Private Climbs

Tusker was fabulous! They took such good care of our climbing group from the instant we sought information about climbing Kilimanjaro. We had a recommended training program, a list of equipment we needed, a list of equipment we could rent- help with airfare coordination, a list of medications that could be helpful, an itinerary…. Everything you could need or want to make our trek successful! This trip was a dream come true for me- Tusker made sure it was safe, fun and worry free. Tusker took care of ALL the details! I’m so appreciative for their support and expertise! ❤️

My son and I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro with Tusker Trail in Feb 2023! It was an awesome adventure and great trip. Our Tusker team took great care of us and made our successful summit possible. Our guides were great as well as the food, tents and gear. Wonderful air mattresses! I highly recommend Tusker Trail.

I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro last year with a group of friends. Tusker was amazing. They made sure we were prepared for the trek (both before and during), fed us amazing food that also supported the high effort we expended each day, and genuinely were invested in our success in making it to the summit. They knew when to offer (or insist) on giving us help and the crew was beyond words. Every single person that supported our once in a lifetime experience contributed to making this an absolutely amazing adventure! 10/10 would recommend over and over!

My experience of Tusker was one of safety, efficiency, good communication and thoroughness of planning before, during and after the expedition. Once you get on the mountain it is very clear that there is a hierarchy of professionalism and experience among the teams and guides. Tusker is clearly at the top of that hierarchy. The whole team was very kind, welcoming, and professional. It was obvious right away that the team had good leadership, coordination, camaraderie, and took pride in their jobs. My guide was excellent and enjoyed getting to know him over the course of my trek. The extensive experience that Tusker has with climbing Kilimanjaro translated to some very practical things such as a phenomenal packing list that was spot on for what I needed on the mountain, good suggestions for physical preparedness for the trek, very adequate prep for traveling to Tanzania and making sure visa etc. was set up ahead of time, in addition to a great group of porters that worked very efficiently and made everything run very smoothly.I appreciated having a great base camp hotel (Bristol Cottages) coming and going from the mountain. Not only was this a nice and comfortable place to stay and have meals before and after the climb, but I also felt very secure, leaving extra clothing and valuables at the hotel. The hotel had a very good system for making sure valuables were secure. I appreciated knowing that all Tusker guides are not only certified guides (which technically is required of all guides on the mountain) but are also trained as high altitude first responders and have wilderness first aid training as well. I was very impressed by the process of having a support assistant guide hike behind me at all times who carried oxygen and a portable hyperbaric chamber if needed. Coming prepared with medication including acetazolamide and dexamethasone and having a plan in place for us to carry medications in our day pack at all times in case anything happened made a lot of sense and I quickly learned this was not standard practice for all trekkers. Tusker also emphasized the importance of drinking lots of water and very wisely advised me to bring 2 3L hydration pouches to use while hiking. I really think this was an important key to doing well and feeling as good as I did on the trek – especially on summit day. This also meant that the team was set up to support this which I quickly realized was not trivial. The Tusker team clearly has a reputation for its capability and advanced training amongst the other guides and porters. On our summit day, another team sought out my guide to help with somebody who was struggling with altitude sickness. The guide and assistant guide were able to help this individual and this did not compromise my safety or experience in any way. I can’t over emphasize the professionalism of the team. It really stood out on the mountain. There were so many groups of people climbing and it was obvious that there was a great deal of variability among the groups and the level of support they were providing for their climbers. Tusker also provided large, comfortable tents and high quality dry bags for porters for transport. All in all this was an incredible experience. I am so glad I chose to climb with Tusker and would highly recommend this company because of its emphasis on safety, professionalism, training, support and good communication which comes from years of experience on this unique mountain. Thank you so much for making this the trip of a lifetime.

I have done a couple of trips with Tusker Trail and their service is impeccable. Recommend traveking with TuskerTrail 100%.

The trip of a lifetime, trekking across ancient Greenland at the height of wildflower season, whales spouting amid the glaciers and cheeky sock-stealing Arctic foxes! Our guide Katie went the extra mile, even loaning me a pair of hiking boots when my trail runners didn't hold up to the terrain. (Kids, take the Tusker packing list seriously!) Tusker takes its clients' safety seriously, and the group size was perfect for everyone to put in their shift for nightly polar bear watch.

I have travelled with Tusker trail on 5 trips and always got the best logistics and service. The guides on Kilimandjaro were splendid. Next should be Greenland

Could not have asked for a better experience! The entire Tusker team was great from start to finish. I paid attention to other Kilimanjaro guide services during my trek and can say Tusker provided the best gear, meals, and staff. I witnessed several hikers get evacuated by helicopter during my week on the mountain. As a healthcare professional, I was very impressed with the medical care and knowledge provided by the Tusker guides. They certainly are the best trained and equipped and earned my complete trust. Don’t skimp on this important part of a successful Kilimanjaro trek.

Absolutely the best! Top notch experience from start to finish! The preparation information was off the charts. From the airport pickup to the educational trip in Khatmandu to all the educational visits to the temples with our incredible lead guide! And the food! Plus our safety was the topic priority - medical checks twice a day. I cannot recommend any more highly. Once in a lifetime trip, go with the best !

