Since 2007, we have guided more than 15,000 clients to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Most of our clients find us due to referrals from their trusted friends and family. Take a peek below for a small sample of our overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Ultimate Kilimanjaro® has been featured in books, movies, magazines and newspapers. Be sure to check out our Press and News page.

Recent reviews can be found on TripAdvisor and Facebook.

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asagar1
December 24, 2022.
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Amazing Safari, Awesome Climb I did a 3-day Safari at Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, followed by the 9-day Lemosho Route with Crater Climb, with Ultimate Kilimanjaro (UK).My guide, Godwen, know where to find the big cats! We saw multiple Leopards, Several Lions including cubs playing under the watchful eyes of a pair of lionesses, a Cheetah, Black Rhinos, Hyenas, Giraffes, Zebras, Wildebeests, etc. I stayed in the amazing Piwa Tented Camp right in the middle of the Serengeti; at night you can hear Hyenas, Zebras, and even the occasional lion in the distance.Climbing Kilimanjaro was an experience of a lifetime. Our guide Enoch was an inspiration, and credit to him for his encouragement for us to make it to the top! The entire Ultimate Kilimajaro team was exceptionally helpful. They pay attention to every detail, especially to safety.The food was amazing and plentiful - Rafael (our cook) even made Pizza and (later) chocolate cake! I don't think you can lose weight on the climb.Crater Camp is an otherworldly place to visit - our group happened to be the only ones there, and was definitely worth visiting to see the Glaciers up close, as well as the crater itself.I would strongly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro as a highly professional and supportive team.
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See The World
December 14, 2022.
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Amazing, brutal, surreal, and epic! Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and going on safari was never something that I thought about doing, but when presented with the opportunity to go with a bunch of friends, I said yes! We did the 8-day Lemosho route, and 5 days of safari at Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater national parks.Right off the bat, it was clear that the guides and everyone involved were on top of their game. The attention to detail and to safety was great. One of the first things I noticed when we got onto the mountain was how much more professional and legit the guides, equipment, and services seemed than some of the other ones.Once we got to the first camp it was obvious that we were with one of the best crews on the mountain. Some of the other companies had less-than-great equipment, while we had good quality tents and sleeping bags and even a flush toilet which was amazing! We hiked into camp and there was a man with a brush to clean off our pants and shoes. He did it with enthusiasm and a smile and you could really tell he wanted to do a good job. I thought that was amazing and unexpected. Three hot meals a day was incredible, and our pre-dinner "happy hour" where we shared tea, coffee, snacks, and conversations was always great.Twice we had songs and dancing with our crew on the mountain which was a lot of fun and a great way for all of us to get to know each other.The first five days of climbing were hard but doable for anyone in decent shape. 5 to 7 hours of hiking and around 3,000 to 4,000 ft in elevation change.Summit night and day was brutal and there's no way to sugarcoat that! First, we had our normal hike of several hours and gained 3,000 ft of elevation. Then we had lunch and dinner. Since we had to wake up at 11 p.m. for "breakfast", most of us only got one to three hours of sleep.After "breakfast" we started hiking at midnight. It was below freezing, dark, cold, and miserable, and most of us were nauseous from the altitude. All the way up for 7 hours you don't think you can go on, but somehow you do. You're in a daze, sleep-deprived, and the low oxygen level makes some crazy things go through your mind. "Why am I doing this?!?" "I should just give up and go back down!" "I don't need to suffer like this!". But step-by-step, and with the guides' and your friends' encouragement and help, you make it!We spent about an hour on the summit and it was surreal--so beautiful and otherworldly to be among the rocks, snow, and glaciers. And watching the sun rise as we summited was just incredible.We took the requisite photos at the summit sign and then headed down to high camp, where all of the guides and porters were there to give us high fives and congratulate us for summiting.Then we had lunch, packed up, and hiked several more hours down to the next lower-altitude camp. They baked us a "congratulations" cake to celebrate our summiting and another great meal.All in all that day was something like 16 hours of hiking and 13,000 ft in elevation change. It was brutal and the hardest thing mentally and physically I've ever done. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!The next day we had a ceremony where we gave tips to our crew, they thank us for coming with them, and we thank them for all of their help. Then they sang us some songs and we all danced together one last time and gave hugs, handshakes, and high-fives. It was such a happy and emotional time to know that we were saying goodbye to these guys who had helped and taken such good care of us for the past 8 days.The next day's hike down was also several thousand feet of elevation down, which is also brutal on your knees and feet. Make sure you bring hiking poles, and knee wraps, and that your shoes fit well because the descent is very difficult on your body.We took photos at the bottom and gave lots of hugs and high-fives to each other. It sure was nice to get back to the lodge and have a hot shower after 8 days on the mountain and to sleep in a real bed. Those small luxuries felt so nice after being on the mountain.The next day we started 5 days of safari with Ultimate Kilimanjaro which was also incredible. The guides were also great and friendly and very knowledgeable. We were so lucky to see many things that they say many people never get to see. We saw three different leopards one day, and also a mama and baby black rhino. We saw two or three different lion kills. So many zebra, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, antelope, birds, and other animals. A cheetah is the only large animal that we did not see.The lodging on Safari was much better than I expected. Some of them were pretty luxurious and even the glamping tents out in the bush had toilets and hot showers in them. I can't say enough good things about the people and the experience with Ultimate Kilimanjaro. I talked to guides, porters, and employees of other companies and they told me that Ultimate Kilimanjaro is regarded as one of the best outfitters and that it's one of the companies that porters and guides aspire to work for. Some of the cheaper companies don't pay their porters and guides very well. I've heard some of the companies don't give them any salary and the people only get paid by whatever tips the guests leave which is unethical and bad for those employees. Sometimes of course guests don't tip and then those people work so hard for many days and don't even get paid which is just deplorable. That's why I'm glad that Ultimate Kilimanjaro pays their guides well and treats them well and it shows in their employees' helpfulness and work ethic.There are cheaper companies and packages, and there are more expensive companies and packages, but I found that Ultimate Kilimanjaro strikes the best balance of quality, comfort, and price. I'd definitely go with them again.
