truly amazing experience on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Ultimate Kilimanjaro is the company for you. They were great in helping us plan the logistics of the trip, determine what gear to bring and were always quick to answer any questions we had. Ultimate Kilimanjaro constantly worked around our group's changing schedule. As we kept adding more and more climbers, they kept responding, 'Not a problem.' Once in Tanzania, we were put up at a nice hotel, close to the mountain, and provided professional top notch guides to lead our 7-day Rongai trek.

Everything was first class with Ultimate Kilimanjaro. I would definately recommend them to other friends and family that want to hike up the mountain or go on safari.

Ryan E.
San Francisco, CA

Just returned to the US after climbing the mountain through Lemosho route. The climb was challenging, and so were the living conditions. But we were absolutely well taken care of by the wonderful crew of porters, guides and cooks. By the time we would reach our camps, our tents would be up, warm water to wash-up and the freshly cooked meals almost ready. The meals were well-thought out, nutritious and absolutely delicious. Some of the amenities were beyond our expectations and totally appreciated. The privy tent was specially appreciated. All these little things made the experience much more pleasurable. I do not have a single complaint and I will recommend UltimateKilimanjaro to all my friends.

Ghazala S.
Raleigh, NC

I meant to write you right after our trip but things have been busy. I just wanted to let you know that everything went great! Our guide Innocent was everything we expected and more. Innocent and his team were the reason we were able to make it up to the top without a problem, they really did a fantastic job. I would 100% recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro and Innocent as a guide to anyone wanting to climb Kili! Attached is a picture of us on the summit. Thanks for all of your help!

Dan F.
Washington, DC

The trip went very well and more than met all of our expectations. Even a little inclement weather on summit night took nothing away from the overall enjoyment and experience. Special thanks to our guide Living and his assistant Thomas and the rest of the crew. There was definitely no getting to the top without them. The post climb safari, in particular Ngorongoro Crater, was also quite interesting and provided us with a much needed couple of days of just being able to sit back and take it all in.Thanks for the help and coordinating effort from your end. I'd do this again.

Kelvin F.
Toronto, Canada

There I was -yes, I'd trained for about 7 weeks but when I bundled into the van with all the 20-somethings heading up the mountain in early August, 2011, my heart fell: was I going to be to the one to hold this vivacious group back? After all, I've not seen 20 for some decades. No worries. Immediate acceptance and friendliness and a sense that we were all in this together; there wouldn't be winners, there wouldn't be losers. The mountain might beat some of us to our knees, but we'd become an instant team.

No amount of reading about this can prepare you for the reality so I'll keep it short; it's both easier and harder than you think. Getting up there with the expert guides is relatively easy given a basic level of fitness and some luck (no severe mountain sickness). Getting down was painful and long. Did I mention long? Very very long.

So, UltimateKilimanjaro? Excellent. Excellent without compare. Total commitment to safety and the guides go the extra miles ensure safety and don't just guide you up the mountain but assess you at virtually every step for evidence of mountain sickness and - indeed - your ability to go ahead safely. The guides (chief and assistant) helped me at every point, even insisting I give up my day pack for a while to be able to ascend safely. This was more than a professional concern - I had the sense of being encompassed by a group of people who really cared about my success and my safety. And this extended to my team of strangers; never once did I feel any resentfulness that I needed some extra help at some particularly difficult points. Total support.

Seven of the team made it to Uhuru; one couldn't because of severe acute mountain sickness that persisted despite descent of about 6,000 feet.

Would I do it again? No it was as once-in-a-lifetime experience. But if I were to do it again, UltimateKilimanjaro would be my choice.

John F.
Vancouver, WA

We had a fabulous time and all (7 of us) made it to the summit, even with some real challenges. Dismas, our lead guide, was a fabulous person and an excellent guide; he deserves the highest commendation for excellent communication, support, and flexibility. And all of the support team were very helpful. Thank you again for all your help in setting this up and advising us in preparation for Kili.