I recommend Tusker Trail to anyone considering climbing mt. Kilimanjaro. Our climb is not until Feb but so far they have exceeded my expectations. Their coordination, communication, over all logistics is extremely impressive. Katie is amazing. She responds to all my emails. And I ask a lot of questions:-) But she responds quickly and shares her personal experience as well.

I had the most amazing experience with Tusker Trail when I summited in January 2023. I was a solo female traveler and we had a group of 4 total - all solo travelers' themselves!! It was perfect!! Tusker did a phenomenal job - the booking process was easy, the pre-climb materials very detailed and clear making sure we were all very prepared! And during the hike - The entire team of Guides, Porters were all super friendly and very motivating. Paramount was our safety and it showed - daily health checks were detailed! The tents/cots were super comfortable and the food was Terrific!! I did a lot of research before my hike and am thrilled I picked Tusker - I absolutely want to travel with them again on some of their other treks!! Highly highly recommend!!

A bucket-list trip to Tanzania A real bucket-list trip arranged by Katie at Tusker Trail. 3 vacations in 1, starting with a 5-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safari, followed by a 9-day Kilimanjaro climb, and ending with 5 days of rest and relaxation at Pongwe Beach Hotel in Zanzibar. Sanctuary Kichikani luxury tent safari camp in the Northern Serengeti was amazing. Saw the Great Migration where tens of thousands of wildebeest cross the crocodile-infested Mara River. One day in the crater is enough. Too many safari vehicles flocking to anything and everything make it feel like more of a zoo than a national park. The scenery is spectacular, so still worth going, but spend more time in the Serengeti and skip Lake Manyara National Park (incredibly dusty with little game viewing). The Kilimanjaro climb was physically and mentally challenging, but the satisfaction that comes with summiting makes is so worth it. Our Tusker Trail guides, Eliakim and Goudance, know how to safely get their climbers to the top. They paced us well and encouraged and motivated us...especially my 17-year old son. With guides trained in high-altitude mountain rescue, twice-daily health checks, and safety equipment never more than a few steps behind us, we had the confidence to plough through any self-doubt and summit where many didn't on a very windy day. Our guides deserve the title of "The Kings of Kilimanjaro" (search this on YouTube and watch the film). Pongwe Beach Hotel and some scuba diving at the Nmemba Atoll was a great way to end our adventure. The hotel offers a beautiful beach, gracious staff, and a wonderful chef that made my fussy son his choice of off-menu meals. Loved seeing the bush babies come into the dining area every evening. Some of the atoll coral has bleached and too many boats at times, but a lot of interesting fish. Great for novice divers like us. Tusker Trail planned it all. Thanks Katie.

Tusker delivers the best and safest experience on Kilimanjaro. The experience with Tusker was simply outstanding. All five of us made it to the summit, including four of us in our 60s. Their motto is safety first. We had medical checks by medically trained personnel twice a day, including examination of lungs daily. After witnessing multiple helicopter evacuations on the day that we made summit, I would never climb Kilimanjaro without a trained person checking my lungs. We feel very confident with Tusker and thoroughly enjoyed our summit day.

Extraordinary Experience Hiking the 6-day Machame Route with Tusker Extraordinary experience! I wouldn't go with any other tour group than Tusker. We watched some of the other crews and few were nearly as attentive, eager, and helpful as the Tusker team. Our family of six (children aged 15, 18, 20, and 22) were supported by three amazing guides (Simon, Urio, and Pastori) and by a crew of nearly 30 porters. They emphasized two driving principles: Safety and Positive Experience! And they over-delivered on both. We could not more strongly recommend Tusker! Amazing experience!

Amazing Trip - Tusker Spiral Route The whole team was very kind, welcoming, and professional. It was obvious right away that the team had good leadership, coordination, camaraderie, and took pride in their jobs. My guide was excellent and enjoyed getting to know him over the course of my trek. The extensive experience that Tusker has with climbing Kilimanjaro translated to some very practical things such as a phenomenal packing list that was spot on for what I needed on the mountain, good suggestions for physical preparedness for the trek, very adequate prep for traveling to Tanzania and making sure visa etc. was set up ahead of time, in addition to a great group of porters that worked very efficiently and made everything run very smoothly. I appreciated having a great base camp hotel (Bristol Cottages) coming and going from the mountain. Not only was this a nice and comfortable place to stay and have meals before and after the climb, but I also felt very secure, leaving extra clothing and valuables at the hotel. The hotel had a very good system for making sure valuables were secure. Tusker guides are not only certified guides (which technically is required of all guides on the mountain) but are also trained as high altitude first responders and have wilderness first aid training as well. I was very impressed by the process of having a support assistant guide hike behind me at all times who carried oxygen and a portable hyperbaric chamber if needed. Coming prepared with medication including acetazolamide and dexamethasone and having a plan in place for us to carry medications in our day pack at all times in case anything happened made a lot of sense and I quickly learned this was not standard practice for all trekkers. Tusker also emphasized the importance of drinking lots of water and very wisely advised me to bring 2 3L hydration pouches to use while hiking. I really think this was an important key to doing well and feeling as good as I did on the trek – especially on summit day. This also meant that the team was set up to support this which I quickly realized was not trivial. The Tusker team clearly has a reputation for its capability and advanced training amongst the other guides and porters. On our summit day, another team sought out my guide to help with somebody who was struggling with altitude sickness. The guide and assistant guide were able to help this individual and this did not compromise my safety or experience in any way. I can’t over emphasize the professionalism of the team. It really stood out on the mountain. There were so many groups of people climbing and it was obvious that there was a great deal of variability among the groups and the level of support they were providing for their climbers. Tusker also provided large, comfortable tents and high quality dry bags for porters for transport. All in all this was an incredible experience. I am so glad I chose to climb with Tusker and would highly recommend this company because of its emphasis on safety, professionalism, training, support and good communication which comes from years of experience on this unique mountain. Thank you so much for making this the trip of a lifetime.

