Climbing Kilimanjaro Reviews 157

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was an incredible experience, and the team at Climbing Kilimanjaro (CK) made it unforgettable from start to finish.
From the moment we landed in Tanzania, everything was professionally organised. Our lead guide, Omar, met us at the airport and during the drive to the Mt Meru Hotel he gave us a detailed safety briefing and a really interesting introduction to the country and the climb ahead. It immediately gave us confidence that we were in great hands.
Once on the mountain, the entire CK team was outstanding. Our guides—Omar, Big David and Jeffery—were incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and encouraging throughout the climb. They constantly checked on how everyone was feeling, managed the pace perfectly for acclimatisation, and kept morale high even on the tougher days.
What really amazed us was the effort of the whole mountain crew. The porters were absolutely incredible, often heading ahead of us to set up camp so that when we arrived everything was ready. The cooks somehow managed to produce hot, delicious meals every day, which made a huge difference after long hikes at altitude.
Summit night was the toughest part of the climb, but the CK team were amazing. Their encouragement, experience and constant support helped get us to the top in time to see the sunrise from Uhuru Peak — a moment I will never forget.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a fantastic company with an exceptional team who genuinely care about their climbers. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough and would happily climb with them again in the future.
TEAM CK!

Climbing Kilimanjaro was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and the team from Climb Kilimanjaro is the reason we made it to the summit and back safely.

While the mountain itself is breathtaking, what truly made the experience unforgettable was the crew who supported us every single day. The level of care, professionalism, and positivity they brought to the trek was beyond anything I expected.

Our lead guide Gipson set the tone for the entire trip. His leadership, calm confidence, and constant encouragement kept the group motivated from the first day all the way through summit night. Alongside him, Jackson and Martin were fantastic guides — knowledgeable, attentive, and always checking on how everyone was feeling. Summit night is tough, but their experience and support made all the difference in getting us to the top.

A very special thank you to my porter Alicia, who took incredible care of me throughout the climb. The porters work unbelievably hard, and Alicia’s support, kindness, and positive energy meant a lot during the trek. People often don’t realize how much the porters contribute to the success of the climb, and I’m incredibly grateful.

The food on the mountain was amazing thanks to our cooks Gerald and Salim. I still don’t understand how they managed to prepare such great meals at altitude, but every meal felt like a huge morale boost after a long day of hiking.

Our waiter Latifu took great care of us at camp and always welcomed us with a smile. The tents team, Exaudi and Neosho, somehow managed to have our camp perfectly set up every time we arrived, which made a huge difference after long days on the trail.

A big thank you as well to Joshua Nanyaro, who managed the toilet setup (a massively important job on the mountain), and to Elias, who was an important part of the team supporting the whole operation.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is often described as a personal challenge, but in reality it’s a team accomplishment, and this crew was phenomenal. Their hard work, kindness, and dedication made the entire experience unforgettable.

If you’re considering climbing Kilimanjaro, I can’t recommend Climb Kilimanjaro enough — not just for the organization of the trip, but for the incredible people who make it happen behind the scenes.

CK is an amazing tour company with some of the best staff on the mountain. The service is unmatched and they made the experience truly unforgettable.

Our team of guides (Rama, John, Sixbeth, Chiku) were the best possible group you can get. They bring lots of energy, motivation, stories, and support that make it impossible for you not to have an amazing time. I have never had as much fun during a gruelling hike then when chatting and dancing with Six, he just brings that much energy.

And of course this wouldn’t be possible without the rest of the crew. The porters were amazing, always helping with bags and waking us up with hot tea. We would not have been able to make it to the summit without them.

Overall had an amazing time at Kilimanjaro National Park with the CK team

Wow, what an amazing experience! I did the 7-day Lemosho route with Climbing Kilimanjaro (CK), and honestly, it was one of the best weeks of my life. Everything was perfect from start to finish.

They pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel, which is fantastic and very well located in Arusha. Before starting the expedition, the team gives you a short introduction about the company, followed by a detailed briefing with the Head Guide — in our case, it was Chediel, an incredibly professional and caring leader. If you need any equipment, this is the time to request it. CK provides everything you might possibly need.

