Katie Richards review 7 Jun 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Reaching Uhuru Peak after a gruelling 7.5hr slog up the mountain in the dark. Exhausting, exhilarating, emotional and TOTALLY worth every second!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If there are just a couple of you planning to do this trip then make sure you join a larger group- the company and banter of as many other people as possible will get you up that mountain!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes- our group of 10 employed 30 local porters, 5 guides and a chef. Litter was collected at campsites so I'd like to think we didn't leave anything behind?!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Unbelievable - the hardest but by far the most rewarding thing I've ever done. If you're not sure whether to do it take my advice and book now!
Chris Moss review 21 Jun 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. The holiday as a whole was fantastic though; amazing time in a brilliant country. The staff and porters were great, guiding us and carrying our bags everyday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Although included in the trip notes, wet wipes, chapstick and sanitising spray/dry wash were invaluable. Also gaiters, which I forgot to use on the first day, were very useful for keeping the mud and dust off.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. The money we contributed through tips and local spending hopefully helped the local economy.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. The group I was in was great, we all got on very well. My biggest disappointment was the flights. Ethiopian airlines were average at best. On the return flight especially we were left waiting in Addis Ababa airport with no explanation of the delay. The gate was also changed with no announcement and we then had to wait over an hour to pass through check in. Once on the flight the food served was poor. In both directions in fact the main meal was not nice. I discovered from some of my group members they had flown with KLM and the service sounded a lot better. If I had the choice again I would have flown KLM and avoided Ethiopian airlines.
Lynda Hughes review 22 Feb 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Doing the scramble on the barranco wall, and actually seeing the sign for the Uhuru peak appear in the mist.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
When the guide says drink and eat plenty listen to them. Camel backs or equivalent is worth investing in and make sure your ruck sack can accommodate it. You don’t realise how much energy you use. Also take plenty of high energy snack bars. Make sure you take enough dollars as the tips appear to be compulsory, it all adds up to the cost of the holiday (we paid $110pp).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It employs hundreds if not thousands of locals and the money tourists spend in Arusha and Moche directly benefit the community. There is a lot of litter and used toilet paper all along the route and I don’t think the guides stress enough the need to check that litter has not been dropped and that people should take biodegradable toilet paper /wipes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall holiday was very good but we had a good group and laid back guide. Not enough information is given about how tough the last day is on a 6 day holiday to give people the opportunity to make an informed choice about paying for an extra day. Also need information about the success rates of different routes.
Rachel Laver review 1 Nov 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The views were spectacular and the guides and porters were incredibly friendly and helpful. Justaz the lead guide was brilliant, friendly, organised and very competent.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take plenty of snacks with you. I would take a sleeping mat as the ones provided aren't very comfortable. I got travel insurance through the Post Office in the end after getting some very expensive quotes from specialist companies. Kili is a Malaria free zone so you don't need tablets for the time you're there but you will need hem when you're travelling elsewhere in Tanzania
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not really. I was pleased to see that Porters were limited to carrying 15 kilos and this did seem to be adhered to. I was dissapointed by the amount of loo roll and litter in places!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Good. I was very dissapointed to not make it to the top of Kili and would have chosen to do the trip over a greater number of days to allow acclimatisation.
The holiday could have been improved by better tents, toilet tents and chairs rather than stools in the mess tent.
Read the operator's response here:
The Machame is the most challenging route we offer and whilst most trekkers make it to the top, there are occasions where conditions and an individuall's reaction to altitude prevents them from summitting. We currently offer a number of routes, both camping and staying in huts, and are introducing the Lemosho Route from June next year which allows extra time for acclimatisation. We are currently looking at the practicality of supplying chemical toilets to our trekkers on the mountain.
Our Responsible Travel Co-ordinator has been copied in on your concerns about the weights being carried and we will continue to monitor this matter with our local ground agent. The Adventure Company supports the International Porter Protection Group, a body dedicated to promoting the welfare of porters throughout the world, indeed at the moment we are contributing to a project to build a shelter for porters in the Gokyo Lakes region of Nepal.
Mark James review 29 Sep 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Reaching the top of kilimanaro
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Not to go in a big group like I did
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
No
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
There were far too many in our group - we were told there was 12 yet there was 17 of us. Every meal was a nightmare, we were squashed round a 12 seater table, it was a disgrace.
Read the operator's response here:
We were sorry to hear that Mr James was unhappy with the size of the group, we normally take around 16 clients but this can vary occasionally . Appropriate dining arrangements should have been made to accommodate all and we have taken steps to ensure there are no similar issues on future trips.
Alyson Greenwood review 16 Jul 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take your time, drink lots of fluids, listen to your guides and never give up!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not really sure - so many people going to the summit of kili has to have a negative impact somewhere but the massive park fees must come into play somehow. Also had the impression that the local agent is paying extremely low wages to the porters and staff and then encouraging us tourists to top this up with very high tips.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic!