Highly recommend! It was an excellent experience. The guides, food, organization and communication were outstanding. I would highly recommend Tuster Trail!

Achieved a dream of 20 years with Tusker Trail My dad (65M) and I (35F) climbed the Lemosho route with Tusker Trail on July 7-15. Four out of four hikers in our group reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro at 12:15pm on July 13 thanks to the leadership of our amazing guides (Kombe and Pastori) and the team of 24 staff and porters who supported us. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience that I will keep with me for the rest of my life! There are many companies on the mountain and I chose Tusker for a few reasons. First, Tusker has been operating on Mt. Kilimanjaro for decades (I believe the founder actually was involved in the initial mapping of the Lemosho trail), so you can't find a more experienced and safety-conscious group of guides and staff. Second, Tusker has a high summiting success rate because they offer the longest climb (7 day ascent and 2 day descent), which maximizes opportunity for acclimatization and is well worth the extra expense. Third, Tusker summits during the day (on the Lemosho route) rather than at night. This meant that we left the Barafu base camp for Uhuru Peak at 4:30am and we were able to see a view of the sunrise on the trail, and we also weren't freezing and scrambling in the dark with headlamps like most groups that left base camp around midnight. The basic flow of the climb was waking up around 6:15am most days, beginning to hike at 7:30am after packing, breakfast, and medical check-ins, a break for lunch around 1pm, continuing to hike after lunch most days (although as we reached higher altitudes, we often were done hiking for the day after lunch), snacks at 4:30pm, and dinner and medical check-ins at 6:30pm. By the time you arrived at each camp, the porters already had been there setting up tents (including the mess tent and toilet tent) for several hours and all your belongings already were there. I was amazed by how efficient the porters were, each carrying 20 kg every day! We spent three days camping at 13,000' and hiking to 15,000' during the day, which prepared us to stay at 15,000' the night before and the night after summiting. The summit day was brutal because of the altitude, but the rest of the climb was not especially difficult and none of it was technical. And help always was available to get through any tricky parts (e.g., the Barranco Wall, the descent from Uhuru Peak). All members of our group encountered some difficulties with the altitude at one point or another (headache, diarrhea, loss of appetite, etc.), and the guides were very knowledgeable of how to mitigate the symptoms. I always felt safe thanks to Tusker's medical procedures and check-ins, and I had a lot of trust in the guides' judgment. More than once I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I or another member of the group recovered from fairly debilitating altitude sickness symptoms. The entire staff of the climb was so polite, professional, and energetic, and they watched out for our individual needs the entire time. The mantra that the guides repeated to us throughout the climb was "safety first, summit second," and this above all else is the reason I would recommend Tusker without reservation. THANK YOU to Kombe, Pastori, Julian (in the Tanzania office), Katie (in the US office), and all the porters for an incredible and memorable experience! I look forward to traveling with Tusker Trail again someday.

Super Kilimanjaro trip thanks to a super Tusker team This was an amazing experience and this experience was made possible by Tusker. I signed up in September 2022 for the July 2023 Kilimanjaro trip - from the sign up until the arrival, I received all necessary information from Tusker, very personal and I could always reach out by phone or email for any question I might have. The Kilimanjaro trip was a super experience and mainly thanks to 2 super guides (Kombe and Pastori) and an amazing team that took care of the tents, matrasses, excellent food and drinks, toilet (yes!) and much more. My friend got altitude sickness (and believed she had to stop the climb) and the Tusker team (again te 2 guides) gave her oxygen and 10 hours later she was up and running again (after a good night sleep). The guides helped us every step of the way (literally) as we progressed 'pole pole' (Swahili for slowly slowly) on the mountain. Everyone reached the top and help was given to some of our team members when going down. This was a super experience - thank you Tusker team!