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Sandrelle
November 25, 2022.
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Fantastic experience!! Ultimate Kilimanjaro is a fantastic team that will get you up and down the mountain with dedicated porters, delicious food, a marvelous waiter (Richard), and kind, helpful, professional guides with a great sense of humor. Special thanks to: Obama for carrying my backpack at the end of day 2 when I wasn’t feeling well due to the malaria medication, August for taking all my summit photos because my hands were too freezing, Desmus for staying with me on the descent when my knees were making me slow, Elias for being my super helpful and kind guide after the climb (he left the mountain on day 3 when 2 in our group needed to turn back), Festo, Raymond and Meshach for singing Jambo Bwana with me on the trail and letting me crash your card games. This is a fabulous group of guys that want to make your dream of summiting kilimanjaro a reality. They do health checks every night and always ask how you are feeling and sleeping. Be honest! I trained well and lucky had no altitude sickness, but some in our group did and they were well taken care of. On summit night sadly a fire broke out on Kilimanjaro and we had to evacuate. That meant going from base camp to summit and then all the way down to the gate in one day. That was brutal!!! My only complaint was that on that day communication could have been better, but as the team was spread thin helping 3 of our group that needed extra support, and navigating a wildfire, it was understandable. I would climb with them again!
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Kristina E
November 19, 2022.
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Amazing Experience! I couldn't have done it without this amazing team!I am not someone that is especially fit, so the time and dedication that the team gave to me is really what got me up the mountain.Every day that we arrived to camp, our tents were set up and we had 3 full delicious meals presented royally by Richard (Mr. Surprise). We stayed motivated by Augustin and Obama, and special thanks to Festo who stayed behind with me for hours (I was so slow) and pushed me to keep going on summit night!I felt totally safe and protected and I highly recommend this company!
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Orionas
November 15, 2022.
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10/10 Thanks to Ultimate Kilimanjaro I had a lifelong dream of mine come true. It was everything I had hoped for, and more. I completed the 9-day Northern Circuit, in August of this year. As an inexperienced trekker, I was naturally nervous. The guides were highly supportive and eager to help at all times. They made us feel at ease and comfortable. They took excellent care of us. They were simply amazing. Our cook provided us with delicious meals. The dinners even consisted of three courses! Last but not least, the porters were great, very friendly, and pleasant, even when balancing 20 kilos on their heads, greeting us when they were passing by us. All in all, it was an amazing experience that was made possible thanks to the amazing team of Ultimate Kilimanjaro.
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Charles W.
October 31, 2022.
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Kilimanjaro, hakuna matata! Charles and Jenna had a wonderful time! Only giving 5 stars because we cannot give 10!! Ultimate Kilimanjaro had the best crew you could ask for and every need (including dietary) was met. Our guides August, Justin, and Calvin were outstanding and deserve great praise! The cook Nicas was amazing and even baked a birthday cake at 15000 ft! Could not have been more pleased with the porters and all their exceedingly hard work and done with a smile on their faces. Truly a wonderful experience and would recommend for anyone wanting to experience Mt. Kilimanjaro in whichever way you want! Would not use any other company in the future! 10/10.
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Lou H
October 19, 2022.
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Fantastic and fun!! I am so happy I booked with Ultimate kilimanjaro, they looked after me so well!! I was very anxious to be going alone especially as I am not an experienced trekker and I wanted a company I could rely on. They made the tough moments of the trek so much easier and the service was simply fantastic! The 9 day northern circuit trek was very well structured with acclimatisation en route. Summit night was a lot easier than I expected thanks to Ultimate Kilimanjaro who really made sure we were all happy, looked after and safe!!
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Zachary S
October 9, 2022.
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Excellent! Just completed an 8 day Lomosho route following by a 3 day safari and had an absolute blast! Our guides, Richard and Godfrey, were two of the most experienced guides on the mountain and our group had 100% success rate summiting because of their advice! We were pleasantly surprised by how good and filling the food on the trail was! Our personal chef made 3 course meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and kept us fueled for the difficult trek. I can’t recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro enough and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get Richard and Godfrey as your guides too.
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S N
September 20, 2022.
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The Ultimate I was hesitant to book this since I have never gone on an extended camping trip let alone climb a mountain. But the pull of seeing the rooftop of Africa was strong. I had many questions and hesitations going in, but all of my concerns were addressed. Ultimate Kilimanjaro exceeded all expectations. I felt well prepared and taken care of. I had zero worries on my journey. I was free to just enjoy the experience. Ultimate Kilimanjaro had all the points covered. Starting with the elaborate packing list, what to expect, a thoughtfully planned route, experienced, friendly porters and guides... it was truly a luxury experience. The porters were always 10 steps ahead, camp was always ready for us, the food was delicious and abundant, and they even accommodated my vegan diet. We were given close attention with regular health checkups, and the even had private toilets set up at camp.With every possible detail covered, each day was an exciting adventure with many beautiful things to see. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and happy to share lots of interesting facts about each part of our journey. If you want the best possible experience, I highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro!
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Rhonda H
September 12, 2022.
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Best vacation ever ! We needed a win for our family, after a tough couple of Covid years - online school/ no graduation. The boys came up with - have a dream/ live a dream - the dream became Kilimanjaro! Wow cannot say enough about this amazing experience for everyone. Our team leader August was exceptional. All the guides and porters were rock stars. Individual attention where needed and always, ALWAYS, with a smile, good humour and compassion. They were fun and knowledgeable. We did the 8 day lemosho route with August / Scoba and team followed by 5 day safari with Dhili - outstanding from beginning to end ! Would highly recommend. I researched this adventure - must say we picked well !

