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Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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111 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Dawn Watts

Reviewed July 2014

Kilimanjaro.... an experience to remember!

If you want a relaxing holiday step away from this review now! Regardless of what anyone or reviews tell you being fit for Kilimanjaro is essential. Altitude sickness is a condition, having strength in your legs is pre trip requirement due to the terrain you will have to cover. However, without a doubt this trip was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I can’t even begin to share the roller coaster emotions of myself and the group. Laughter, tears, singing and support both from the travellers and the guides and porters, it really is something you will never forget. It’s a challenge both physically and mentally but so so worth stepping out of those boundaries and finding out what you are really made of. It is an experience, one to conquer but also one to savour for many years to come.

Most Inspirational Moment

The people! I lucked in with my fellow travellers, that really is just fate, however the local guides and porters were quite simply outstanding. I am humbled to have met so many kind people who gave so much and have so little. I have learn't so much from them and will not forget conversations, words of encouragement and being sang to in order to get us to the top. Other moments, the Dream Team singing at the top of Shira Cathedral, the Baranko Wall, being above the clouds, sunrise on the way to Stellar Point and the glaciers at Uhuru, forget the pictures these memories won't fade.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Makeke definitely has the local knowledge and gives a very detailed briefing of what each day will bring. The organisation of the support team, 57 in total for 14 clients, runs like a well oiled machine. Whoever picks the team is spot on. The 6 guides are outstanding in both terms of knowledge but also compassion. Makeke and the team really do care about what happens to each individual and feel personally responsible for each person. Breath of fresh air in the art of putting others first.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Right this is where I ramble on BUT anyone who does this trip will have a massive penny dropping experience and refer back to this.... Firstly facilities around camp. You will be amazed. There are toilets, not flushing but they do the trick, not holes in the ground, therefore apart from up the mountain where you "send emails" you won't need 100's of loo rolls. Likewise, each day you get hot water in the morning and evening to wash, therefore you won't need 20 packs of wet whipes. Nights can be cold, heat packs are great for warming up your sleeping bag (feet mainly) while you are eating dinner. Which brings me on to food, it's outstanding, how they do it I'll never know! This also mean't to me that I didn't need again 2lb in weight of snacks! Lunch is a packed lunch or hot meal. I would say store supplies for Summit day as it is a long day but apart from that I probably picked on a Cliff Bar during the day on other walks, or bar of chocolate/jelly babies here and there for a boost. The food is generous. Water is essential, if you can get a 3 litre camel pack do it as so much easier to drink that dragging out a bottle, plus you tend to sip on the way. Find out day temperature. I presumed it would be cold as we went up, wrong, day time I didn't have enough t-shirts and shorts and could have swapped the ratio with cold weather clothes. Your bag up the mountain is 15k so pack wisely. Water tastes ok regardless of reports. Finally the guides and porters. Don't underestimate how little they have. Tipping is controlled BUT there is also a gifting of your items if you wish. In hindsight I would have taken old trainers to wear around the camp to leave to them, same with t-shirts and other clothing, hats, water bottles etc. we have too much, they have so little.

Philip Loat

Reviewed March 2014

Just do it!

If you have been thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro for a while but have hesitated go ahead and do it. The Lemosho route gives you plenty of time to acclimatise and why go all the way to Tanzania and rush it? The guides make sure no one goes too fast and it was only on the summit climb that we gradually split into small groups according to ability. So don’t worry you will not get left behind and you wont get made to feel you are slowing the group down. EVERYONE goes slowly. It’s compulsory. And don’t worry if you want to go solo. I think most people climbing Kilimanjaro are solo travellers anyway.

Most Inspirational Moment

It wasn't the summit - the cloud cover was too low and we didn't see much even though it had been a beautiful clear night with a full moon. (What percentage of summit climbs end up with clear dawn views anyway??) There were many individual inspirational moments - a view, managing to make it to a particular point, watching as the porters carried huge bags up the mountain. When you have made it to camp at the end of a long days walking you will have a great sense of achievement whatever your ability and everyone is very supportive of each other.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All the main guides, including the group leader were employed by The African Walking Company for our climb. Without exception they were kind, helpful, informative and good fun. The cooking was outstanding considering the conditions and to see the porters carry your heavy possessions at twice your speed will leave you feeling humble. The guides ensure no one goes to fast and runs out of steam. Other tour companies are not so vigilant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for the climb by doing plenty of hill walking. Build up to making the walks as steep and as long as possible. This is the best preparation in addition to perhaps cycling or swimming. Think about paying extra for a single tent. If you haven't camped for a while try doing it again a few of times to get used to it. Being able to get a decent nights sleep under canvas is essential to a good days walking the following day. The mat provided by Exodus is fine. I didn't use my blow up mat at all. Take a pee bottle so you don't have to get up and go outside to the loo in the middle of the night! Take a good sleeping bag and a liner (mine was a fleece liner) Again the more you can ensure you get a good nights sleep the better. Most people in our group took Diamox for altitude sickness and seemed fine with it. And most experienced some form of altitude sickness in the form of the odd headache but it did not last more than a day. The Diamox pill I took gave me a lot of pins and needles all over my body and it made me feel worse do I did not take it again. I did have dull headaches but nothing serious.