During the expedition, you’re supported by the best crew on the mountain. From porters and cooks to guides and support staff, everyone works tirelessly to make your experience unforgettable. It truly feels like being part of a big family — “One team, one dream.”

The food was absolutely amazing. Every single meal was delicious, especially the soups — some of us even asked for the recipes because they were the best soups we had ever tasted! If you have any dietary restrictions, they take great care of that as well. You can even request special dishes (as long as ingredients are available). We had pizza at 4,000 meters — unreal!

As for sleeping arrangements, the tents are high quality, spacious, and very comfortable considering you’re on a mountain.

The guides are extremely experienced and attentive. If you struggle at any point, they are right there to support and encourage you. On the toughest sections, like the Barranco Wall, they carefully guide you on where to step and assist whenever needed, making you feel safe and confident.

Overall, this was an unforgettable experience, and I cannot recommend Climbing Kilimanjaro enough.

Team Simba — Grrr!! 🦁

Climbing with CK was an amazing experience! Together with a friend, we joined a group, with in total 12 people. Already from the booking process, CK supported us very well! This experience continued during the climb. The guides were amazing and very professional, the food was delicious and the complete team arranged everything very well, from clean toilets, tents, water,... I would recommend CK!

We had a great 8 day climb with KC. The guides were kind, experienced, motivating and all in all super good. I will especially mention Joseph who helped me when I was freaking out on the Barranco Wall and also when I couldn’t make it on summit night. He was super comforting and did his best to cheer me up. He is a very good judge of character.
Every night we ate a wonderful meal- very well prepared by the chefs.
All the porters were just the best!!!! We can’t believe the shape they are in- and so nice every afternoon when we met them at camp, where they had everything ready for us. We really hope they get a decent pay for that hard and dangerous job. We did notice many of them wearing poor clothing and worn out shoes. It would have felt better for us to have seen them in warm jackets and stabile hiking boots 🥾 we hope KC in the future can provide that for the porters.
We will definitely give KC five stars! They gave us a fantastic experience and forced us to push our boundaries. It felt great!
Thanks to all of you!❤️

Climbing Kilimanjaro are a wonderful company with absolutely the best team of guides, cooks, porters and support staff. A group of 12 climbed to the summit but would never have made it without excellent support from the team. The happiness and energy of all was a credit to CK and Tanzania

Coming from Canada, Kilimanjaro is pretty far from home. Despite this, CK’s guides & crew made me feel very safe and motivated me to reach the top. The guides know everything there is to know about Kilimanjaro, and Tanzania in general. They are always happy to share. The porters are superhuman and will have your extra gear basically teleported to the next camp, making everything simple. The chefs cooked great food in all conditions, which made a huge difference in a trek this long and difficult. My favourite part about CK is that everyone has a positive and welcoming attitude, and they genuinely enjoy what they do. I would highly, highly recommend them as an operator. I would like to specifically recommend and thank:

Salim (the Dream), Haiel, Halima, Victor, and (the King) Solomon.

What an incredible experience!

This company claims to take care of their porters,yet they refuse to get certified. Can only be left to assume they are exploiting porters as KPAP certification is free of charge.

Our first point of contact with CK was through Natalie. We spent several months communicating back and forth to finalize the details of our trip. Her replies were always prompt and concise even though we had lots of questions for her and made a few changes along the way. We made all of our in-country plans through her which included a safari and some extra hotel nights. All of it worked out very well.
The hike itself was a fantastic experience in a very special environment. All of the CK staff were excellent to work with - guides, cooks, and porters all worked hard to keep us safe and comfortable and there was no time that we didn't feel looked after. Some small touches like like warm wash water on the cool mornings and in-tent morning coffee/tea were much appreciated. On summit day, our guides kicked it up another level with lots of singing and cheering to keep us charging up the hill in the chill of the night. Several of us commented that based on what we saw on the trail, the CK team worked a lot harder than the other tour operators in keeping our morale high. All in all the CK team did an excellent job in delivering a fantastic experience. Well done CK!