Carole P.
Berkeley, CA

I just wanted to write to say a big thank you. My kilimanjaro climb was successful, and an awesome experience. The other members of the group, the entire staff (especially Theophili & Attely), the facilities, cuisine and equipment were superb. The 1st class treatment definitely exceeded my expectation. I would definitely use your services in the future and highly recommend you to friends and family.

Phil A.
Phoenix, AZ

Our guide Bruce, the assistant guides and the rest of guys did a first rate job. They were friendly, light-hearted, and caring bunch who used their knowledge, experience, and skill to get us all to the top. It was so reassuring to see how Bruce was well-known and respected on the mountain by the rangers and other groups. The Ultimate Kilimanjaro crew made sure everybody had a safe, successful climb. They even took the time pass on knowledge to new porters regardless of which company they belonged to. On the way to Barranco Camp, assistant guide Fortunatus noticed that a porter from a rival group was gathering murky water at a low end of a stream by the trail. He correctly advised him to walk further upstream to gather water as it would be less contaminated. The porter then emptied his water container and started hiking up the ridge to follow Fort's advice. This was just one of the many examples of the professionalism of our crew. They were great and I can't thank them enough for a memory of a lifetime! Ultimate Kilimanjaro definitely delivered the goods and I highly recommend them to anyone.

Peter T.
Renton, WA

We recently returned from our adventures in Tanzania and cannot thank Ultimate Kilimanjaro enough for the amazing trip! They planned everything from our climb to safari and answered all our questions prior to departing. As you can tell, they also have an excellent website with all of the information you need. Our climbing guide Richard is one of the best on the mountain. He is definitely the reason I made it to the summit. Our entire group was successful thanks to him! We chose the Lemosho route and highly recommend it. The scenery is fantastic and the trails and camps are quiet the first couple of days. We followed our climb with a 5-day safari that also comes highly recommended. Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti are beautiful places with tons of animals to see. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime!

Melissa A., Jack S., Brett C., and Shanna M
New York, NY

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say thank you for giving us a great starting point for our Kilimanjaro climb. We thought the 8 day Lemosho Route was awesome, not only for the scenery, but also for the way it really follows the "hike high, sleep low" mantra you often hear when dealing with altitude.

Our guide, Theo, was an excellent resource - he had been to the summit over 300 years in his 10 years as a guide, and he treated us well. He was watching us from day 1, measuring our ability and keeping a pace that was appropriate for us. His knowledge paid off - All 8 people in our group made the summit.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks. I don't know what else to say - it was an unbelievable experience that is hard to put into words.

Travis R.
Noblesville, IN

I want to thank Ultimate Kilimanjaro for a great trip to Tanzania. Everything was arranged with the local company when we got there and we had no worries during the trip. Our climb guide, Jacobs, and the rest of the climb staff were excellent. They were all very professional and patient with us during our 7-Day Rongai trek. It was the hardest thing I've ever done and they were the main reason why we made it to Uhuru Peak! The 5 Days on safari was very exciting. Sleeping in the middle of the Serengeti desert was a once in a lifetime experience. And our safari guide, Papu, was very fun, knowledgable and accommodating.

I would definitely recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone interested in a trip to Tanzania. I had the best time! .

Kizzie C.
Brooklyn, NY

Ultimate Kilimanjaro arranged a truly fantastic trip for us. We successfully climbed Kilimanjaro along the beautiful Lemosho route with excellent guides and porters who always took great care of us. Our guide, Bruce, was very attentive. He organized the porters, food, and equipment so that we never waited for anything. Bruce made every effort to make sure that we were comfortable, safe, and happy. We had the experience of a lifetime.

Anton's blog

Anton K.
London, United Kingdom

The trip was amazing, the Tanzanian people are among the friendliest and accommodating I have ever come across, and I have nothing but respect for the porters and guides who take this trip twice a month! The last night was one of the hardest of my lives, and is an accomplishment that can only be truly appreciated with hindsight.

