Reviews

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

Reviewed January 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

An excellent, well-organised trip. Every member of the team, from the chief guide to the porters were hardworking and professional and ensured that we all had a trip that none of us will ever forget.

Most Inspirational Moment

The porters were incredible. Seeing how hard they worked every day inspired us to keep pushing on. And as a group we worked together to ensure that we all made it to the summit. We couldn't have done it without our 3 excellent guides, Henry, Venance and Wilfred who pushed us every step of the way, especially on summit day when the going got really tough. We also got on really well as a group and we each had our own personal reasons for wanting to make it to the top.Finding out that we'd receive a certificate if we reached the top was an additional incentive!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henry, our group leader, was the ultimate professional. He was polite and professional and knew exactly how much information to give us each day. He had clearly led trips up Kili on numerous occasions and knew exactly what he was doing. As a group we were also impressed with the way he treated the porters - all were treated fairly and he personally ensured that no porter was carrying too much weight. He took all of our safety seriously, both the clients and the porters and other members of his team. His knowledge of the area was phenomenal and together with the other 2 guides they worked as a team to ensure the trip ran as smoothly as possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you spend time looking at what route you'd liked to do. I chose the Lemosho route as I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of reaching the top. I chose Exodus following a presentation evening I attended in January 2012 where Exodus staff talked through the pros and cons of each route. I realised that the reason I had procrastinated in booking for so long was because I was baffled by which route to take. Attending the evening gave me a really good oversight as to which was the best route for me. I then called Exodus with some questions and they were able to answer them in a professional way. It is definitely worth taking the time to choose your route carefully. And if you buy new kit for the trip make sure you break it in first!

Reviewed December 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

An outstanding trip, well organised and supported. If you want to get to the top of Kili book onto this trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Summit morning, after a week on the mountain and a vey early start on the last approach day, what a reward, sunrise over Africa.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abraham (Chief Guide) and George & Joseph (Assistant Guides) were superb, they know the mountain intimately and were always there to help the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

To enjoy this trip, get fit & kit up appropriately, you are considering the summit of a proper mountain. Read the exodus kit list and ask questions. Proper boots, quality warm / sun protection and wet weather kit are essential as are basics like walking socks and water bottles.

Reviewed December 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

A fantastic trip, great organisation, great supporting team and a perfect location. The Lemosho route is highly recommended as it gives time to acclimatise. All of our group made it to the summit. I couldn’t fault the organisation, all the details had been considered, all we had to do was turn up and walk.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top after a hard climb!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abraham our group leader has 10 years experience on the mountain and was great company as well as knowing everything there is to know about trekking on Kilimanjaro.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Rent the sleeping mats from Exodus, well worth the money and really comfy to sleep on. Take waterproofs and waterproof boots you will need them and take a book, cards or iPad with films etc as you do have free time on this route.

Reviewed November 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

What an amazing experience which should definitely go on anyone’s "To Do List" of lifetime achievements if you enjoy trekking and the adrenalin rush of summiting a mountain. With a 96% success rate, the Lemosho route comes highly recommended as your choice of route to take to summit Kili. The African Walking Company who Partner Exodus locally in Tanzania were exceptional. The knowledge and care of the guides and porters were amazing – they want each and every client to summit so taking on board all their advice is mandatory. Whilst there isn’t as much scenery as on other trips, every day’s walking was different and enjoyable and challenging.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunrise at Stella Point and getting to the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak. I was buzzing for days afterwards. When you consider that the tiny plane I took from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro only just flew above the mountain you realise just how far you have actually climbed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent! I couldn't fault any of the local organisation. The Chief Guides and Assistant Guides seemed to know how we were feeling each and every day and knew what we were thinking. Fantastic.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You are advised to take a mat with you to sleep on. You can either take your own (which you have to deflate and pack each day) or hire one at the cost of 25 Pounds Sterling for the whole trip. Definitely hire one - well worth it as the ground can be rocky. You need all the energy you can get for summit day so sleeping comfortably in the tent is a definite plus point. Fleece trousers are fantastic. Very lightweight and not very expensive (North Face). Great for keeping you warm at night without having to put on too many layers. You definitely need a good down jacket for summit day. I would also recommend mittens as opposed to outer gloves for summit day. These would be much easier to get on over your inner gloves when it is freezing cold - pushing your fingers through is almost impossible. Mittens are already on my "To Buy" list for my next trip.

Reviewed October 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

An amazing experience – a trip of a lift time that was made by the great group of people and the fantastic guides. Reaching Stella Point as the sun was rising is something I will never forget and made the final trek to Uhuru Peak that much easier. Our head guide Henry was superb as were his assistant guides, Double V, Hans, Ricardo, Halida and Emanuel. Without their support, encourage and positivity I would have struggled to make that final push to the top. Thank you all in helping me achieve my goal of climbing Kilimanjaro.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the Barracho Wall was awesome, looking at the people ahead of us and realising we had to follow them up the path was amazing. Reaching the top after 2 hours was one of the highlights of the trip, but actually climbing up the wall was one of the most daunting 2 hours of my life!As we climbed towards Stella Point the guides kept us motivated and focused and everytime someone asked ' how much further' the reply came back, 'not much further now, keep going'. Their positive psychology made the 9 hour climb seems so much shorter and the welcome cup of tea when we reached Stella Point made the final climb to Uhuru Peak that much easier.The overall organisation of the trip was superb, the tents up when we arrived, fantastic food throughout the trip and the welcome cup of tea at 6.30am every morning made the whole trip so stress free.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Head Guide, Henry, from the African Walking Company was fantastic. Without his support and encouragement I would have struggled to make the summit as my asthma was very bad and I also developed a very bad cold. Henry and his team made everything run smoothly, nothing was too much trouble and the assistant guides walked with me to ensure that I kept up with the rest of the group. Their calm and efficient organisation made the trip so enjoyable.Without the support of Henry and his team I would have struggled to make the summit and I thank them all for helping me achieve my goal of climbing Kilimanjaro.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Order a sleeping mat - the ground is uneven and stony and it also helps with the cold at night.Take some shoes to wear in the evening, that are easy to put on at night when you need to do a night time loo runTake a Camelbak/Bladder - you need to drink lots and regularly and if you use poles then it is much easier to use the bladder rather than bottles. I used the bottles to fill up the bladder as required.Take the best sleeping bag you can afford. It is very important that you are warm and hence sleep at night as you need all your strength for the walking.