World Class Tusker Guides & Experience!!! What an incredible experience to have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route with Tusker Trail. Of the 18 of us who climbed 14 of us successfully summited while the remaining four climbers made it as high as 16,700 feet. The reality is the altitude impacts everyone differently, no matter what your fitness level so you have to be prepared for the guides to not let you continue if they don't feel it is safe for you to continue. Tusker took extremely good care of us pre-climb, during the climb and post-climb, attending to our every need and ensuring our health and safety along the way. You lack a lot of creature comforts camping on the side of a mountain for 7 nights, but Tusker provided exceptional meals, warm accommodations and most importantly clean toilets. I enjoyed everyone I met, and formed a lot of new bonds and friendships with the guides. If you plan to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro don't consider anyone other than Tusker, as they treat their guides and porters better than anyone and compensate them very well. I was happy to find out that our 18 climbers employed 71 guides and porters on the mountain and dozens more back in Moshi at our hotel. The economic impact of our climb will provide better opportunities for future generations.

Made it to the Summit of Kilimanjaro thanks to our Tusker Team Our Tusker Team was the best. They took care of us and made sure we made it to the Summit. The tents, food, advice and careful medical evaluations each day ensured our success! Our guides were professional, knowledgeable, experienced and we highly recommend Tusker Trails for a successful climb on Mt Kilimanjaro. We did a two day safari after our climb, which was arranged by Tusker Trails. Everything worked out well and I highly recommend doing a safari. The wild life is incredible. In my opinion, Tusker Trail is the only way to go for a climb of Mt Kilimanjaro.

Amazing Kili Birthday Trek! I was able to relax and focus on the climb. Tusker took care of everything- from the initial preparations all the way through to guiding our climb. We just focused on the beautiful mountain. Our guides, Frances and Nemis made sure we had a safe, successful summit! And our caboose Metta was our “security blanket”, always there for us! It was definitely colder than anticipated but I was prepared by following the equipment checklist. And the chef went above and beyond his usual delicious cooking by providing us a birthday cake on my birthday! And they sang too- incredible experience for my 60th!

Became more about the daily journey and enjoying the moments than one ultimate goal There could not have been a better group of people to trek to the top with. The guide were so knowledgeable, able to adjust and encourage as needs changed daily. Medically prepared and always with kindness and smiles led us to the top

Tusker is the way to go when climbing Mt Kilimanjaro!! From the accommodations to the healthy, satisfying meals Tusker was 10/10. The guides were knowledgeable and invested in everyone’s success. The team shared in our joys and our jokes and were like family!

Summitted Kilimanjaro via Marangu Route The Tusker Team (from Katie in the US to Julian in Moshi and leaders Urio and Pastorey on the mountain) were warm & professional in every way. Always focused on safety first and summiting second, which feels the right way to do it, and we felt well prepared for our summit attempt, both because of the prep materials they provided and their practical approach while on the mountain. The porters were reliable and kind, Nicolas kept us well fed. The hut accomodations were spartan but efficient, and typically had both WiFi and power to charge devices.

Tusker Trail Summits History Making Expedition African American Team. Selection of a quality trail guide company is one of most important the things one can do in planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and Tusker Trail is the right company. Their knowledgeable and professional guides, attentive and supportive porters, masterful chefs, and can-do encouragement can't be beat. Tusker plans to get you safely to the summit and they know exactly how to do this. The 11 adults on our expedition were all impressed with Tusker's guide team. They were supportive, anticipatory, kind, and looked for ways to make our climb an adventure of a lifetime. "One team; one dream" became our mantra as we walked through the jungle, crossed the arid lands to larva rock, scaled the Great Barranca Wall and faced the challenges of Stella Point. Tusker paid close attention to our medical condition, pace, and energy level and offered suggestions on how to take care of ourselves. Because of them, we set a record as the oldest African American expedition team to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, and we owe a debt of gratitude to Tusker for helping us to make history.

Machame Climb I would like to express my gratitude to the entire Tusker team on my recent successful summit. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe for my entire time in Tanzania as the team works very hard to ensure the trip is successful and that you are well cared for. I met some incredible people on this trip with the commonality that we were all embarking on this shared adventure, and we spent so much of our time that week laughing and enjoying new friends as we made our way up and down the mountain. Many thanks to the Tanzanian crew, including our lead guide, Eliakim, assistant guides Nemes and Kombe, Zekiel and Daniel at camp, Alex on rescue, Peter and Frank as drivers, and the numerous very hard-working porters that made our trip possible. Their ability to adapt to changes needed on the trail for our group was impressive and done in a consistently professional manner. Additionally, having Julian managing on the ground in Tanzania was invaluable as travel is rarely 100% predictable and his assistance in troubleshooting any issues that developed was much appreciated. I would not hesitate to travel on another Tusker trip in the future (and dream of doing so someday). I would highly recommend using their company should you have the opportunity to complete this challenging but rewarding trek.