Anthony F.
Dublin, Ireland

Ultimate Kilimanjaro arranged a superb trip in Tanzania for us. We successfully climbed Kilimanjaro with excellent guides who took great care of us and made every effort to make sure we were comfortable, safe, and happy. Filbert was an excellent guide, organizing the porters, food, and equipment masterfully. He uses the same staff for most of his climbs, so they know exactly what he wants them to do and where to place the campsites. So, we always had the best location at the mostly crowded camps. The food was very good, though way more than we could eat. We were extremely happy with both Filbert and Jackson and our cook, Moses. Filbert also knows a great deal about the flora of the mountain, so told us about all the flowers, trees, shrubs and ecosystems. We really enjoyed that. He has obviously taken the time to learn everything he could so that he adds a lot of value to those climbers who are interested. We couldn't have been more pleased with our climb. Filbert is also a rice farmer. When we got back to Moshi, he took us out to his farm and explained the whole process of growing and harvesting rice to us. Very thoughtful of him and very interesting to us.

Ultimate Kilimanjaro also planned a wonderful safari, with visits to 4 of Tanzania's best national parks. Our safari guide was very good and very knowledgeable about the parks, the animals, and the ecosystems. Our 3 weeks in Tanzania will always be a highlight for us.

Gail's Tanzania photos

Gail Schoetter
Parker, CO

[note: Gail is a former United States Ambassador, Colorado Lt. Governor and State Treasurer]

We had a great time. Our guide Bruce was fantastic. His assistant and the rest of the porters were amazing.

Even though this was my second trip, I'm already wanting to go back and do it again.

Jim B.
Bonner Springs, KS

I originally selected Ultimate Kilimanjaro after researching numerous tour operators on the internet. The UK website provided all of the information necessary for a successful climb and their prices are very fair. I took my two teenage sons to climb Kilimanjaro followed by a safari to Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro crater. Unfortunately, my sons got AMS and we didn't reach the summit but the safari was outstanding.

Disappointed that I didn't get a chance to summit, a month later I booked another climb with UK via the Rongai route. I think my guide John did a great job of acclimatizing me with 3 acclimatization hikes out of our second cave and third cave camps. I also took Diamox this time which probably helped too. I didn't suffer from any AMS symptoms which made summit day very enjoyable and I successfully reached Uhuru Peak. I even felt good enough to walk down to the glacier and see the ice up close.

Thank you UK for your first class service and careful attention to details, all I had to do was show up and walk! My sons were a little jealous when I returned but also happy for me. My older son is inspired and wants to return for another chance to summit. He (or we) will make sure to book again with Ultimate Kilimanjaro, I am very satisfied with your service.

Durland McCaslin
Powder Springs, GA

Project C:Change

Project C:Change website

We had an amazing time. Our guide was excellent. He seemed to have a sixth sense for when people were struggling or feeling unwell, and concentrated 100% on helping and making things more comfortable for us. I was sick one day (stomach cramps etc) and the difference a caring guide made was astounding.

Our summit day was great fun, and we all made it safely to the top. The guide/assistant guides were extremely vigilant, ensuring we were safe and happy at all stages of the summit day!

Justin's Kilimanjaro climb blog

Justin M.
Dublin, Ireland

Our recent trip to Tanzania with Ultimate Kilimanjaro was fantastic. The website acted as a comprehensive guide for gear and route selection as well as providing a one stop shop to get the most out of our trip (we added a two day safari after our climb). All queries were answered promptly.

Special thanks goes out to our guide Mohammad who insured my wife made the summit - the assistant guide and porters were also fantastic. The guide, assistant guide and porters seemed to perceive exactly how you were feeling (I had AMS for 4 days during the trip) and manage their support accordingly - they allowed for the maximum feeling of personal achievement balanced with the right amount of support/encouragement.

We had chosen the 8-day Lemosho route. At the beginning the campsites had little traffic. As we approached the summit and the numbers increased, our guide, assistant guide and porters always insured we had a great camping spot with access to toilets, etc. - you would be amazed at how important this becomes.

We saw an abundance of wildlife during our safari in Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Crater including a herd of elephants walking within feet of our 4WD and the two day safari post climb provided a great time to relax and catch our breath.