Reviewed August 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

What a wonderful experience! Excellent group members and excellent guides who made the whole trip an unforgettable experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Whilst plodding up to Stella Point in the dark and cold, feeling more than a little weary, the guides broke into song which raised the spirits enormously. Who would have thought that a cup of warm water could be such a welcome drink when we finally reached Stella Point? After a few minutes to regain our energy, the final hour to Uhuru seemed endless in the rarified air, but we finally made it! A moment of sheer exhilaration.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Samuel was undoubtedly the most experienced guide on the mountain. He dealt with everything in a calm and dignified manner and seemed to be respected by all other guides and porters. He was a fantastic group leader and we all felt very safe in his capable hands. His genuine concern for our welfare was second to none.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We were all rather surprised to have our Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate scrutinised on entry to Tanzania. It seems this is essential if arriving via Addis Ababa. On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport we were advised by the local rep to change some dollars into shillings - this is not at all necessary and indeed proved difficult to spend as everywhere is set up to take dollars.

Reviewed August 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

very well organsied by the local tour company. By the time we arrived in camp each day our tents were set up and there was hot drinks and snacks ready with hot water for washing

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit after an 8 hour climb in cold windy blizzard conditions, the views of the sun rising over the ice fields just before you reach Uhuru were stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Naiman was very good, all of the guides were excellent - they made a good team, they were constantly checking to make sure we were all ok and took time to get to know us all. When people started to feel ill through altitude sickness (6 out of 13 needed to take Diamox) they made sure that they were well enough to continue - we all reached the summit. Naiman's pep talk the afternoon before summt day was that none of us would fail just because we were tired - and he kept to his word.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes and take the items listed. Dont underestimate the effects of altitude even if you have climbed high before

Reviewed August 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

It was a trip of a life time.The guides and the whole team were superior.My follow travellers were fantastic we all worked as a team.The eight of us all got to the top.Thanks to the mountain angles(guides).

Most Inspirational Moment

It was the best trip I was every on.I didn't want to come home.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The four guides were were first-rate ,the whole team were marvellous.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go you will have a great time

Reviewed August 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

The trip of a lifetime, well organised from start to finish, totally professional. Our group of 8 started and successfully completed the trek to the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world – Mount Kilimanjaro…Uhuru Peak – Hakuna Matata

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the Baranco Wall was one of the best days along with the Baranco Camp views above the clouds looking out over to Mount Meru which sat below us at 15,000 feet. Summit day, reaching the top with 100% success in the group, me being the eldest and a 17 year old the youngest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Henry was pleasant and inspirational, he was like my dad, always checking if we had drank enough, eaten enough, if anyone was quiet he was onto them straight away to ensure everything was ok and he directed his other guides with army like precision. One comment about Henry that maybe Exodus could help out with, he can't sing...totally tone deaf, although his song "This is how we do it" cheered us all up every time he sang it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes and advice, get all of the injections and kit required, train well, listen to your guides they know more about the mountain than you will ever know. Drink plenty on the mountain, and most of all, take a happy and positive attitude with you, summit day is very testing and is all about your mental attitude, if you are weak and not positive you will not make it up there.

Reviewed August 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

A very demanding but extremely rewarding trip. The organisation was perfect and the guides were 2nd to none.

Most Inspirational Moment

Each day brought it's own challenges with the anticipation of summit day firmly fixed in everyone's mind. The actual summit day was possibly the hardest challenge I have ever had but the feeling of achievement was overwhelming, I see it in my mind every day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader and his 3 assistants were unbelievable. Their organisation was like a military operation and their skills in recognising potential sickness, weaknesses etc was incredible. We had 100% group summit success and I feel was was down to the guides (and in some part the strength of the group as a whole).

Advice for Potential Travellers

My Top Kit Tips - A "pee bottle" but not she-wee. She-wees can cause unpleasant accidents when trying to use at minus 5, at 3am - I had a Uriwell and it was incredible and saved the night time freezing dashes to the loo. I also had a Thermarest Thermal Liner which was a god-send. As far as snacks are concerned take loads, favourites are Jelly Babies and Chocolate mini-bars. Definitely take a platypus/camelback water system. Agreed it might freeze on summit day but only the water in the tube freezes, if you blow the water back into the pack, your body heat will keep it from freezing. I didn't take one and trying to get access to your water bottles when wlaking is near impossible. Take really simple footwear for the evenings, slip ons preferably so that they are easy on/off if you do have to go to the loo. Icebreaker Merino tops really CAN be worn 3+ times without any smells - highly recommend these. Gaiters are a must, do get some.

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