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Zachary Stangle
October 9, 2022.
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Just completed an 8 day Lomosho route following by a 3 day safari and had an absolute blast! Our guides, Richard and Godfrey, were two of the most experienced guides on the mountain and our group had 100% success rate summiting because of their advice! We were pleasantly surprised by how good and filling the food on the trail was! Our personal chef made 3 course meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and kept us fueled for the difficult trek. I can’t recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro enough and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get Richard and Godfrey as your guides too.
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Ryan Gero
August 3, 2022.
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Experience the best of Tanzania with the top guide service. That's what I've been telling all my friends since getting back home. Ultimate Kilimanjaro's 8-Day Lemosho is designed to safely get everyone to the summit. The guides are very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. The cooks and crew are courteous and had everything we needed ready when we needed it. And the food?...Simply delicious! The safari afterward continued to impress. The drivers are skilled operators with a long history of studying African zoology. Accommodations were fantastic! It was apparent Ultimate Kilimanjaro vetted these locations for quality, relaxation, meals, and entertainment. It is the perfect way to recharge after a fun day of animal watching. The people of Tanzania aim to please, work hard, and are generally very happy folks. If you're on the fence, let Ultimate Kilimanjaro do all the heavy lifting for you (their website and staff are amazing)...you will not be disappointed.
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Boris Berjan
August 2, 2022.
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Ultimate Kilimanjaro blew away all expectations I had of what it would be like to climb the world's tallest free standing mountain. I thought I would be slumming it away with crappy food and just my will to make it to the top... well, I was extremely pleasantly surprised. This was like a 5 Star hotel experience while undertaking something extremely challenging. The accommodations and guides were out of this world. Anywhere I would get to, my tent and eating arrangements were already setup. The guides/porters kept my tent clean at all times, cleaned my clothes, watched over me the whole time... even waxed the zippers so it would be easier for me to open and close them during my time on the mountain (talk about attention to detail). I remember going into the bathroom multiple times and noticing it was cleaned. When I say these guys are on it... they are on it. The food... I felt like I was out at a nice restaurant 3 times per day. No meal was the same, everything was super tasty and you for sure never went hungry even for a second. We had health checks consistently to make sure the guides knew our status. This was much appreciated and added a lot of trust. The climb was beyond brutal and I had sever elevation sickness... yet step by step the guides helped me through it for 9+ hours. Unreal how much care and attention I always got. Once the climb was a success, the safari was beyond epic. The tour guides knew all the best spots and we saw all the big 5 with multiple kills too. I mean I can't ask for more than that. I have not seen customer service this attentive and this considerate in ages. Book Ultimate Kilimanjaro literally right now. Don't even finish reading this. 10/10 company and experience.
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James Hilgart
August 2, 2022.
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“I almost died.” I was told that headline was already taken, but I couldn’t resist. The truth is due to the expert, unrelenting guides of Ultimate Kilimanjaro I was never safer. I trained hard and was fully prepared mentally at the tender age of 69, but the altitude sickness got me anyway. Some people just fall prey to it and there is nothing to be done. I was determined to go on and as long I was willing the guides were willing to help me to the goal. I kept falling behind the pack, so two guides were assigned to me, and got me all the way through day 5. They monitored my health every day, made special food for me and did everything humanly possible to get me to the summit. Unfortunately the morning of day 6 it was clear I had to go down. It is the only cure for altitude sickness. A few tears later my crew went up and I went down once again accompanied by two expert Ultimate Kilimanjaro guides to ensure my safety. I was a little “out of it” at this point so forgive me for only remembering Robert’s name as one of the guides with me at this point. We hiked for 2 hours, but it was clear the pace was too slow as we pulled into “high camp” and the descent was taking too long. Robert recruited manpower so they could load me on a one wheeled stretcher for the rest of the trip down. Heed my words when I tell you – These guys are brutes. The strength and tenacity of the guides and porters to perform this feat of carrying a 200 lb man down the mountain was astounding. They “ran” while carrying me. I know this is long, but the story needed to be told I could have died without them, but I was never in better hands. I was one day away from the summit and knowing I could go with these guys again, well the terminator said it best “I’LL BE BACK”.
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Taylor Searslee
August 1, 2022.
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It’s hard to describe how amazing Ultimate Kilimanjaro truly is. I booked this trip hardly knowing anyone I was going with, the only thing I knew was that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was a life goal of mine ever since I could remember. Our guides were like mothers, constantly watching over us, making sure we were well fed, hydrated and comfortable. Our porters were top of the line professional and fun. The food was more than you think you could ever possibly need (also delicious) and I had the TIME OF MY LIFE!! We went slowly up the lemosho route for 8 days and became like family along the way. You can really tell that these people are passionate about their work and want nothing more than to get you to your goal safely. After or trek up the mountain we began a 5 day safari and again, this was top of the line. The vehicles were comfortable even over the bumpy roads of the Serengeti desert. Our guides were so knowledgeable of all the animals, birds, and plants surrounding us. We even saw the big 5 on our first full day out!! The relaxation of not worrying about a thing was amazing after the mentally and physically challenging trek up Kili. Sleeping in tented luxury camps was the best sleep I’ve ever had. Listening to the wildlife surrounding me was seemingly unreal. I would recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro 10 times over to trust with your African adventure. These guys know what they’re doing and they pour their hearts and souls into their work. Thank you to all those who got me to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and took me on the WILD ride through the Serengeti. You were truly amazing!
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Nicholas Dziurkowski
February 27, 2022.
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Amazing company! Excellent guides and porters. Very knowledgable. Great support. They put safety above all else. Great gear and attention to detail. Meals were wonderful. This company made this hike so enjoyable! They set you up for a successful climb and summit!
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Jan Kuraoka Ben-Rajab
January 6, 2022.
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Thank you Ultimate Kilimanjaro for the most amazing adventure! Richard and Filbert’s team guided our group of 13 to summit on Christmas Day! UK’s guides and porters are hard working, humble and so caring! They watched my every step and took the time to check on my health and well being throughout the hike. They served us 3 excellent meals and had happy hour daily for us. I highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro for your hiking and safari adventures! They took care of us from the moment we arrived at the airport and even arranged for drivers and guides to take us around Moshi Town, or to the waterfalls or out for a night of celebration! A part of my heart will forever be in Kilimanjaro ❤️
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Ben-Rajab Keith
January 3, 2022.
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I highly recommend UK if you are climbing Kilimanjaro. We recently climbed on 12-25-21 and had a great experience. Our group of 13 all successfully reached the summit as one group thanks to the great leadership of Richard and Filbert. The guides were amazing! Professional, experienced and supportive. The kitchen crew was incredible! Great food with 3 hot meals a day. The porters were unbelievable! These guys worked so hard day and night, rain or shine! If you’re wondering which company to go with, I say UK is a company you can trust and you will get the service you paid for. Good luck!
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David Kane
March 16, 2021.
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We can’t thank UK enough for being so incredible! Beyond an amazing 10-day journey up and around Kilimanjaro we also got an amazing experience to visit the Maasai, Materuni (sp?) waterfall, swim in a natural spring, Safari, and all that jazz as they say! Also, Stella Maris Lodge was equally amazing and thank you for sending us there! Beyond that you even helped us when we got stranded in Dar Es Salaam due to flight changes! You guys are the best! Any chance you are looking to bring back trips to Peru? We would love to hike the Inca Trail with you if so ????
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Chip Peal
February 19, 2020.
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Summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Feb/2020 with UK as my guide service. It was a very positive experience and I have no complaints. From the front end process, to the actual trek and climb, to getting me to the airport afterwards all of it was very smooth and efficient. The guides and porters were very professional, respectful/nice, and responsive throughout. I felt completely safe from start to finish. A reasonably priced and professional service I strongly recommend.