Liam M.
Kingston, United Kingdom

We made it all the way to the summit thanks to the wonderful guides. They were very receptive to each individuals needs and abilities. I have a food allergy and they were very careful and respectful of my food needs. The whole mountain staff was great and we had a very positive experience.

Katie G.
Englewood, CO

Both of us had a fantastic time on the trip. Everything from the point we stepped out of the airport to the point we went back to the airport really left us spellbound! Although Shruti made it to Uhuru and I went up to only Gilman every step of the way was fun! It was also really physically challenging and both of us felt like dying at some point but now it only seems funny when I think about it. Coming down from Uhuru to Gilman was a real challenge and I am not sure I would get to do anything like it again in my life. For nearly two hours I came down sliding on mud, which is how the terrain was from Kibo hut to Gilman point.

Over and above everything the best part of the trip was really the crew. We got to know everyone by name and got along really well. Our guide and assistant guide were fantastic chaps. We really felt lucky to have them as our guides at the point we got altitude sickness. The sickness hit me big time midway between Gilman point and Uhuru while Shruti went all the way to Uhuru and then got hit. From the point we got sick our guides nearly carried us all the way from the top to Kibo hut - nearly 1100 mts descend for 2 hours. I cant begin to imagine how lucky we were to have good guys with us because we heard other people on the trip say that their guides sucked big time. The other crew including the porters, cooks were also really fantastic. The food, although very simple by earthly standards was fantastic on the mountain. With the travel itself being so minimalistic the food that these guys prepared was really awesome. In fact when both of us got altitude sickness, they took requests from us and made special stuff for us. At the end of the trip we felt so good about the entire crew that we took them out to dinner (about 9 of them) at one of the best places in Moshi town.

Vijai S. & Shruti C.
Naperville, IL

Ultimate Kilimanjaro was phenomenal in arranging the best possible trip for us and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone wanting a hassle-free straightforward experience. Dealing with a company in the U.S. who knows exactly what they are doing made things so much easier because I had full trust and confidence. Their local tour company is the best and most experienced group around. Our guide was a staggering 12-year veteran guide with a jaw-dropping 100% success rate in getting clients to the top. All of the porters and workers were incredibly hard-working and were instrumental to our success. We felt that we were better prepared than most other climbers there because of Ultimate Kilimanjaro's excellent website that gives vital information for preparation.

Thank you so much for making our one year wedding anniversary an unforgettable experience that changed us forever.

Ton P.
Brookline, MA

I went to Kilimanjaro through Ultimate Kilimanjaro and had an amazing trip. I started working with Ultimate back in early June to plot out my trip. I ended up doing a 7 day climb via Lemosho and a 5 day safari afterward. The trip lived up to if not exceeded expectations. Ultimate did a very good job of prepping me for the trip, the site has a lot of useful information and helped us prepare for the trip. I've done a lot of international traveling (25+ countries) and used plenty of tour operators, I can readily admit Ultimate is one of the best operators I've used.

They're very prompt and straight forward with their responses. I had some last minute adjustments with my trip and Ultimate was able to work around my conflicts to make sure things work. During the climb, we interacted with several other tour groups; Ultimate offered some of the best services that we encountered. Compared to some of the fancy brand name operators (Tusker, Thomson, REI), Ultimate was able to hold its own. I was unable to see any difference between our campsite (food, tent) and the big names. This was very surprising considering some of those operators charge 2x-3x more than what we paid.

Vijay Ramanavarapu
Bay Area, CA

I had a great time on the Kilimanjaro trip. It was the highest peak I have ever been on. I think anyone with fair physical fitness can make it to the top and enjoy the experience of life time. Good company with friendly staff!

James L.
Freemont, CA

We had a great time. The local operator did a great job and put together a great team. For the cost, I feel we got a great deal. Our summit day went quite smoothly. It was nearly a one to one ratio between guide and hiker which I thought was great and very safe. I will certainly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone who wishes to travel to Tanzania. I don't know how you do it, but it was nice to have such prompt service.