Reviewed February 2014

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

This is an AMAZING trip – do your research about altitude, make sure you have the right kit and keep an open mind.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Barranco Wall. This was the bit I was most worried about because I had spent hours watching it on Youtube BUT it was nothing like I had imagined and I loved it. The guides and porters are so brilliant and they help you up anyway.Having breakfast outside in the sunshine about the clouds with the Summit in the background.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Florenc was fantastic. I felt comfortable with him straight away. He was knowledgeable and had lots of experience on the mountain. The African Walking Company are excellent and our assistant guides, Davison, Hans, Adam and Olaf were brilliant too. However, the greatest respect goes to Simon who was the porter who carried my kit bag and set my tent up for me everyday with a smile. The chef, Godlisten is a legend - the food was great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Build up your training to walk for at least 4 - 5 hours at a time as you will be doing this (and longer) every day! Book a trek with Mick and Elaina from Trek Hire UK - they give really valuable advice, tell you where you are at with your training AND it's a great day out over the Surrey Hills.Even if you are going with your partner - pay the single supplement as there is not much room in the tent (especially if you are tall or need to go to the loo alot which you will if you take diamox). We hired sleeping bags, therma rest, down jackets, rucksack and poles from Trek Hire UK - they were great and it kept the cost down.Take a pillow case to stuff your down jacket in for sleeping at night.Take an aluminium bottle to use as a hot water bottle for bed and fresh water to clean your teeth with in the morning.Take lots of baby wipes!Take time to get to know your guides and porters. They are amazing and you will soon realise that your life is in their hands.

Reviewed January 2014

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Unlike anything I’ve done before and doubt I’ll do the same again. Wonderful and challenging trip, totally beautiful and guided by a fantastic, funny and experienced group from the African Walking Company.

Most Inspirational Moment

Overnighting on the Shira Plateau was properly wild, and it froze solid at night. Felt like we could see every star in the sky. The next day the scramble up Shira Cathedral was a lot of fun - view from up there was unexpected and vast and yes - breathtaking (on Kilimanjaro though, most things are)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our whole guiding group were BRILLIANT - all 45 of them. Our guides in particular were so experienced we trusted them instantly - pretty important when you're in such a wilderness but I always felt I was in the best hands possible, even when altitude started getting to us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to your guides. Don't underestimate the effects of altitude. Be prepared to get pretty dirty.

Reviewed January 2014

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

If you want to give yourself the best possible chance to reach the summit then the Lemosho Route is for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is quite emotional and really promotes self reflection

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abraham was our group leader and was very organised and professional. We had very poor weather with heavy rain every day and Abraham not only managed to keep our spirits up (14 of us) but also of all his support staff (58 staff). His assistant guides were also very good and took excellent care of our group, which splintered into 3 smaller groups. At the end of it all 9 of the 14 made it to the top and nobody was affected by altitude sickness.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'd never hiked before this trip and learn't a few lessons the hard way:1. Take a medium sized umbrella, all the guides have them but there is no mention of them on any kit list2. Once your kit gets wet there's no way to dry it so pack everything into waterproof bags from day 1. We discovered that gore-tex isn't sufficient. You can't have too many waterproof bags3. You're limited to 15kg that the porters will carry, push this as close to the limit as you can, you'll need as much equipment as you can get away with4. Wear your heavy hiking boots and gaiters from day 15. Immodium, make sure you have plenty of it, everyone had tummy problems6. Take the single supplement option, even if you're with a friend/partner. Having the extra space in the tent is great for drying things and generally being able to sleep comfortably

Reviewed December 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

A fantastic trip that had a variety of scenery across the 8 days. I felt I was given as good a chance as possible of making the summit – and everyone on our group did make it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit after a torch-lit trudge up the mountain - and realising that everyone else had also made it since 3 or 4 of the group found it really tough.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Meke estimated that he had been up the mountain about 200 times and he was a calm and reassuring presence all week. The other guides were also very friendly and welcoming throughout the week - and many had been lead guides on other trips. Four of the group who were struggling were each allocated an individual guide on summit day - and each said that they may not have made it without their support. It still left Meke and 4 guides to lead the remainder of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The food was excellent all trip and there was always plenty of it - with some snacks as well. Every person in the group was paired with a tent porter. They would overtake you during the day (except summit day) along with the other porters and then meet you as you arrived at the next campsite to take your daypack. You would be lead to your erected tent with sleeping mats and main bag already inside. It was another nice touch that contributed to the feeling of being well looked after the whole way.

Reviewed December 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

This was a great trip, extremely well organised and with great guides. The scenery, changing as it did with altitude, was stupendous, especially walking high up above the clouds.