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Our experience with Ultimate Kilimanjaro® completely exceeded any expectations we had going into the trip. We really did not know what to expect, but we were blown away by the care and attention each member of the mountain staff and every Ultimate Kilimanjaro® employee we came across throughout the trip, and leading up to it. Shawn our booking manager answered millions of emails from me, some multiple times a day, with straight forward and good information. He was incredibly helpful with planning leading up to the trip and truly put us at ease. 

Our staff on the mountain was amazing, Ezekiel and Elias, our guides were great. They were so genuine and truly caring about our well being, and most importantly got us up and down the mountain safely! Our staff always went above and beyond. The campsite was set up so nicely overnight, set off in a little private area at busy sites, and our private bathroom tent always close by. Our cook was amazing, the food was delicious, I was speechless at how he could prepare such food under the conditions on the mountain.  Our bathroom porter was a sweet heart, he cleaned it multiple times a day some days, and always had a smile on his face. 
Our waiter we loved too! He was a sweetheart and we got to know him a bit chatting during meal time and he was always so pleasant.

The porters who carried our duffel bags always came back walking on the trail to meet us and take our day packs from us towards the end of the trail, but some days they walked an hour+ to come meet us and take our day packs; they were so great! This was after they had already carried our duffel bags to the site and help get the camp site all set up.

We loved our entire staff and truly appreciate all the work each one of them did to contribute to our success on the mountain. We know we could not have done it without the help of each one and we cannot express our gratitude enough. We know how hard each person works every day on the mountain to make the climbers happy and we truly loved each member of our staff and thought the world of them. 

Equipment was top notch, the tents were awesome and always secure; sleeping bags were very warm and sleeping mats were amazing! We also rented poles which were a “must have”, especially on summit night and descending. We loved our hotel accommodations and the staff at both hotels were also amazing! So caring and attentive and always went above and beyond. Safari was awesome! Our guide Leonard was very knowledgeable and found all the hidden animals! Camping in the Serengeti was great and the accommodations there were great.

You will not be disappointed if you choose to climb with Ultimate Kilimanjaro®, we had done significant research into different companies and could not be happier we chose Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. They made our experience so memorable! Thank you!

Kelly H.
Boston, MA


I have to say a massive thank you to the whole Ultimate Kilimanjaro® team for helping me realize my goal. From your help with the bookings to our wonderful team of guides (Baraka aka Mr President, Robert, Jerome, Baraka and Justin), cooks, waiters and porters it was run like a well oiled machine. We were make to feel like a part of the Ultimate Kilimanjaro® family from day 1, and I can’t speak highly enough about the warmth, knowledge and professionalism of the whole bunch. We were all able to make the summit, and I have no doubt that it is down to them. From the guides keeping our spirits up (even singing to us in the dark on summit night!!), to being greeted by our porters into camp every day, to Reggie’s smiling face as he tramped by carrying the eggs, it was special from start to finish.

Our safari afterwards was a great way to wind down and see a bit more of this fabulous country. I have emailed our guides to say thank you, but hope that everyone back at the office knows what an incredible job your troops on the ground are doing. Lots of people want to know about the trip and we are recommending Ultimate Kilimanjaro® without hesitation.

Brigid C.
Auckland, New Zealand


I took the 8-day Lemosho route with Ultimate Kilimanjaro® from 21 Feb – 1 Mar this year and I have to say it was one of the best experience s of my life. The mountain was great, but the company and its guides were what made it a breeze.