We also had a great time in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Thank you again,

Esther K.
Besthesda, MA

Carolyn H.
New York, NY

Climb for a Cure

Climb for a Cure blog

I had a perfect trip! Tanzania is not to be missed if you can possibly do it! I did the 8 day Lemosho route and it was absolutely wonderful. From talking to lots of different people on the mountain, who were doing lots of different routes, it seemed to me that the Lemosho is the way to go. It's beautiful! The food is a simpler menu then what I adhere to at home but it was very good and there was plenty of it at all times. During my entire trip I did not get ill one time which I see as a testament to the sanitary conditions that prevailed. The people of Tanzania and especially the guides and porters are a delight. The Serengetti was great but the Ngorongoro Crater was something else. I got to see the African "Big 5" several times over (Lion, Cape Buffalo, Cheetah, Rhino and Elephant) along with thousands of Zebras, Giraffes, and all the other animals you would expect. I took over 1000 digital pics and now I'm faced with the pleasant task of culling them. In closing I would like to recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone anticipating a climb of Kilimanjaro or just a Tanzanian safari.

Gil N.
Lake Havasu City, AZ

Annie and I just returned from our 3 month trip to Africa. We had a great time! I would like to thank you at Ultimate Kilimanjaro for setting up our trip to the Serengeti and the climb up Kilimanjaro. Everything went smooth, beginning with our arrival, even though the airlines lost some of our luggage. Simon was kind enough to wait for us while we filled out our forms for lost luggage. He even picked it up when it arrived the next day and delivered it to us.

We have always wanted to see the Crater and the Serengeti and until you go, you can't really appreciate the magnitude of the area or the spectacle of the migration! We saw over a hundred lions, thousands and thousands of Wildebeest and Zebras, Elephants, Cheetahs, Leopards, and so much more. We had Robert for our guide for the two weeks and I can't say enough about what a great guide he was and what a quality person he is. He was very knowledgeable and had eyes like a hawk for spotting the animals. The Serengeti Wildcamp was a special place. What a great setup! The comfort of home in the bush! All the people at the camp were very nice and the service was outstanding! They even surprised Annie with a birthday cake at dinner on her birthday. Nice touch!

As you know, we climbed the Lemosho route up Kilimanjaro. That was an incredible experience! Our guide was Dismis and he was a top notch guide which we would highly recommend. He made sure we made it to the summit which we did on a beautiful sunrise and he kept us safe the entire time. His porters were very good and very nice people. The food was much better than we had expected for an eight day hike. We had beautiful weather the entire 8 days and have great memories for the rest of our lives. We are very happy that we chose you to set up our trip and were very impressed with your local operator.

Ted and Anne S.
Vail, CO

 

We're back in the states and recovered after a great trip. Thanks for your help in getting us all squared away and set up to be successful on our travel and the climb. The folks we worked with in Tanzania from the drivers, to the hotel staff to the great guide and staff who really helped get us up the mountain were all top notch as well. Thanks again.

Matt B.
Sacremento, CA

---

Thanks to the arrangement of Ultimate Kilimanjaro, everything went smoothly for both of our climb and safari. We made a short and quick decision to climb Kilimanjaro only 6 weeks ahead. Ultimate Kilimanjaro made our booking and planning a lot easier. The transaction was fast and convenient. We were able to find almost all the information we needed on their website. The staff was always there to answer any questions we had. I wish I had listened their advice on not to overpack. Being a vegetarian, I was worried that I may not be able to get enough vegetarian protein in the mountain. So I packed all kinds of nuts with me and ended up giving them away at the end of the climb. The food was a lot better than we expected on the mountain and was exceptional during the safari. We even had pasta for dinner the night before summit. Fellow climbers were so envious that I had such a good appetite at high elevations.

Our guides Theophili and Arsen made sure we were well taken care of. Theophili is a strong leader who kept reminding me that Kilimanjaro is a mountain and tiredness is common when I was so sleepy. Arsen helped carry my daypack when he noticed that I was exhausted and lagging behind. Being an avid runner and having summited a couple 14ers in California, I always thought I could make it to Africa's roof, I just didn't think it would be that hard. I don't think we could ever have made it to Uhuru Peak without the constant drive and attention from Theophili and Arsen. Climbing Kilimanjaro is certainly not a walk in the park. We also owe our thanks to our cook, waiter, and porters, who are truly the most amazing people on Kilimanjaro. Now to my running friends who think they are tough and fast, I have to say that I could pick any one of the porters and chances are he could outrun any of them.

