BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi Everyone...

My husband and I are planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro later this year. We are looking at Sept/Oct (but our schedule is very flexible). Do you think this is a good time to go?

Also, I've researched a few companies and am gravitating towards African Environments (http://www.africanenvironments.com/) and IntoAfrica (http://www.intoafrica.co.uk/). Does anyone have good/bad experiences with either of these 2 companies?

Thanks for any information!
-jen

African Environments is probably the best company in Tanzania for mountain climbing, in my opinion.

I am also interested in thoughts about tour companies. What tour operators have people used that they would recommend? We have a group in mind to book with but are always up for recommendations! Thanks!

-heather

Heather,

I would highly recommend Team Kilimanjaro. It is a professionally managed firm that pays attention to every detail. My friend and I (both from Atlanta) had a successful hike in December'07.

Rupesh

Hi all, first time poster here. Been researching various companies for a Kili climb, have found this website incredibly helpful. I checked out the African Environments website, which states that you need to contact them through a travel agent. Can anyone direct me to an agent through whom I can make contact?

Thanks in advance.
Howie

Howie,
I, too, was trying to find out how to contact African Environments, and came across this bit of info:

Mountain Madness founders Scott Fischer and Wesley Krause. Krause moved to Tanzania and has been overseeing Mountain Madness operations on Kilimanjaro since the early 1980s. Incorporated in Tanzania under the name African Environments, Krause has played a key role in the certification and training of guides on Kilimanjaro.

If I'm reading this correctly, then Mountain Madness is the same as African Environments. And you can reach Mountain Madness here: http://www.mountainmadness.com

Hope this helps. I've heard great things about African Environments (Mountain Madness) and am thinking of booking with them myself (Aug/Sept trek and safari).
-jen

Firstly, September/October, very good time to go. I went in October last year and it was very dry, just a few showers at times. Weather was good. 9/10 in our group made it to Stella Point.

I went with African Walking Company. Not as well equipped as Team Kilimanjaro or Tusker Trail etc, but very good. Guides were great and showed tremendous attention to detail and duty of care, porters were exceptional, food was great, and equipment was more than adequate.

I went the Shira route too, which was nice. It was basically just our group for the first two or three days until it converged with the Machame route. Lent Hills was worth the longer, more remote route.

Lava Tower camp and Arrow Glacier Camp (just to visit for acclimatisation) were breathtaking.

However, if I was going to do it again (not likely unfortunately), I'd try Rongai next time, although I'd rather come down the Mweka route than the Marangu route.

Jen,

Thanks for the info. African Environments is indeed the Mountain Madness vendor for Kili.

Howie

September/October should be a great time to go. We did mid-October 2 years ago and the weather was good, one day of some rain showers but nothing bad.
I didn't go with a group as good as African Environments sounds, as the Mountain Madness vendor I'm sure there are none better.

I went last September. Climb started 2nd week of September. Weather was mixed. Beautiful first couple of days (note - even on a nice day, the rain forest is cool to mild - definitely not sweltering. I was comfortable in long pants). Then several days of nice mornings and rainy afternoons/evenings. But the rain was more of a drizzle or light snow, and was not intolerable. Woke up in the crater to beautiful weather. Exploring the crater in the (relative) warm sunshine that morning was the highlight of the trip.

We used Tusker. Great, great outfit. Loved the guides (Kombe & Nemis) and the cook, tentmaster, porters, etc. Good folks; friendly, professional. It is pricey, but we didn’t feel like we overpaid at all. I was hiking with my dad (73 at the time) so I wanted the best in safety & service. Loved the Keys hotel too. Best wishes on planning your trip!

Does anyone have any thoughts on The Adventure Company based out of the UK as a company for climbing Kilimanjaro?

-Kyle