OUR FAQS
What experience do the respective team members have in leading tours to the Kilimanjaro?
Most of our team crew have a very long experience for both Kilimanjaro trek and Safaris.
Specifically, all of our mountain guides have gone through professional studies and have been on the
mountain for more than fifty to a hundred times treks, fluent in especially English language with
good communication skills.
How many times have you been on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro?
I have personally climbed to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro for an uncountable number of times,
may be from fifty’s to over hundred times.
Are there emergency rescues?
there are different types of emergency rescue.
Rescue by stretcher whereby our team members will assist in the rescue process on the way back to low elevations and either back to the hotel or straight to the hospital depending on the condition.
Rescue by Helicopter, whereby the Helicopter rescue team will be informed and arrive immediately to pick up the sick or injured participant for evacuation. In the event that one of our climbers is injured or fall seriously ill, we have an emergency rescue plan in place that has to be followed by our mountain crew.
We also get flying doctors’ membership to all our climbers so that those seriously ill climbers can be evacuated from the mountain by a helicopter ambulance (weather permitting) and transferred to some of the best medical facilities in East Africa. After admission at the hospitals our office will check with the climbers’ travel insurance to settle the medical bills.
Will you provide food for the participants? If so, to what extent?
Yes, we always provide food for all participants (clients, guides and porters) with 3 fresh meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) every day that will satisfy everyone and with regards to the individuals’ special dietary requirements. Note that, during the hike; Lunch will be provided well packed in special packages to be taken on the way at the designated resting points.
How does the hygienic equipment look like during the climb (e.g. restrooms/washing facilities)?
Throughout the accent we always take enormous efforts to maintain quality hygienic precautions. We make sure that everything is safe during the trek, while at the camps and whenever we are preparing and saving meals. We also advise that all participants wash their hands regularly with the well provided dripping water and soap to maintain quality hygienic standards. We also provide quality sleeping tents and mattress which are clean and decent especially in camping routes. However, the sleeping huts via Marangu route are quiet very excellent and our team crew will extraordinarily take care of at each station.
What happens if participants get injured during the tour?
In the event that one of our climbers is injured or fall seriously ill, we have an emergency rescue plan in place that has to be carried up by our mountain crew. If it is a minor injury, it will be taken care of as we have all the necessary First AID Kit for such cases. However, the Kilimanjaro rescue procedure is undertaken when it is evident that a participant can’t continue any further in Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Our team crew will select one or more members to assist the sick or injured participant to return back to the gate and will take care of them in providing further assistance. For climbers feeling severely ill, we provide them with medical attention immediately. Our Rescue and Safety team will start the climbers’ rescue process. A ranger post will send a rescue car to pick the sick climber and transfer to the hospital for medical assistance.
Should participants take care of certain things before the tour (drinking enough water, not drinking alcohol, etc.)?
Yes, drinking water during the trek and when at camps is very important. Guides will advise you to take a sip at every few steps away instead of drinking the whole bottle at once. However, it is not advised to get drunk while on the mountain or using liquor during the trek as it may compromise the chances of your successful achievement. Our concrete experience is that there are three main stages of reaching successful acclimatization. You will possibly still suffer some minor symptoms of altitude sickness before acclimating to function normally with reduced levels of oxygen.
Drink plenty of water. Intake of fluid not less than 4 to 5 litters a day is highly recommended. This will improve blood circulation and other body functions. And you also need to drink 3 litters of water per day. Urine is the best observant, if your urine is clear and copious, you are drinking responsibly enough.
Walk slowly. It is important to give as little force as possible on the body while it is trying to adjust to a reducing oxygen supply. With an exceptional of a very steep uphill section, otherwise, your breathing rate while walking should be as if you are trekking down the street at home.
Climb high sleep low. This merely means climb to a higher altitude during the day and the sleep at a lower altitude at night. This is done through a well arranged itinerary that includes an afternoon acclimatization hikes to higher levels (climbing more high past the camp) and then descent down to the camp (sleeping low). Most of our itineraries have this feature, but because of time and distance to be covered the longer 8 and 9 day climbs have more acclimatization walks
Which languages do you and your team speak?
I speak English and most of our team members speaks English too, but we have speakers of many
other languages including Germany, Spanish, French and Portuguese among guides and porters.
What makes your tours better than tours from other businesses?
Our tour packages are well understood, affordable from any individual budget, professionals with
high quality services that may go beyond anyone’s expectations. We are a friendly, loving, caring
tour company which takes to an effective positive consideration of all our clients requirements
including safety, success and trust. We stand tall in achieving the company’s goal by helping our
clients to achieve theirs.
What happens if the participants have overestimated themselves and are no longer able to go on independently?
Fit people can show high levels with no need for anxiety, while unfit people and the self-overestimated people can be in danger at much higher altitudes and lack of hiking professional discipline. In such cases, the team leader / guide can recognize these symptoms and knows when they are not improving enough to warrant turning back; when the only marshal response is to go down to higher air pressures.
Are there any particular insurance policies you would recommend?
Yes, the Travel Insurance and the Healthy Insurance are very important. We recommend that you have them as it is necessary.
What should they look for when organizing the equipment?
Should look out for quality gears, follow the equipments guide, choose the best, try before use and don’t miss any of your travelling documents (Visa, Passport, Travel Insurance, Health Insurance, Permits…) as required.
Do you recommend any specific pieces of equipment?
No, trekking Mount Kilimanjaro doesn’t require any technical equipments except the two trekking poles to keep a hiker in balance. It is a hike by foot step by step require a trekking pole for support especially on the way to the summit.
Is there any equipment that you provide?
Yes, especially for camping, sanitation and safety measures.
What is the maximum amount of luggage each participant is allowed to take?
A tourist participant is advised to carry not more than 5 - 8 Kgs including 1 litter of water for their daypack while trekking from one camp to another. Also, we advise that the duffel bag be not more than 15 – 20 Kgs. Should there be any extra pack to leave behind, one can leave it under the custody of the hotel.
Until when is it still possible to cancel a booked tour?
According to our cancellation policy, a participant is advised to cancel his / her booked tour within 14 days before arrival date in order to avoid cancellation charges which may apply.
At which altitudes can the above symptoms be expected to occur?
The above symptoms can be expected to occur at about 3000m a.s.l and above.
What can happen to the body during the ascent/descent (nausea, dehydration, swelling, etc.)?
At sea level, the percentage of oxygen is about 21 per cent. As you climb higher, the percentage remains the same but the amount of oxygen is reduced with each breath you inhale. When you reach 12,000 feet (3,600 meters), there are only 40 percent oxygen molecules available in every breath you inhale, forcing your body to fight to adjust to the available oxygen at that level. As you continue hiking, your body is fighting a losing battle as it fails to adapt quickly enough to the reduced oxygen. This is called Acute Mountain Sickness, and it can attack the healthiest individual.
There are many and different indicators but the most common ones are headaches, dizziness, lucky of sleep, nausea and appetite loss. The mentioned symptoms can be regarded as normal for climbing Kilimanjaro. Complications might develop on Kilimanjaro, so people who attempting to climb the mountain needs to be alert of the risks involved.
Based on our experience severe altitude sickness rarely develops for climbers. Cerebral oedema is caused by fluid leakage from the brain. Cerebral oedema is acknowledged by severe headaches accompanied with severe loss of balance and light-headedness. Pulmonary oedema is produced by fluid accumulation in the lungs. Pulmonary oedema is presented by cracking noises coming from the chest of affected person and when coughing up pink mucus is present. All of these conditions lead promptly to death unless instant descent is done.