We would also like to thank our safari guide Henry and cook Msafiri. Henry was great in showing us animals we almost missed during game drive. He had been very patient while we just couldn't take enough pictures of those wild animals. Msafiri is a very good cook who made sure we were well fed. I never missed the food in Bay Area during my trip in Tanzania. Thanks again to Ultimate Kilimanjaro. We had a wonderful time. We will definitely refer our friends for their trip to Tanzania.

Danwei and Yujie
Bay Area, CA

I had a great experience with my successful climb up to Uhuru peak along the Marangu route. The staff at the hotel was friendly and courteous. The fact that the hotel was private and secure was also comforting since it was the first trip I'd ever taken to Africa. The guide provided was friendly, experienced, and did not ask me to do anything more than I was capable of doing. The rest of the staff, including the porters, cook, and waiter, were all excellent. Overall, I'd rate everthing from Ultimate Kilimanjaro's willingness to answer any questions I had about the trip, to the staff, accomodations, and food in Tanzania as an A+. I would definitely book through Ultimate Kilimanjaro again.

Mark T.
Bonita, CA

I have just come back to Ireland after a successful climb via the Machame Route to Uhuru Peak. I went with my sixteen year old daughter and my brother-in-law and we booked the whole trip through Ultimate Kilimanjaro. They organised the porters, guides, cook, tents, food water, etc. so that when we arrived everything was ready to go. Our trip went extremely well, we spent 6 days on the mountain and we all got to the summit. Though not the cheapest, they were very well organised and without issue. I would use Ultimate Kilmanjaro again and would recommend them to anyone who wants everything organised and hassle free.

Fin O.
Kilcullen, Ireland

Our trip was near perfect. Both Jeff & I were impressed at how organized everything was. From the airport shuttles, the hotels, the climb, to the safari, everything went off without a hitch. On the climb our waiter (Wahzeelee) did everything possible to make sure we were having a great time and didn't want for anything. The guides were knowledgeable and very accommodating for a couple of "flatlanders" like us.

On the safari our guide Henry went way out of his way to show us some amazing sites (way more than we had expected to see). We will never forget sitting outside in our chairs at our tent site in the evenings listening to the lions and the zebras go through their nightly ritual on the Serengeti.The wait staff (especially Jovin) and all the workers at the hotel were really wonderful people who made us feel like we were right at home. The food was good and plenty of it. We were not ready to leave.

I would highly recommend this trip for anyone looking for an adventure and a good time.
Thanks for everything!

Jay M.
Gaylord, MI

My experience was absolutely incredible. As far as the trip, hike and tour in their entirety, I speak and think highly of the land and the people. It's a beautiful land with beautiful people. The culture is one to be prepared for, but it's always a shock when you experience it in person on hand. The experience I had with UK was just as pleasing. I was more than positively surprised at the support of the staff.

April Y.
Beavercreek, OH

The trek up the Machame route was fantastic. I can't say enough good things about my guide (Coleman) and his crew. The meals cooked and served along the way were wonderful. I didn't know until later, but apparently Coleman was closely monitoring my food intake. When we got to Karanga camp at noon on Sunday (October 12), Coleman asked (during lunch) if I would like to skip that camp site, and go on up to the Barafu site and go for the summit the next morning. I was leery, but he assured me that I would have a much better chance to make to the top if we went a day early. I had not suffered any altitude sickness - no headaches or nausea to that point, so I said OK. He later told me that I wasn't eating enough, and that he was concerned I would not have the energy to make it to the top with 4 more meals of not eating enough. I thought I was "packing it in", but apparently it wasn't enough. Anyway, we did go on to Barafu camp and began the summit ascent at a little after midnight. I have to admit that there were a couple of times that I wondered if I could make it, but with Coleman's encouragement and plenty of rest stops, we made it. We got to the top at about 6:30 a.m. Monday morning (October 13) and got to Uhuru peak a little before 7:30 a.m.

