Articles tagged ‘Mountain Guides on Kili’
Rongai Route: A Story
By Donovan | January 19th, 2007 |
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I stumbled upon a good story in one of BootsnAll’s blog about hiking the Rongai route of Mount Kilimanjaro. If you want to read a day-to-day account of this guys experience climbing Kilimanjaro, you might want to check it out. It’s pretty good. I like how his guide got pissed off because the tip was [...]
Guide Scam - Have clients descend the mountain early
By Donovan | December 6th, 2006 | Add a Comment »
Another fairly good scam on Mount Kilimanjaro, often orchestrated by the guides, is to basically have the people come off the mountain earlier than planned.
Here is how it works. The guide usually pays for the least amount of day possible before the climb begins. If it’s a planned eight-day Lemosho or Machame route, the [...]
Scams on Kilimanjaro - Porter disappears, and then appears
By Donovan | December 5th, 2006 | 2 Comments »
Could you keep track of all these porters?
As part of the series of scams on Kilimanjaro by guides, this next scam is quite easy and happens to many people.
When you have a medium to a large-sized group on Kilimanjaro, the amount of porters can be deceptive. One of the oldest tricks on Kilimanjaro is to [...]
Scams on Kilimanjaro - How Guides Rip Off Porters
By Donovan | November 30th, 2006 | Add a Comment »
Don’t get me wrong, Kilimanjaro is a wonderful mountain to climb. I encourage travelers to visit Tanzania and attempt to climb Africa’s highest, most famous, well-known mountain. It’s a great experience and most people enjoy it.
However, with something wonderful, there always seems to be a bit of a dark side. Money corrupts people. In a [...]
Outfitter profile; Tusker Trail & Safari
By Ed | October 13th, 2006 | 3 Comments »
I must have studied 15 different trekking companies while doing the research for my trip to the roof of Africa. This first blush was primarily for me to understand my points of decision and important criteria. All of it was done one year in advance but I reckoned careful study would only enable our chances. [...]
In “loo” of public bathrooms
By Ed | August 9th, 2006 | Add a Comment »
Our outhouse location at Lava Tower
At last count, I had 52 mountain climbing books.
I have read and re-read every one. To my knowledge, only three of them mention “going to the bathroom”. It is a subject that doesn’t often get discussed. This always puzzled me because everyone has to go sometime…
In some of the books [...]
Kilimanjaro Guides Scam
By Donovan | June 21st, 2006 | Add a Comment »
There is a certain weight limit for porters going up the mountain. In order to pass through the gate, they must weigh the bags being carried up the mountain. This ensures that the tourists see the porters are getting treated fairly, with companies not putting way too much weight on the them - and not [...]
Dollar Tips or Shilling Tips
By Donovan | November 29th, 2005 | Add a Comment »
Many people are curious on what type of money to tip their porters and guides. Do they want American Dollars or Tanzanian Shilling, or European Euros, or British Pounds, or French Francs. Here is the answer: Anything works. Pretty much any semi-mainstream currency is fine. It really doesn’t matter. Many guides and porters prefer dollars [...]
Need a Western Guide? Nope!
By Donovan | October 13th, 2005 | Add a Comment »
Occasionally we see Western - US-based, Europen-based, Australian-based - guides flown over to climb Kilimanjaro with their upscale clients. Usually these type of clients pay big money to have someone hold their hand, be their friend, to the top of Africa’s highest mountain. They also get the best-of-the-best food, equipment, number of porters, etc. If [...]
What’s Included?
By Donovan | September 26th, 2005 | Add a Comment »
Whenever you purchase a climb up Kilimanjaro you have to use a tour operator, whether that’s a company abroad or in Tanzania. Generally speaking, when you agree on a price per person, here is a breakdown of what IS included and what ISN’T included. You should always double check this with the provider.
INCLUDED:
· An [...]