Tusker Trail Delivered an Unforgettable Father-daughter Kilimanjaro Adventure! My daughter and I successfully summited Kilimanjaro on June 30th, 2022. Tusker Trail delivered throughout every phase of our adventure. The Tusker Trail staff were, without exception, always responsive and helpful. Their thoughts, opinions and expertise were key in planning and executing our adventure including air travel to Africa, the climb and a safari extension. The detailed medical discussions and pre-departure manual were also very helpful and important. I am thankful Tusker Trail has both a presence in the USA and Tanzania, as I believe it greatly aided in the planning (USA) and execution (while we were in Tanzania). Tusker Trail has guided climbs on Kilimanjaro for a long time and it is evident in the high level of professionalism demonstrated by every member of the Tusker Trail staff including: their US-based Trekking Coordinators (Chelsy and Kelly were awesome!); their Operations manager in Moshi (thanks for all your help Julian!); our climbing guides (Nemes and Liberaty who were consummate Kilimanjaro climbing professionals); and the Tusker Trail Porter Team (it’s difficult to put into words how much I appreciated the Tusker Trail Porters - from start to finish, they were always helpful and friendly) and our awesome Moshi drivers (Peter and Frank)! Our trip in June 2022 was actually the second time I climbed Kilimanjaro with Tusker Trail. Nemes and Liberaty guided our climb in 2009 and I was delighted and thrilled when I learned they would be our lead guides for this climb. Many of the Tusker Trail staff both in the US and Tanzania have been with the company for well over ten years. To me, that speaks highly of the positive and supportive culture within the Tusker Trail team. Tusker Trail’s outstanding overall performance in planning and executing our east African adventure enabled an unforgettable father-daughter Kilimanjaro summit! Well done Tusker Trail and Thank You!

Tusker is the Best! This is the 5th time I have climbed Kilimanjaro with Tusker – they are the best. The guides are all trained in high altitude medicine and are focused on getting everyone to the summit as safely as possible. Everything about the experience is first class – from the great food, to the personalized welcome when you arrive in camp each night, to the effort that is made to ensure that everyone is acclimatizing through the twice daily heath checks. I do this as a charity fundraiser for CODE a Canadian charity focused on children’s literacy in Africa. Everyone who has joined me on these climbs raves about the Tusker guides.

Experience of a lifetime!!! My wife and I just came from a wonderful climb of the Kilimanjaro. Everyhting from the email exchange with their crew until the drive back to the airport was first class. We have always felt secure and in good company. During the climb we had the chance to see the difference between Tusker and every other compagny. We highly reommand to everyone to try and see the Tusker difference. We are already planning to come back with our kids in the futur.

An Incredible Adventure Just returned from an amazing trip to Tanzania with Tusker Trail. I opted for the Lemosho Route so that I would have plenty of acclimatization time. I chose the January 23 date as that was supposed to be the the short dry season. Yeah, not so much...The rain started in earnest on Day 1 of the climb. Did I say rain? Torrent more accurately. It just poured all day as we slogged our way along. And the rain continued on and off for the duration of the trip. But I was well prepared for the wet and the cold. I followed the advice of the Tusker staff and used their packing list. Also rented some of their gear. Glad I did. Had everything I needed to keep warm and kinda dry. The Tusker crew were so helpful keeping us out of trouble as we navigated swollen creeks and precariously wet rocks. They got me to the summit in a snowstorm and guided me back safely. I felt very comfortable during the whole climb. Don’t get me wrong, being constantly wet and muddy is not particularly fun, but the porters and guides made sure I was well fed and healthy. Hot soup was welcome each day as were the fresh vegetables (avocados and tomatoes were amazing). And the guides were constantly monitoring my health status. At age 62 that’s kind of a priority. And happy to report that I had no ill effects from altitude or any other issues. And after the climb I opted for a three day safari add on to Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro with Hoopoe Safaris. Another class operation. Well worth the extra money. Saw tons of animals and stayed at very nice tent lodges. The accommodations were first rate as was the food and drinks. Very comfortable and great service. Tusker is a first class operation with a fine staff both stateside and in Tanzania. Very friendly, courteous and helpful. Drivers and staff were on time and attentive. They started us off with a half day tour of Moshi which was a nice way to get a feel for the African way of life. Nothing was lacking. Kudos to the Tusker folks and their partners at Hoopoe Safaris. I highly recommend both.

Amazing lifetime adventure Guides were amazing everyday medical checks took turns in eating with us answered all our questions, chef cooked up the best food always with a little surprise. Tusker Porters my they leave me speechless always happy professional they truly are the back bone of an adventure like this, packing up the entire camp carry it everyday and when you arrive at camp, your tent is set up bags in place and boiling water ready for a nice cuppa. The thing I noticed most of all is our guides professionalism in watching us they picked a pace they suited us, we all acclimatized so well all over 60+ and on the worst day to summit in snow wind and white out with our four chosen porters they got us to the top and that was what we were there for, coming down with one not in good condition our guides tucked us into a spot out of the blustering wind and ice pulled out the oxygen bottle gave a panadol waited a couple of minutes until blood oxygen levels were back up to 93 and off we continued down all happy, this showed me truly how great Tusker has trained his guides with medical back ground, there was no discomfort for any of us at all, if there was the guides would do everything to fix it. I would go back again and do it all over again, the same way I never struggled once nor did the altidued effect me I believe it was because of our guides. Thanks Francis and Orio Thanks Mel for all your help with our booking, for us living in Australia we needed to feel safe and secure with our booking and you provided this. Thanks to all of our porters you guys are amazing professional and happy your faces were always smiling. Special thanks to our 4 porters that volunteered to summit with us step for step behind each one of us, removing our gloves putting our gloves on giving us water picking up our poles catching us before we slipped the list goes on. Sorry we didnt know a few of you had never been to the top and felt ill. You guys never showed us we had no idea until told at tea time,you all just kept helping us get through the terrible weather. Thankyouxxxx Why did we summit in such bad weather, and not once feel like we had enough or why are we doing this. Answer is written above for all of those reasons and more. Margaret & Kim

