VOICES ON THE MOUNTAIN
Celebrating in Style
We wanted to do something special and different for vacation this year since we both had a milestone birthday within a year of each other. Climbing Kilimanjaro has been on our bucket list and so we thought this would be very appropriate. From the moment I contacted Tusker’s office in Tahoe until we were dropped off at the airport for our return trip home, we were well looked after and treated with extreme courtesy.
In Good Hands
On orientation day, meeting our guides, Eliakim, Shabani and Liberaty put us at ease immediately. They were extremely informative and we were especially impressed when they actually came to our rooms and checked our gear to ensure we were properly equipped for the climb. They conveyed the seriousness of what we were about to experience but assured us everything would be fine if we leaned on their expertise and trusted them.
They did not disappoint! All of the guides were amazing. The one person that stood out most for me was Eliakim. His leadership, knowledge and compassion were top notch. I owe it to him for helping me summit. He takes health and safety extremely seriously, and he gave me non-stop attention due to my headaches. I put my trust in him completely. He is a “people” person who is passionate about life, has a wonderful spirit and a great infectious laugh!
A Delicious Surprise
The porters are a group of amazing individuals who ensured that we were well looked after and all our needs were met. Everything was always ready when it was supposed to be. Chef Tosha did a fabulous job and the food was amazing. The hot soups were the most welcoming part of the meal, warming us up after a long day. But how your chefs bake a cake in a tent is still a mystery to me!
On summit day we got the greatest surprise ever. One of the trekkers in our group was celebrating his birthday that day and out of nowhere chef Tosha produced a cake, table, plates & cutlery! The guides and porters sang a few of their wonderful Swahili songs and we ate cake on the roof of Africa! Then on our last night on Kili they did it again but this time for me! Another birthday cake and 47 African men serenading me for ½ an hour with song, laughter and cheer. You guys certainly know how to treat your clients right!
Extended Family
We met some wonderful new friends from all over the world who were part of our trekking group and become close to our guides and porters. It was amazing how we all became like one big family as if we’ve known each other forever. The hardest part was saying goodbye to the guides. Our experience with Tusker Trail as a whole exceeded our expectations and was worth every penny.
We want to extend our sincere gratitude for making this the most incredible trip of our lifetime! It has changed us in many ways and all for the better. Kudos to Eddie and his staff, please keep up the amazing work and I sure hope that we can do another trip with Tusker in the near future.