The trip to the top was difficult, but definitely bearable because the scenery was so beautiful. I didn't have to contend with any joint problems or altitude sickness problems. I was looking forward to the hike down, but little did I know that that was going to be the most difficult part (for me). I've had 5 knee surgeries and have a bad hip. They didn't bother me going up, but going down was agony. When we got to the bottom I was even more grateful that we went to the summit a day early so that I would have an extra day at the hotel to rest and recuperate before the long trip home.

I had a fabulous trip, and would not hesitate to recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone. They took great care of me and were always available to answer questions. At my age, this is not a trip I will ever take again, so it truly was a once in a lifetime experience. I would however recommend it to anyone with a spirit of adventure or anyone who wants to see scenery like none other on earth.

Steve E .
Broken Arrow, OK

Just wanted to inform you that we completed our climb yesterday [July 30, 2010]. Our service was perfect. Our guide, Yusuf Ngaina, was very experienced and like a good coach, he was able to extract the best performance out of us and finally lead my brother and I to the summit. Yusuf's crew was also very professional and well-versed with the mountain. I am extremely grateful that I came across Ultimate Kilimanjaro and would highly recommend Yusuf and his team specifically to any future climbers. Thank you again for your help in organizing this trip.
.

Faisal M.
Calgary, Canada

Brendan S.
Edmonton, Canada

I researched and considered at least eight tour operators - including local and international, expensive and budget companies. But I "ultimately" chose Ultimate Kilimanjaro for the value of their climbs/safaris and the quality customer service. Ultimate Kilimanjaro was very patient in answering all of my questions over the course of several weeks while I tried to find the best route and safari itinerary for my six-person group. In Tanzania, each and every aspect of our tour was executed without a hitch, which is no easy feat, as anyone whose ever travelled in Africa can attest to.

Mark P.
Colorado Springs, CO

We had an incredible time. We had beautiful weather, a great guide, good food and made it to the summit without any real problems. It was an unbelievable experience. I would highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone interested in booking a Kilimanjaro trek. Being US based was definitely a benefit since we received timely and coherent communications, which wasn't the case with a lot of the tour operators I spoke with prior to booking a trip. Everything about our trip went smoothly and the accommodations in Moshi, the food on the mountain and our guide were all exceptional.

Bryon L.
Greenville, SC

Marc's Kilimanjaro summit blog

Marc V., Alex V. and Gary W.
Shanghai, China

Thanks for everything! Jack and I made it to the top successfully. We both had headaches and were totally exhausted on summit day, but our guide watched us carefully and encouraged us throughout the night to make it for sunrise. The glaciers were the coolest thing I've ever seen. We are thrilled with the service we received. Everything was smooth and well organized from the time we stepped off the plane until the day we sadly had to leave. I'm defintely going to recommend your company to my friends who are looking to climb next season.

Sara S.
Lincolnwood, IL

Emmanuel was our guide for our 7-day trek up the Lemosho route on Kilimanjaro. Emmanuel immediately distinguished himself as a knowledgeable and caring guide. Being anxious and determined to successfully make it to the top of Kilimanjaro, we really appreciated Emmanuel's calm presence as we started out on the trail. He immediately made sure we maintained a philosophy of going 'pole-pole', and that we had plenty of time each day. His funny and laid back sense of humor was also much appreciated. As we got closer to Emmanuel, we discovered we shared similar tastes in movies and music. At nights he and I listened to his ipod together. Each night after dinner, Emmanuel spent a lot of time briefing us on what to expect the next day. Again, his calm demeanor and constantly accurate predictions on how demanding each day would be made us comfortable and completely prepared for what lie ahead.