Amazing experience with a great company I had the opportunity of hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro with Tusker over Christmas 2019. I cannot praise Tusker and their staff enough. From the very start of the planing stages, Mel was incredibly helpful, informative, and responsive to emails/calls. One of the benefits of going with Tusker is that everything is handled and taken care of (local transportation, meals, lodging). It makes the trip much more stress free knowing that all I need to focus on is the trek ahead of me. Once I was in Moshi, Julian was helpful and likewise informative. He answered all my questions and was very hospitable the entire time I was at Ameg Lodge. Finally, my guide, Nemes, and his crew were the best. Nemes was professional the entire trek and kept my eyes on my goal of reaching the summit. He was sure to keep me hydrated, well fed, and in good health the entire hike. Tusker Trail claims to be the best on the mountain. After experiencing what the company has to offer, I have to agree 100%. If you have the desire for a once in a lifetime experience, be sure to give Tusker a call.

Team Monnoo Oct 8-20, 2019 Dear Eddie / Jamie / Julian: I hope this email finds you well. I am writing on behalf of Team Monnoo, a group of six old friends that summited Kilimanjaro in mid-October. Our trip was delightful in every way, and has provided us memories which will last forever. We were led by the indefatigable Eliakim, and his most deputy Stanford – both have been incredible guides finding the optimal balance between safety and professionalism on one hand, but banter and friendship on the other. They – and the wider team (i.e. Jaime, Julian, all the porters, the drivers, the entire group on the mountain) – have our deepest and most sincere gratitude. Bespoke attention had paid to each of us despite us being motley crew – and spanning a wide arc on the fitness spectrum! It is safe to assume we all would not have summitted had it not been for the constant support and guidance. Please find more detailed feedback below: Pre-departure: Excellent pre-departure manuals with detailed and thorough lists of items we will need. We are all urban types, so this was invaluable. Jaime was particularly helpful at this stage, being proactive in reaching out to us and making sure we were all well placed prior to our arrival in Tanzania. Also, invoices were clear and payments well managed. Moshi: Ameg Lodge was more than comfortable, with very agreeable rooms, dining and entertainment (i.e. the bar). Local transportation was always on time. Julian has been fabulous, helping with everything from guiding us as to Moshi’s nightlife to conjuring up a pair of ski goggles at short notice! Also a very nice gesture to pick up our dinner bill on the final night given we were down a day early. Mt. Kilimanjaro itself: Leadership: As above, Eliakim and Stanford were beyond excellent. From daily health checks to helping all six of us summit. They were our leaders, and there was literally nothing they could have done to make us more comfortable, more safe or more satisfied. We owe them the biggest thanks, and they are an enormous credit to Tusker, and wonderful ambassadors for their country. Food: This was probably my biggest worry pre-trip, but every mouthful was excellent. Benson is an excellent cook and all the dishes were inspired, especially given he is not preparing this in a normal kitchen! Some in the group are quite finicky eaters, and there were some dietary requirements complicating matters – but everything was managed with aplomb. The popcorn and biscuits were a nice touch too, and really make one feel at home and comfortable. Camp life: Every morning our boots were cleaned, our clothes were hung out to dry, our breakfasts were hot and ready (with eggs fried or scrambled on demand), and everything we needed catered to. A number of honourable mentions: Harouna, Charles, Danny, our waiter (whose name esacapes). Most of the staff we did not get to know, but they all were instrumental in our comfort, making sure our bathrooms were always clean, our hand bidets always full, our tents always ready, etc etc. Great service all around. Constructive suggestions: There is not much in the way of suggestions for improvement, but here goes: Video / pictures: I carried a Go-Pro with me on the whole trip. It was a bit of pain, and of course died just before we summitted. I would have loved if you offered a service where a professional videographer / photographer would accompany us, and send us edited and final picture albums / movie of the entire trip. I have had this service before on a hunting trip, and should be pretty easily done. After all, you are less in the mountain business, and more in the memories business. Minor items: Don’t have item such as trowels and parachute lining on your pre-departure checklists. You already provide all this stuff, and ideally we just turn up with our clothes, boots and medicines. Also please just provide umbrellas for rental for each person, rather than us bringing them. I would be grateful if you could share this email with Julian, Eliakim, Stanford and the wider staff. On behalf of Team Monnoo… Sheraz Monnoo, Fahad Kamal, Murad Saigol, Saif Amin, Osman Raie, Aurangzeb Firoz

