Tusker Trail | African tours, Africa travel, Kilimanjar

"Eddie, you helped a lot. Thanks for letting me push myself as far as I could go."

Peter W.
Australia

Is oxygen really necessary?
What if I need to be evacuated?
What happens if I have to come down early?
What about acclimatization to the altitude?
Can I climb if I have a medical problem?
What inoculations will I need?
Is the water on the climb safe to drink?

Is oxygen really necessary?

Absolutely!

A lot of problems at altitude arise from the ever-decreasing amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. So having Oxygen on board alleviates a lot of problems and prevents minor problems from developing into serious emergencies. It can and has saved lives. With groups of 2-8 we carry two 623-liter tanks of oxygen. One always goes down with an evacuation. The other remains on the climb for the rest of the group.

Click here for more info on oxygen.

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What if I need to be evacuated?

The service provided by the National Park is terrible.

So Tusker Trail has designed our own evacuation protocol and rescue procedure. We carry all our own rescue gear ON EVERY CLIMB, and train our guides intensely on how to use it efficiently and correctly.

You're in extremely safe hands.

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What happens if I have to come down early?

If you come down early, you will NOT be penalized with extra costs, like other outfits, such as the hotel transfer, extra hotel accommodation, or extra meal costs. It's all included in the price of your trip.

If you have to go to the hospital, we will get you there, but you will be responsible for the hospital expenses.

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What about acclimatization to the altitude?

As you climb, the amount of oxygen in the air, and the oxygen pressure decreases. Every individual's reaction to this is different. There is no way to predict how well you will do at altitude. You will get short of breath -- this is normal. However, you can stack the deck in your favor by being in good physical condition, planning a longer climb, staying well hydrated, taking it very slowly as you hike, and using diamox if you start getting altitude sickness.

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Can I climb if I have a medical problem?

Most often, yes.

Eddie Frank, Tusker's owner, has placed a lot of emphasis on medical training not only of our crew, but of our US office staff as well. This is so that we can discuss your condition with you and your doctor intelligently.

We also have a consulting physician with whom we consult regularly. When you sign up you will be required to complete a detailed medical questionnaire. If you have a medical condition, we'll talk to you about it, and if necessary have a discussion with your doctor.

What we're after is to find out the worst case scenario, so that we can prepare for it in the event of an emergency.

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What inoculations will I need?

In our predeparture manual, we have a detailed section on medical requirements. But you can choose to get just the Yellow Fever shot, or a whole barrage of them. We'll be happy to talk to you about this once you sign up. You will also need to take anti-malaria pills.

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Is the water on the climb safe to drink?

All your drinking water is filtered by our guides through KATADYN filters. We recommend you drink at least 4 quarts/liters per day. Gatorade is a good additive for you to keep your electrolytes replenished. This is important.

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