I hope my review will come close to doing justice to the amazing team at Climbing Kilimanjaro! Words do not seem enough for the support, authenticity, care and attention to detail the team puts into each and every climber's experience. We did the 8-day Lemosho route, summitting on Christmas morning.

First, prior to the climb, our contact Brian was incredibly responsive! He answered (dozens) of questions we had, sometimes daily about how to prepare, gear, weather conditions, food, etc. We definitely felt we were going into the climb with the best possible preparation!

Secondly, the communication in general. The team ensured we were picked up from airports, hotels, etc. as expected, safely transported from one place to another and always with clear expectations of what happens next (pickups, dinners, debriefs, etc.). It really brought peace of mind to know that we could depend on Climbing Kilimanjaro to deliver on all expectations and communicate clearly (whether by phone, email, text).

Gear - the tents were high quality and provided ample room (we had two people in one tent and were very comfortable). CK also had the option for sleeping pads, bags, rental trekking poles, etc. - however we brought all of our own gear so did not need to rent any of the other items.

Now - the trek! The team was OUTSTANDING. They are a TRUE team who is genuinely invested in ensuring the comfort and happiness of guests, but most importantly, to see a successful summit for all guests. From our amazing guides (lead guide Isack; Salem, Joseph and Abde), to our 'do it all' guys (servers Jay and Kareem who not only kept us full of snacks and tea along the way, but also helped carry packs on summit day only to turn around and serve us an amazing lunch!), to the chefs (stomach engineers!) who - and I am serious - delivered meal after meal of amazing and diverse food (literally the best soups I have ever had to start every meal), to the huge team of porters who worked their tails off (thank you Aleefa!) to ensure our tents were always set up and belongings safely transported, our meal tent was ready with chairs and tables, and our private toilets (the best thing ever!) were set up and ready for use. I truly feel the whole team went above and beyond at every turn to 1) encourage hikers, 2) provide a top-notch experience and 3) do all they could to help climbers reach the summit.

I was beyond pleased with every detail of the Climbing Kilimanjaro experience! I truly feel like it is a bargain...I honestly would've paid double for the experience we received. I am so grateful for the team that helped us to a successful summit - would highly recommend to anyone that is considering conquering Kili!

I hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in September 2025 via the 9-day Northern Circuit with a group of eight hikers, and we all successfully reached the summit. Overall, my experience with Climbing Kilimanjaro was excellent. The team consistently went above and beyond to support us. Our guides were knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly encouraging.
Personally, I struggled with jet lag and lack of sleep during much of the trek. The nights were difficult for me. Even so, with the support of the guides and other crew members, I was able to make it to the Peak.
Most of the equipment provided was very good. The only issue I experienced was with the tent zippers, which required quite a bit of force to operate. To their credit, the team acted quickly and changed my tent.
One thing that surprised me was their suggestion to attempt the summit a day earlier than planned. I chose the Northern Circuit specifically for its longer acclimatization profile, so I did not feel comfortable shortening the route. Fortunately, the team respected the original schedule, and sticking to it worked very well, all eight of us reached the summit safely.
Overall, I would highly recommend Climbing Kilimanjaro. Their dedication, support, and professionalism made this a remarkable and memorable experience.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives — and it wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing mountain guides and support team. From start to finish, they made sure we felt completely safe, well-fed, and cared for every step of the way.

Their professionalism, knowledge of the mountain, and genuine kindness made all the difference. The meals were delicious and nourishing, our tents were always ready and comfortable, and their encouragement kept our spirits high even on the toughest days.

We reached the summit with confidence and smiles thanks to this incredible team. We’re deeply grateful for their hard work, patience, and hospitality — we couldn’t have asked for better guides or a better adventure!

What a Summit🦾to the Roof Top of Africa🌍🇹🇿🌍
Climbing Kilimanjaro is the Best, Shadya What a Top Guide n Leader👑Omar n Mubarak were Elites🦾Phenomenal.
To many More Summits🌍🇹🇿🌍Champions.