Safety and attention to detail My wife and I successfully summited Kilimanjaro this summer. This was by far our most ambitious outdoor trip. To-date. 🙂 We couldn't be more impressed with Tusker. First of all, They did an excellent job preparing us for the trip providing extensive info, answering all our questions and giving recommendations for equipment, training, medicine, etc. If anything, we felt over-prepared on the climb. That's is a good thing when taking the trip of this kind for the first time. During the climb Tusker brought had an impressive array of safety equipment. (We didn't need it but it was good to know it was there). Daily health checks helped everyone to stay on track. I developed altitude related headache relatively early in the climb. Medically trained guides helped manage that so that it didn't interfere with the climb. There were 8 people in our group. Everyone got personal attention, everyone submitted. Food was plentiful, private toilets were a huuuuge plus. We even had a warm water shower at one point! Climbing itself was managed very well. Most companies start summiting at night. We started off on the morning making it a day climb. That had a number of advantages: - Much less cold and wind - Avoids scramble in the dark - No crowds at the summit. (We were the only group there and had all the time we needed to celebrate, take pictures and enjoy the summit). Overall, we had a trip of a lifetime. (We also arranged Safari extension through Tusker. That was mind blowing in a completely different way). Tusker may be be the cheapest way to go but is very well worth it. We are very likely will do another trip with Tusker.

Tusker Spiral Route – Trip of a Lifetime My son and I summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in June 2019 via the relatively new Tusker Spiral Route, which begins on the northwest side of the mountain. The Tusker experience was exceptional at all stages, starting from booking consultation, gear selection and fitness training. Without exception, their equipment was in excellent condition, the food plentiful, diverse and always delicious. Our trail guides, Pastori and Thobias, were phenomenal. While fun and accommodating, they were professional and always had their eye on health and safety. During our 10 days on the mountain, we had the opportunity to see plenty of other climbing outfits. Without exception, Tusker is the lion of the mountain. If experience and safety matters, choose Tusker.

Amazing trip!! 10 of us did the Machame route with Tusker Trails. There were 5 adults (4 friends from High School 35+ years, plus my husband) and 5 kids (ages 14-21). 46 folks supported us on the mountain between the guides, chefs, servers, specialty camp attendants, and porters. EVERY detail was attended to. With the kids, safety was paramount. They have 4 levels of safety: 2x Daily medical checks complete with Pulse/Oximeter, medical questionnaire & listen to lungs; carry oxygen; carry a hyperbolic chamber; & helicopter extraction if necessary. All our guides (Kombe, Gaudance, Nemis, & Ureo) are High Altitude First Responder certified and knew what to do do when symptoms of AMS occurred. The food was amazing and volumous! We ate better on the mountain than at home (no joke!). We had BBQ chicken, Fajitas, Crepes, Corn bread, Stews, Curry chicken & rice, Schnitzel, Salisbury steak, French Fries, French Toast, bacon (just to name a few meals). The fruits and soups were especially tasty! Having your own bathroom was epic - Cannot over emphasize this convenience!! The tents were tall enough that you could stand up even if over 6’, and they fully blocked the wind which could be heavy at times. The most fun was climbing the Barranco wall, and all of us summiting on day 6! The entire group gelled, we were a big happy caravan of 56 folks! They taught us Swahili and sang us traditional songs some mornings to celebrate the upcoming day. 6 Porters and all guides walked us to the summit and sang to us again in celebration. We were the only ones at the top as they timed it to miss the crowds; a true gift to be there by ourselves! Gaudance agreed to take me and my friend on a side trip so we could climb on the glacier near the top-Bonus!! All was not rosy as one friend was struck with a pretty bad case of AMS near the top. our lead guide, Kombe, quickly made adjustments such that my friend was properly tended to and the rest of the group was not inconvenienced by his condition. Again their attention to us and the ability to adjust, was remarkable! We HIGHLY recommend using Tusker Trails and will use them again on future adventures!!

Mt. Kilimanjaro - 8 day Lemosho Trail Adventure Summit Mt. Kilimanjaro with a company that will get you there. Tusker Trails! Sure you have to put in some work and be prepared… but Tusker works very hard at keeping you safe, healthy, and making the trip memorable. For your “once in a life time adventure”, you want experts in AMS safety, keeping healthy and managing every aspect of the hike. Everyone was so courteous and helpful. (i.e. Coffee brought to our tents each morning at 6:30 am.) Tusker's help in preparation for gear, travel, vaccines, training was timely, informative, and in person. My son and I have a great memory summiting together that will last forever. Thanks Tusker Trails!!

Trip of a Lifetime! I just recently got back from climbing the Machame route with Tusker and it was a trip I will never forget! This was my first time ever taking a solo trip and it could not have got better! It was very apparent on the mountain that our amenities and service far surpassed other groups. The crew went above and beyond, always helping! The meals were great, fajitas with guacamole were incredible and I’m craving those vegetable soups! The guides were wonderful to be with, they were encouraging and always made safety a priority. We were a family from start to finish and the group of three of us climbers all successfully summited thanks to Tusker! They just got new tents which were huge and very comfortable. I am 6 feet tall and was able to stand in the tent easily! I could not imagine going with another outfit on the Kili climb! I also booked the 3 day Serengeti safari after and it was phenomenal. All of the lodging in Moshi and the Serengeti were great as well.