I arrived at Kilimanjaro airport (JRO) with my buddy and an Ultimate Kilimanjaro® rep was there to pick us up and bring us to the Stella Maris hotel. The hotel was a great selection, it has a great view of the mountain on one side and the guides waited for us to have our bags dropped off before bringing us into the briefing even though we arrived later than the rest of our group.

The pre-brief was low threat, provided extra equipment for us (if needed) and thorough. Baracka explained the whole trip to us, where we will be daily, what we will expect and was always laughing and smiling which put us all at ease.

The ride from Moshi to the west side of the mountain was 3-4 hours, but it was entertaining the entire way. Only complaint here is to get music videos that are not Backstreet Boys! Same 4 videos on replay.

On the mountain, we were always kept informed and food, drinks and snacks were always provided for. After the second day, the guides, cook and waiters felt like family. The porters were not as interactive with me as they were with others. They focused on helping out the females which is not an issue since we were both military. This cycle continued until day 6 and the entire time the hikes were fun, well-paced and entertaining.

On summit night, my buddy experienced AMS and could not continue. One of the guides were smart and strong enough to stop him from continuing onwards and walked him two camps down to the final descent camp. Great call, some of the other companies had guides that just sat clients on the rocks, gave oxygen and then told them to continue climbing. We felt comfortable the whole time. I would highly recommend Ultimate Killimanjaro® to anyone that is interested in climbing the mountain. .

Read Caleb’s blog here.

Caleb Lin
CPT, MP
US Army


I had no idea what to expect when I signed up for this adventure. I have no hesitation in stating that my experience was extremely positive. I always felt like I was in good hands. The guides were highly motivational. On summit day, there were times when I thought I couldn’t carry on – I know that the guides’ positive attitude and encouraging words kept me going. I couldn’t believe the level of orchestration that goes into getting a group to successfully summit. The porters are simply extraordinary. To be able to wake up in the morning, pack up my things and know that I can roll into camp that evening and have everything ready and waiting for me made the whole experience so comfortable. I was elated to be met by my tent person every afternoon. The lead guide, Robert, was highly skilled at managing our group and he did so with a perfect balance of discipline and humor.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. The attention to detail was impressive and I felt fully informed from start to finish.

Lynn J.
Calgary, Canada


I spent a long time on the internet prior to the trip trying to decide which company to climb Kilimanjaro with. I chose Ultimate Kilimanjaro® mainly because they are affiliated with KPAP – and whilst Ultimate Kilimanjaro® may be on the more expensive scale of climbs I believe that you SEE where your money goes 100%. There was not one thing missing or askew in my whole experience. Everything was well organised from my initial contact with Shawn to the final ascent and descent with the guides on the mountain. So much I wish I knew before hand… here are some of the most important things I remember/suggest:

* The guides were amazing. They make the trip and I can safely say that what I will remember most is our incomparable guides August, Evance, Stanley, Medard and Nicho.

* The porters are the hardest working people on the mountain. Notice and appreciate them. In my opinion after looking at all different companies porters I could see a difference between the Ultimate Kilimanjaro® porters and the other companies. They (Ultimate Kilimanjaro® porters) are clothed well, fed well, trust worthy and judging by the laughter and conversations at night and in the afternoon happy as well. Be certain to take lollies/sweets to share with them or to hand it to them as they pass you on the trail carrying your equipment.

* My partner and I are vegetarians and we were NEVER hungry. The chef fed us so much variety and, to be honest, so much food. He even managed to bake me a cake for my Birthday – unbelievable. The food is excellent quality and I have never eaten so well so consistently.

* You end up thinking and focusing only on the summit – I forgot that after ascending I would need to descend…and it hurts so much more. Be prepared for Summit night – descent day to be the longest day ever.

* We started with a group of 11 doing the Northern Circuit (9 days total with Full moon on Summit Night). I chose the longest route intentionally as I wanted the best chance of acclimatising. Even with that on our side only 9 of us summited – with one of us needing to be evacuated off the mountain. Altitude sickness doesn’t discriminate – listen to the guides and be honest with them about how you are feeling. They know best and will make everyone’s health their priority.

* If staying at Stella Maris Lodge perhaps consider buying some stationary and toys (soccer balls are most popular) for the school. The teachers and students appreciate anything that is donated.

* Carry the maximum amount of tip money suggested – that way you won’t be short just in case. Also on the money front a little TSH (Tanzanian Shilling) doesn’t go astray for the days pre and post climb – you can get by on US dollars but if you want change from something using TSH is best.

I cannot recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® enough. Everything was provided for and to a very high standard.

L. Leong.
Perth, Australia


Mount Meru is a great pre-climb before Kilimanjaro. But it is not just a ‘practice’ or ‘warm-up’ climb by any means. It’s a total ‘immersion’ climb and before you know it you are in your huts up to 8,200 ft (day 1) and 11,700 ft (day 2) waking up for your midnight ascent to 14,900 ft. And, good luck with the steepest descent conditions ever! Yes it will definitely get your legs in shape for whatever is demanded from you when you get to Kilimanjaro. No question that this is is one of the best scenic mountain climbs you will ever make including spectacular views from the peak and the 1st hut of your next climb up Kilimanjaro. I totally recommend Meru if you can make the time but be sure to take a 2-day rest between Meru and Kili.

The Guides (August, Richard, Deus, Medad, Joseph) did a superb job on Mount Mer and on our 9-day Northern Route on Kilimanjaro in mid February. This route is by far the most scenic and gives the broadest experience of the mountain from so may different vantage points while at the same time maximizing chances of a successful climb because of the acclimatization benefits. Each day was well planned out and the guides were very careful in briefing us beforehand of what to expect and how to prepare for that day. The guides exceeded the varying needs of our group of 11, and whenever requested they adjusted to our individual requirements particularly on the night of the formidable ascent to the peak combined with the equally challenging descent. The food was fantastic throughout the trip thanks to Paul, Wilium and his assistants and the butlers (the hot tasty soups each day after a long hard climb were a blessing…oh and the Nutella went down very well with banana fritters). All the porters were very polite and friendly – thanks to them all. An adventure to be cherished forever!