Most Inspirational Moment

I had tried to ascend Kilimanjaro some years previously, when I did not appreciate the value of adequate acclimatisation. Then I struggled to reach Gilman's Point. Now older I knew it would be hard to reach my goal, Uhuru Peak, especially when also beset with 'digestive tract problems' which meant 'walking on empty'. Nevertheless, on the night of the ascent the guides were so good in keeping up our morale and keeping us focussed, such that the entire group made it to the summit of Africa. Giving up was not an option (unless you really were too ill to make it). I surprised myself and the guides by making it to the top!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Meke was a brilliant group leader. Though I had some medication for my 'digestive tract problems' he had a great array and gave good advice on what to take and when. He paid regular attention as to how I was feeling and when I really lost my appetite too he would get the cook to prepare porridge for me as that was something I could eat.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Having suffered with 'digestive tract problems' on similar trips I had obtained ciprofloxacin and metronidazole from my GP before the trip and I did have to resort to the ciprofloxacin in the end. However, whilst other members of the group had similar issues, for them it was no more than a day or two, whereas it was several for me. Maybe I'm just more susceptible to gut infections.

Reviewed October 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

A thouroughly enjoyable trek. My wife booked the trip and I was sceptical. I cant believe how much I enjoyed it. Even the camping !!

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunrise on top of Mount Kilimanjaro was stunning. A memory that will stay with me forever.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wilfred, lead guide was excellent. I had altitude sickness for a couple of days and the care and attention to detail he showed was first class. I know I would not have reached the summit without his help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice would be listen to the guides. The pace is incredibly slow but it is like that for a reason. And it gets you there.Also, take Diamox. Better to have it. I was given it by the guide but probably easier to take it with you.And take a small nail brush. The dust gets everywhere and become engrained !!

Reviewed October 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

I was anxious before the start of a trip which I had challenged myself to do whilst my partner recuperated from a seriously life threatening health issue. Would I get on with others in the group? Was I physically fit enough? I soon realised that the others, who ranged in age from 22 up to myself at 61, all had the same fears and the disparate group of individuals soon became a mutually supporting team which encouraged each other every step of the way. It was a life affirming experience for which summiting was the emotional highlight but every moment was a privilege and joy which would have been worthwhile even if I had not got to the top.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on the roof Africa, sobbing my socks off, because I had actually got to the top of the highest mountain in Africa was a much more emotional moment than I ever expected. Until the moment I got there I really was not sure I would be able to do it even though everything had gone well upto that point. The guide (Seraphin) spotted my struggle in the last few hundred yards - he took my bag and encouraged me supportively and unobtrusively to the top. I know I couldn't have made it without him. Four months of training and preparation, 8 days of climbing and high altitude camping, combined with the uncertainty of how I might react to altitude, meant the moment of reaching the summit was hugely emotional and amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simon was very professional, quiet, unassuming and very observant. The whole trip ran like clockwork and one could observe his leadership skills at work bringing on and encouraging the assistant guides in doing briefings and leading some of the earlier treks. On the summit day itself it was clear Simon would take the responsibility for leading the group 'pole pole' to the top. He told us he would not be chatting whilst we walked because he would be too busy listening to us. ( to our breathing that is) to make sure we were safe. He gave very discrete and personal support to those members of the group who were unwell in the approach with the result that all but one made it to the summit and the one got to Stella point. This was only possible because of Simons clear support and guidance and management of the guides supporting the team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is said that you cannot prepare your body for the effects of altitude and that fitness is no guarantee that you won't get altitude sickness. Whilst this is true , it is still really important to ensure you have the best possible fitness levels to cope with the demands of the trip-especially if you are an older team member like me. Diamox or no diamox for altitude sickness? I did manage without Diamox as my GP didn't know enough about it to prescribe it. However, most of the group either took it to start off with or started taking it as the symptoms of altitude sickness developed. I did not have problems as it happened but I would take some with me if on a similar trip in future so I would have some of my own to take if the need arose. It seemed to work quite quickly for those who waited until they felt I'll to take it.

Reviewed October 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

An amazing experience full of laughter and a great sense of achievement.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Barranco Wall was fun - it looked really dauting from below but actually you had to take it slowly because there were lots of porters moving past us (they are truly incredible). Somehow the guides were always in exactly the right place to help each of us past tricky bits. Wonderful views at the top and a perfect spot for photos. Getting to Stella and then Uhuru was fantastic too of course. I think we were a really slow group - by the time we got to Uhuru it was lovely, sunny and uncrowded.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very organised and efficient - it is a big operation to get us, food, water, tents etc up the mountain and it all ran very smoothly. He always sent someone on ahead to get a good spot at the next camp.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My top tip is to do what your guides tell you to do - they are experts at getting people up to the top e.g. extra acclimatisation walks, drinking lots, eating well and communicating with them if you have a problem. Other tips: an iPod on summit night really helped me - I wasn't tired of the of the walking but was a bit bored, it was a good motivator and the girl behind said she saw my bopping my way up the mountain. Get a thermal tube for your camelbak (you can get a cheap generic one from Decathlon) and generally getting used to all your kit in advance. Mentally prepare yourself for the scree descent from the summit - personally I found this a lot harder that going up. Keep some snacks for the descent.

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