Exceptional Kilimanjaro Experience My 17 year old son and I just returned from our Kilimanjaro climb with Tusker. Tusker came highly recommended from a number of friends who had climbed Kilimanjaro with them as well as one friend who did the Everest Base Camp trip. Overall, just a fantastic experience from start to finish. The most important thing to me was our health and safety and this was clearly Tusker's priority from the start. Our two guides (Urio and Pastori....who are THE BEST) we extremely well qualified and were very detailed in how they approached all aspects of the climb - especially our safety. We were able to make the summit on schedule and without any real medical issues - which unfortunately did not seem to be the case for a lot of others on the mountain. The food was just amazing and the variety was surprising given the environment. Our porters were very professional and were always where they needed to be and had our camp ready for us whenever we needed which really helped when all you want to do is rest. We plan to use Tusker again in the future and looking at the EBC trip in the next year or two. If you are looking to climb Kilimanjaro and want the best operator - Tusker is the very clear choice!

Summit with the Best - Tusker Trail Exceeding Expectations! I have wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro for a number of years after a client planted the seed of doing so describing her own adventure. Turning 50, I decided it was time to give it a try. After much research on routes, time of year and most importantly trekking companies, I landed on Tusker Trail. I liked that they had many, many years of experience on the mountain, have their own Tanzanian guides and porters (they do not subcontract out their trips) and most importantly, put climber health and safety first. This was an amazing experience. From the coordination and explanation of the trip and the preparation for it with Jaime, to the support in Tanzania by Julian, to the hard work and dedication of the guides (Kombe, Gaude and Stanford) and their team of porters, cooks and support staff - Tusker Trail exceeded expectations and made for an amazing adventure I will never forget. There are many, many other trekking companies out there - but buyer beware, you get what you pay for. With Tusker, we received great accommodations in Moshi at the Bristol Cottages (request a cottage v. staying in newer tower), the guides provided daily briefings on what was to be expected and checked our health, everyone was super friendly and accommodating, food was incredible (steak fajitas and spaghetti Bolognese) and Kilimanjaro provides a constant backdrop that leads you on all the way to the summit. Very surreal experience - simply magnificent. Thanks to Tusker for making a once in a lifetime experience so memorable and enjoyable. Highly, highly recommend.

An amazing, amazing life experience Just back from summiting Mt Kilimanjaro in February and it was such a great experience. My friend and I first planned this adventure back in about 2008 and based on fairly extensive research on Tripadvisor and other internet reviews we settled on using Tusker Trail for our guide group, primarily based on safety and comfort level. We could not however, ever seem to agree on a date or align our schedule to make this happen. Finally, we decided in 2018 we had to make it happen and again, all the research led us back to Tusker Trail again. From the moment we started the booking process things went extremely smoothly. The level of communication and detail in manuals they sent was perfect. We booked about 8 months before the actual climb. As an internet review junkee I learned after my expedition that I should be inquiring as to what people paid before I place a lot of weight on the actual review. My friend and I were trying to keep things as brief as possible so we opted for the Machame 7 day route. The cost was about $4800 USD (before tip) each and we did an exclusive tour. so a little over $10,000 USD for an exclusive excursion and we had 17 staff looking after the 2 of us. Including 2 guides (both who carried oxygen), a recuse porter (who was always with us and the 2 guides and carrying a portable stretcher and portable hyper baric chamber) a chef, a waiter, a bathroom attendant for our private and very clean bathroom tent) and numerous other porters for carrying all the gear and setting everything up. By the way, this price is really all-inclusive. I didnt need to have a wallet once we landed. Tusker picked us up at the airport, put us up in hotels, our meals and hotels and all transportation in Moshi were covered in our price. My friend and I took seriously the information in the manuals about health, training and medications and hydration and we followed everything the guides requested. As a result, we were perfectly healthy the entire trip. We had no gastro-intestinal issues and never experienced any altitude sickness. We found summit day to be no problem what so ever and we attributed that to drinking 4 litres of water each day and taking our diamox prescription. It was obvious when we were in some of the camps and talking to others that we made the right choice. Each morning, the porters would come to our tents with a bowl of hot water and soap at 6am. At 6:30am we would go to the dining tent and enjoy steaming hot coffee At 7:00 am our waiter brought in usually hot porridge to start and then followed with eggs, chicken or bacon and toast. At 8:30 am we started our hike with the 2 guides and our rescue porter. We would usually be in the next camp that afternoon and the porters already had gotten ahead of us and set up the whole camp and would be waiting with hot chocolate and popcorn as a snack before dinner. My friend and I opted to rent some of the gear from Tusker and it was in "New" condition and of the highest quality like "Mountain Hardware" brand, etc. Some of the stuff we rented included: The winter down coat, rain coat, rain pants, hiking poles and gaiters. I could elaborate extensively on the experience but others have done a great job doing that so I'll leave it with the fact that you should do this. The scenery and people are wonderful and its an amazing life experience. Oh, one fun thing we did, after we summited we came down to millenium camp at 12,500' and we chartered a helicopter to take us the final way and give us a tour. It was $2,000 usd for 2 people. Fun. If you decide to go think about choosing this group and you will be very pleased, comfortable and safe. Our guide Eliakym was the kilimanjaro guide winner for 2018.