Mukesh P.
Pittsford, NY


I can’t praise the guides, chefs and porters enough. Everything was perfect. Tent and sleeping bag (which I rented) were in great condition, warm and were always prepared when we got to camp each day.

Every aspect of Ultimate Kilimanjaro® I found to be of the highest quality. From start to finish, every detail was planned for and executed with precision. I would highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to anyone considering climbing Kili.

Patrick N.
London, England


The experience with Ultimate Kilimanjaro® was more then I could have ever imagined. The staff was amazing and took care of our group tremendously. Everyone was treated individually, and each guide did their part to make sure we finished our climb safely and successfully.

Not only did we have a great team of climbers, we had the best staff of guides, porters, and cooks. They truly made the experience one to remember. One of our teammates had a birthday on the trip, and the cook managed to make a cake at high altitude, frosted and decorated! Our food was amazing, we were stuffed at every meal. Every guides attitudes were upbeat and kept the entire group in good mood, even on the worst days. I would absolutely recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to anyone looking to climb, they are worth every penny and far surpass other guide companies on the mountain!

Jessica C.
Groton, CT


I can’t begin to compliment your organization too much. The coordination, service, and friendliness of everyone far exceeded my expectations.

Robert Page
Chagrin Falls, OH


Although I have nothing to compare it to, I thought Abraham and the other guides were informed, professional, available for questions, kind and supportive. I was very impressed by them and feel they were an integral part in my ability to reach the summit. I am very grateful to them all.

I am extremely satisfied with Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. I have already recommended you to several people.

Tanya G.
Teaneck, NJ


Our guides were Deuss, Baraka, Calvin, and Elias. They were all fantastic because they were friendly and professional. Time on the trail passed quickly because they would make conversation, and they checked on us regularly to see how we were handling the climb.

My personal porter, Emmanuel, was also great. He greeted me each day as I came into camp and he made sure my tent was set up and comfortable.

The tents used by your company are excellent. They are spacious and warm. The Stella Maris Lodge was a great place to stay. The staff were friendly and the rooms were cozy. I also liked their connection to the neighboring school

I had a wonderful experience with Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to climb Kili. The staff’s level of care and professional was especially appreciated because it was nice to know my safety and well-being was always a top priority for them. Additionally, the staff was always a pleasure to be around, which made the climb that much more enjoyable.

Joe K.
Lorain, OH


I really can’t speak highly enough about our experience with Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. Our guides, Abraham and Deo, were like the walking version of google with their knowledge about the plant life, animal life, culture, and languages. They were funny, personable, and caring. James, our cook, was incredible. I have a dietary restriction and never had a problem with any of the meals. They were always flavorful, filling, and different. And, our waiter was good about making sure we ate enough. The porters were a riot–very friendly–and we felt like we became a big family. They taught us Swahili, card games, and were always checking to make sure we were okay. Really, I only have positive things to say about our time on the mountain.

I would recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to anyone. The staff was not only competent, but also incredibly friendly. When returning from the summit, some of our crew walked up to meet us, just to congratulate us on reaching the summit. They welcomed us into their group, which made the hike even more memorable. I really can’t speak highly enough of your organization–we had the best time.

Christina K.
Annapolis, MD


I spent months researching trek companies and settled on Ultimate Kilimanjaro because of the walking schedule/acclimatisation opportunities and the emphasis on looking after porters. The experience was way better than I anticipated. As a solo female traveller I felt safe at all times and the guides made sure that I knew I could ask them for anything.

Baraka, Robert, Jerome, Justin and Baraka are a great team. We had illness and self doubt, but the boys got every single one of us safely up and down the mountain. 

Summit night was when the guys showed us just how good they are. A little bit of dancing, a whole lot of singing, and always smiling. Robert could have another career as a Hype Man, it seemed like he sang and danced for hours keeping us entertained/distracted. 

I also want to give a special mention to Leonard and Innocent who were our waiters. I’m an on time/early kind of person so I would often get in the way of the boys when they were setting up the tent. They were always happy to have a chat and even sang to us. They even took the time and effort to create fancy napkin folds for us every meal
.

Kirsty R.
Melbourne, Australia


“As advertised” – Having spent a lot of time on your website going over the details of the climb, upon arrival and getting going everything felt very familiar. The trip followed what was described on your site to a ‘T’ and it was just a matter of saddling up and doing it. You guys run a great operation on Kili (and safari too) and I will definitely recommend your company to anyone I know who is interested in this experience.

Timothy F.
Long Beach, CA


The guide and assistant guides were all excellent. Highly skilled and each capable of being a lead guide. All were fun, professional and knowledgeable. They made the climb enjoyable and safe. I would highly recommend to others and will take my son when he reaches 16 years old.

The safari was fantastic. The tents on the Serengeti were excellent and a great experience. Abdullah is a legendary driver and placed us in the best positions for viewing the wildlife. He made the safari 100% better.

Thanks for the excellent trip. My wife and I had the best time on mountain and safari. We qill surely recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to others in Australia. Hope you like the photo hahahahaha.

Pete G.
Australia


This experience far exceeded my already high expectations. The team of support crew were outstanding. All of our six guides, Ronnie, Filbert, Simon, Jackson, Calvin and Godfrey were attentive, knowledgeable and extremely supportive. I believe that without their constant support some group members would not have made it to the top. They also care for the mountain by constantly picking up any litter left lying around. They appear to genuinely love it and are great ambassadors. The food was outstanding – thanks William – just too much of it!! The support staff from the waiters to the toilet guy to the tent supervisors to the porters all made this an experience never to be forgotten. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this trip!

