We Lead Our Own Climbs and Never Subcontract

Since climbing Kilimanjaro has become incredibly popular, there are now hundreds of companies offering climbs in a wide range of prices.

However, many of these are not legitimate climbing companies with their own guides; they are just agencies that repackage climbs that are run by Tanzania companies.

The climbing company you think you’re booking your Kilimanjaro trek with may just be subcontracting your trip to a questionable operator you’ve never heard of.

That’s why there is such a vast difference in safety standards and pricing.

Tusker Uses Our Own Gear

Since we DO NOT subcontract our climbs, we run our own hikes with our own guides, vehicles, and equipment.

This ensures the quality of the gear we’re bringing along always meets our high standards. We never rent equipment from other companies and routinely check for worn gear that needs to be replaced.

We Use More Guides Per Group Than Any Other Company

The number of Tusker guides climbing Kilimanjaro with you depends on your group size. If you're climbing on your own, you will have your own personal guide. Larger groups will have more.

Most Tusker groups operate with anywhere from 2–6 guides and 6-9 porters per climber to carry all the gear, equipment, and food you’ll need during the trek.

Our Guides are Climbing Experts
Trained in High Altitude Safety

Kilimanjaro National Park requires all climbers to be accompanied by a guide. However, these approved guides are only required to know the bare minimum of first aid..

Guides are not required to undergo formal medical training, leadership mentoring, or even speak fluent English.

That puts Tusker's skilled, medically-trained guides in a league of their own. Highly respected on Kilimanjaro, they exhibit rare leadership qualities that instill confidence in our hikers before, during and after climbing Kilimanjaro.

VIMEO VIDEO LINK HERE

Plus, Tusker Trail is the only Kilimanjaro company that trains its guides with an extensive medical training coursethat our founding guide, Eddie Frank, designed specifically for Kilimanjaro treks.

This training qualifies each of our guides as a High Altitude First Responder and prepares them for emergencies that occur at high altitudes.

A well-trained guide and an effective support team can save your life in the event of a high altitude emergency, which is one of the risks that cand and do occur while climbing Kilimanjaro.

Tusker's guides have reached such a high level of expertise at treating sick or injured climbers that they often get called in to assist the National Park employees and other companies with their evacuations.

"As a US Marine, it was my greatest challenge, but very rewarding."
David G. – California, USA

We’ll Monitor Your Health
Every Step of the Way

Your guides will give you a twice-daily medical check. To do this, they’ll be using their training experience and a variety of tools (like stethoscopes, pulse-oximeters, and supplemental oxygen) to monitor your health and make sure you are kept safe during your Kilimanjaro climb.

Our guides also carry a Portable Altitude Chamber in the event of an emergency. This artificial pressure chamber simulates pressure at a lower altitude and is a tool that saves lives at high altitudes.

Tusker Keeps a Renowned Doctor on Call
for Medical Questions on Every Climb

Dr. Greg Bledsoe serves as Tusker's on call medical resource.

He spent five years on faculty in the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine and is currently one of the top Wilderness Medicine specialists in North America.

Dr. Bledsoe has also been an instructor and medical consultant for the United States Secret Service.

We Climb the Best Routes
for Acclimatizing Gradually

The biggest reason climbers don’t make it to the top of Kilimanjaro is altitude sickness, which can affect anyone regardless of their health or fitness level.

One of the best ways to avoid altitude sickness is by climbing Kilimanjaro on a route that ascends gradually over time, instead of quickly in a few short days.. This will help your body acclimatize to the high altitude in a more natural way.

Though there are seven official routes to climb Kilimanjaro, we prefer three specific ones here at Tusker:

Climbing Routes

No One Can Top Our Unique Adventure Cuisine

The Culinary Institute of America designs our climbing menus and trains our mountain cooks.

The meals you’ll enjoy on your Kilimanjaro trek will be a mixture of European, Asian, and African styles, designed to meet your nutritional needs and please any adventurer’s palate, even at high altitudes.

We sit down to our meals in roomy all-weather dining tents equipped with tables, folding chairs, and gas lamps for warmth and lighting.

If you have any special requirements, just let us know. We are happy to arrange it with our chefs.

Ready to Learn More About Climbing Kilimanjaro?

Though climbing Kilimanjaro is no walk in the park, it is certainly a trek that will reward you with great memories, a sense of accomplishment and an unforgettable scenery that is nothing short of spectacular.

VIMEO VIDEO

If you’re up for the challenge, learn what it takes to prepare for a Kilimanjaro hike like a pro here.