The 5th day was summit day, and Emmanuel truly went above and beyond our expectations. After hiking for many hours in the freezing cold and strong wind, my girlfriend Christina was becoming more and more exhausted, and was having doubts on how much further she could go. Emmanuel carried Christina's pack for her, and constantly gave her words of encouragement. Finally, less than 2 hours from the summit, Christina made the difficult decision that she could proceed no further. Our Assistant Guide, Pascal, offered to take Christina down, while Emmanuel guided me the rest of the way up the slope. As I grew more and more tired, Emmanuel constantly remained positive, and offered to carry my bag numerous times. He maintained a perfect pace, and made sure I was doing everything I needed to do to be successful in climbing the mountain. I would say his primary objective was safety and success together. I made it to the top and got a congratulatory hug from Emmanuel. He took some great pictures for me while we were at the top.

He really demonstrated his abilities as a strong guide, and a fun and positive companion to have with me at the top of the highest peak in Africa. Upon our return to base camp, I discovered that Pascal did a great job of bringing Christina down safely. Christina was devastated that she did not make it to the top, but Emmanuel was very proud of her, and congratulated her on how far she got. The staff worked together to provide us with an unforgettable experience on Kilimanjaro.

Ultimate Kilimanjaro did an outstanding job of answering all of our questions, and giving us very helpful suggestions. Also the Ultimate Kilimanjaro website is extremely well done. My trip has inspired many of my friends and family to want to travel to Tanzania. I will definitely be referring them straight to Ultimate Kilimanjaro.

Austin L.
San Francisco, CA

Loveall Foundation Kilimanjaro Challenge

Climbing for the Children blog

Our guide, Future, and his assistant, Haji, were amazing. Future is one of the few Tanzanians I have met with a truly ambitious spirit, and Haji is the hardest-working person I have met in a long time. I questioned whether that kid slept. I would never have made it to the peak without Future. He literally held my hand, listened to my breathing the whole way up and stopped when he heard it getting shallow...or heard me crying, which I'm embarrassed to admit happened a couple of times. But we're glad we did it, and we now have a benchmark for truly challenging situations. Thanks for all your help!

Karen L.
Philadephia, PA

We had a most memorable trip to Kilimanjaro via the Machame route in Sept '09! Although only two of our team of four made it to the top, we all had an awesome Kilimanjaro experience. Our chief guide Theophil, assisted by Filbert and Faustine, made sure we had a safe and enjoyable climb. I recommend them highly, and will plan another trip to Kili with them soon! Thanks to Ultimate Kilimanjaro for organizing a great trip for us!

Rajesh Whig
Spartanburg, SC

The guides and porters were simply great during the whole trip.  David watched us very carefully throughout the climb and made it a point to talk to us constantly to make sure we were ok.  He was a big help to all of us, especially on summit day.  We were most impressed by the work the porters do.  They carried so much more stuff than we did (on their heads!) and were able to run ahead of us and set everything up so we literally didn't have to do anything at camp. 

Much of our success is attributable to the wonderful staff.  The climb was tough, and I hated it at the time when I was tired, cold and hungry, but after, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.  Would I do it again?  Yes, and I would recommend it to anyone. 

It's a beautiful mountain, a mostly pleasant experience, and I will cherish the memories forever. 

Jessica's blog

Jessica Robin
Mesa, AZ

I had originally booked with a different company (located in Tanzania). But once I wired my $200 deposit, their communication with me became very brief or nonexistent. Meanwhile, Ultimate Kilimanjaro answered my many questions with great detail, even sent me photos and info links, all the while knowing I was already set to go with a competitor. When I had enough of the other place, I booked with Ultimate Kilimanjaro instead - a professional, yet easy-going company that provides great service to its customers (and even it's non-customers!). I had the experience of a lifetime. Thank you!

Jerry M.
Boca Raton, FL

Paul C. and Nancy W.
Cupertino, CA

Can I tell you how much I appreciate all your help in arranging our trip? The Rongai route was beautiful and perfect for our group. We had the best time on the mountain. Our guide and porters were just phenomenal. I was humbled by their skill and was ashamed to be griping about carrying my teeny daypack. Oh, I talked to other groups at the campsites and I could not believe how much they paid for their trips. We paid less than they did, even when you count our safari. You should have seen their faces when I told them.

Kathy K.
Scottsdale, AZ