Thank you for what was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I was very pleased to learn the focus on social responsibility that is highlighted on your website is translated into action in Tanzania. It was clear from speaking to many of the support staff that Ultimate Kilimanjaro® walks the talk when it comes to its staff on the ground! Keep up the good work. 

Karen F.
Carwoola, Australia


We were so happy that we chose Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. I was able to see why they have wonderful statistics on summiting. Every staff member was totally dedicated to helping us, and we absolutely felt that everyone would have done anything possible to help us summit. I was also very impressed with the follow up after the certificate dedication, once we were back at the hotel, and one of the staff members asked us why did we leave some food, that the cook had told him so, and wondered if anything was wrong…. We were all astounded… Because we loved the food. We just said that there was a lot! We had three great meals a day and the staff was very good about making sure we had everything we needed in the dining tent. Thank you Ultimate Kilimanjaro® for a wonderful trip and for getting us to the top. Yes I know that it’s all about the journey, not the destination… And it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game… But let’s be frank, and let’s get real… We all really wanted to summit… And we did! And we had a wonderful time while doing so… We will all remember this trip for the rest of our lives. And I have shared everything including all of the good things about Ultimate Kilimanjaro® already with so many people. You are my go to for a guided tour. Thank you! 

Juli J.
New Orleans, LA


Staff was unbelievably good . Very kind, helpful and professional group. Porters were particularly helpful. I have recommended your company to several people since my return. 

Dan P.
Doha, Qatar


Our time in Tanzania was great and our guide Festo and the rest of the crew were amazing during our climb. The food was wonderful a and abundant and the crew made us feel really important. Their interaction with us made the trip more interesting and we couldn’t have succeeded without their help. Thomas the waiter was great about teaching us Swahili and Augusto our lead porter took great care with set up each day. I am still amazed at the way this group of men took such good care of us. They even sang to us on our last night as a celebration of our making it to the top, it was so fun at a time when we were totally exhausted. 

Angela and Scott S.
Houston, TX


All of the staff who supported us on our trek were truly exceptional. They were extremely friendly, helpful and professional. They exceeded my expectations in every respect. From the porters to the cooks to the guides, I couldn’t fault any of them! I had the most amazing experience and can’t thank Ultimate Kilimanjaro® enough! The only part I didn’t like was saying goodbye at the end!

Gayle L.
Sandy, UT


I have done some other international treks, and Kilimanjaro was one of the hardest climbs I’ve ever done. I felt very well taken care of on the mountain, and appreciate the safety measures that Ultimate Kilimanjaro® has in place, i.e. daily HR and oxygen saturation measurements. I felt that not only the guides, but the cook, waiter and porters watched out for us. I have already recommended Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to others that have an interest in the climb. Thank you for an adventure and an experience of a lifetime!

Lori S.
Austin, TX


I frequently travel internationally and can be quite critical when it comes to reviewing and rating of trips. However, I have to state unequivocally here, the trip exceeded my expectations in every way; from the smooth airport transfers, to the great safari driver (Donald), to the guides on the Mountain (Richard and August). Overall, the organization was flawless and it was a great experience all around. The food, within the restriction the culinary staff had to deal with, was outstanding. We were served hot-cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day. The quality and taste of the food was very good. I have to commend the chef and his assistant. The waiters were great and Emanuel, the main waiter, put a smile on everyone’s face every morning when he came into the mess tent to let us know what we were going to have for breakfast. 

The dealings with the US office during the booking process were very efficient. I was able to book the entire trip (Mount Kilimanjaro and a 3-day safari), the the exchange of about 4 or 5 e-mail messages.

I highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to anyone who considers summiting the mountain and/or wants to do a safari in Tanzania.

Othmar H.
Miami, FL


Staff was great, but more than we needed. Were I to do this again, or if I had known, I would have requested fewer luxuries. However, the experience was great – once in a lifetime.

Galina H.
Sandy, UT


Our guides, Freddy and Eli, were very competent, knowledgeable, and friendly. They really helped encourage and reassure us, especially at the toughest and most miserable parts of the climb. The rest of the team was excellent as well, and the food was great. The porters were as helpful as could be, and always had everything set up by the time we got there.

Overall, I am very happy with my trip. I am glad we went with Ultimate Kilimanjaro®, and I will definitely recommend your company to any friends interested in climbing Kili in the future.

Justin R.
West Virginia


I plan to send at least two groups your way. I would only recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to anyone, warning them…of course… that the only really hard day is summit day…and it is a very long day but so worth it. Builds character. THANK YOU!

Domino I.
Raleigh, NC


Thanks for a fantastic experience, right from my first contact with Shawn, it has been a very easy and friendly experience. Shawn answered all my questions quickly and was more than happy to give me time while we sorted out our travel plans. We were met by Exaud our safari driver on time as planned and he was brilliant on our Safari. Then the Ultimate Kilimanjaro® crew in Moshi for our trek were also brilliant, right from the briefing until beers at the end of our trek. All the guides/porters were great, friendly and very caring and making sure we were feeling at our best at all times. I felt completely safe under their guidance. It’s been a great experience and I would have no hesitation in recommending Ultimate Kilimanjaro® for a safari/trek and if anyone has any questions I would be happy to answer them.

Thanks again to your team it was a trip of a lifetime and made very easy by your company
.