Our family recently completed climbing Kilimanjaro and safari with this company! From planning the trip to our last day, the trip was well organized and supported by multiple friendly, helpful staff! Our guides and porters for our Kilimanjaro climb were experienced and very helpful. They anticipated out pace and needs on summit day which was really appreciated as that day was really tough! The safari was excellent and again our guide Peter was very experienced and went out of his way to find many exotic animal siteings. I do wish that this company offered upgraded accommodation options in Arusha as their preferred hotel had rooms that were in much need of updating and repair . In addition, some upgraded rental equipment and newer sleeping pads would have made our hike more comfortable . Otherwise, amazing experience and highly recommend Climbing Kilimanjaro for hiking Kili and safari in Tanzania.

I cannot recommend Climbing Kilimanjaro enough. All team members were responsive, knowledgeable, and friendly from start to finish. We loved our guide team- Isack, James, Prince, Anita, and Hudson- they kept us safe, positive, and motivated on our hike. The food is incredible and camping accommodations were excellent. We also booked a safari through CK and loved our guide, Peter!

I had the best possible experience with Climbing Kilimanjaro and am so grateful I chose to book with them! This was my first time doing a climb like this and CK's helpful resources, packing guide, and option to rent clothing/equipment made it so approachable and helped me feel totally prepared. They were extremely organized and made every step of the process, including airport pickup/drop off and where to stay before/after the hike as easy as possible. I don't think there are enough positive words to describe the guides we had for the hike and the rest of the team (porters & chefs) that helped make summiting possible. Our guides Mamuya, Joseph, Hijaji, and Barnabas were fantastic. Their knowledge and experience was obvious and they were so helpful and eager to teach us throughout the hike. Every part of this experience far surpassed any expectations I had, including the equipment and food provided on the mountain. I could go on and on, if you're looking for a company to book with look no further. CK is a 20/10.

My husband and I had the best time trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro with Climbing Kilimanjaro. Our lead guide (Justin) was incredible, and the assistant guides were great, too. The porters were so friendly and helpful. The food was great and the water was filtered and safe to drink. Our waiters always made sure that we had plenty of water and food. This was the best adventure I have ever been on, and I am so glad that I chose Climbing Kilimanjaro to take me on this adventure.

I cannot speak more highly of the care, integrity, professionalism, attention to detail and dedication of our guides and porters to make our 8 day Lemosho trek a truly amazing experience. Our guides, Salim, Eva and Gilbert made our safety a priority and adapted the pace for the group members of Team Ice. With the fabulous porters and 'stomach engineers', they took great care and attention to detail every step of the way. Every time we arrived to the next camp, our tents were set up, water was available for refreshing ourselves, snacks and meals were hearty and plentiful, a portaloo was set up for our team's use, our drinking vessels were refilled with sanitised water. We couldn't believe the range of amenities they had all the way to Kilimanjaro summit and to our final destination at Mt Meru Hotel. They were always positive, knowledgeable and made the challenge of the push to the summit even more special with singing and dancing along the ascent in the cold, dark hours of the early morning. They helped me to make my dream become a reality at the age of 55. I'm also happy to know how valued the staff are at CK, particularly with encouraging women to become porters and guides. I'm very happy to recommend Climbing Kilimanjaro to anyone who wishes to achieve their dream of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro.

Climbing Kilimanjaro gave us an unforgettable experience on the 7-day Machame route, culminating in a successful summit on June 25, 2025. From the moment we booked, everything was handled with professionalism and care. Brian Raffio in the U.S. made planning easy and stress-free, and once in Tanzania, the local team exceeded every expectation.

Our guides—Maumu, Haji, Joe, and Lawrence—were outstanding. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and deeply committed to our safety and success. The entire crew was punctual, organized, and incredibly supportive. Even the food was fantastic—way beyond what you’d expect on a mountain!

If you’re considering Kilimanjaro, I can’t recommend Climbing Kilimanjaro enough.

Date of experience: June 2025
Route: Machame (7-day)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hugh S.
USA