Rudi S.
New Zealand


My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves both while trekking up Kilimanjaro and relaxing on safari. This was a once in a lifetime trip and I’m glad we chose Ultimate Kilimanjaro as our guide company. I have already referred Ult. Kili. to others who are planning a trip to Kilimanjaro and will continue to do so in the future. We would like to thank you for making our Honeymoon and 1-year Anniversary a very special and unique adventure and for memories that will last a lifetime!

Michael S.
Los Angeles, CA


The guides and porters and cook were all incredible. They made the trip even better. They interacted with us the whole time and were friendly and warm. I’ll definitely recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to my friends! Thanks for an incredible climb, it was the highlight of my travels.

Ryan L.
Philadelphia, PA


Great time. Guides and cooks were excellent. Everyone bonded well.

I will recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to friends.

Chris B.
Fort Worth, TX


Absolutely brilliant staff who were always friendly and approachable. They went out of their way to help, and make you feel looked after. Nickson was a great source of information, and went out of his way to find animals we wanted to see. Stella Maris team were so friendly and attentive! Found the Serengeti camping amazing, but what let it down was not having any cold beers, and only enough to have a couple. Would recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to others, and would use them again. From booking, to arriving, to climbing, to leaving, it was all professional and easy. Couldn’t ask for more!

Kirsty D.
Auckland, New Zealand


Great staff. They worked very hard and making our Kilimanjaro experience unbelievable. Abraham was very knowledgeable and extremely smart. He planned the ascent perfectly and we reached the summit at sunrise. Ultimate Kilimanjaro® is a great company. Would highly recommend them to anyone planning on climbing Kilimanjaro. Everything went very smoothly and we always felt well taken care of and safe.

Lynn L.
Montreal, Canada


I was blown away by the entire production every single day and the people who worked for Ultimate Kilimanjaro®. They are so hard working, so selfless, so helpful, always smiling. I can’t say enough about the entire experience and everything that was provided for us from start to finish. We were always well informed, kept up to speed and cared for. I felt very trusting of Ultimate Kilimanjaro® and always safe. Each employee worked tirelessly to help in any way they could and to continuously assure us that they were there for us and for our safety and to ensure that we made the summit in good condition. 

The climbing guides provided a great balance of honesty about the difficulty of our journey and the excitement of it. They were very attentive in answering questions each evening before our next day’s hike and laying out everything we needed to know. They were an unbelievable support system and with us the entire time. The health checks were thorough and genuine. Our lead guide, Ezekiel, was very friendly. We spent a lot of time talking with them about family and culture, economies etc. He was incredibly well-versed in all the geography, the history, the trails, and the biodiversity of the mountain and was a a wealth of information; a pleasure to talk to and interact with. 

The chef was beyond impressive. There was always more than enough food and it was high quality and very good. Always a variety. A beautiful presentation. I couldn’t believe it. We honestly had a tough time finding the words to try to express our gratitude accurately. 

Our porters were always smiling. The sheer man power and work they displayed was beyond humbling. Many of them made an effort to interact and speak to us despite the language barrier. 

I could go on and on, but I’ll just say this trip and these people touched my heart and my life and I would recommend it to anyone without reservation..wanted to 
night.

Britney H.
Boston, MA


Ultimate Kilimanjaro® is a very well organized company. It’s personnel is very good and made our trip amazing.

Jacques B.
Lima, Peru


Top notch service, from email to in-person in Tanzania. Everyone I dealt with was personable and helpful. I cannot say enough about the guides and the porters throughout the trip. They are simply good, friendly, down-to-earth people who were all incredibly knowledgeable about the mountain and everything related to it. Climbing Kilimanjaro was a life-changing experience, and Ultimate Kilimanjaro® allowed that to happen. I have already recommended Ultimate Kilimanjaro® to numerous people and will continue to do so.

Chelsea R.
Seoul, South Korea


I worked with Ultimate’s Guide Isack Mlala. He was incredibly patient, supportive, and knowledgeable in all things regarding my hiking experience and Mount Kilimanjaro. I truly credit my successful experience to his expert care.

Catherine A.
New York City, NY


The overall experience was fantastic. I would recommend the Ultimate Kilimanjaro ® guide group to anyone. They knew how to make it to the top and made sure everyone was taken care of.

Abraham, Estome, Baracke, Vincent, Stanley, and Johnny were excellent. They were easy to talk with and did a great job getting us to the top and back down again. We even had some good laughs along the way. you.

Phyllis G.
Denver, CO


I wanted to let you know how brilliant our guides were, August and Elias. These two gentlemen, looked after us and went more than the extra mile to make sure that we were safe, healthy, having fun and that we would eventually make the summit. They made us feel safe, they gave us the confidence and encouragement when we needed it, they were fun and interesting and even when they were exhausted and spent, they made sure that we were comfortable a looked after every step of the way.

August was so responsible and made sure that we knew exactly what we needed to do each day and prepared us for the summit night perfectly. He was so polite, chatty and had a great sense of humor. He looked after us like we were his sisters, made sure we were comfortable and couldn’t do enough for us. He is an absolute gem and such an asset to your company.

Elias was the same, even though he is an assistant guide he is, in my opinion mire than capable for being a guide. He looked after us and kept us laughing for 8 days. He even summited without gloves so that he could help us drink water and get tissues and feed us sweets, he is a very special person and also such an asset to the company.

I must also mention Leonard, he was my personal porter, and was an absolute pleasure to have around. He has such a gentle presence and was always there helping us without us even asking. Although he is a little younger and doesn’t speak English fluently, he has such potential to grow with the company.

I would highly recommend Ultimate Kilimanjaro® over any other company on the mountain. The guides were UNBELIEVABLE, so professional, from day 1 we knew that we would be cared for and safe for the duration of our climb. We could not have summited without August, Elias and Leonard. They are ambassadors for the company and could not do enough for us. The staff and porters were so friendly and Damas the waiter looked after us from morning to night.