Climbing Kilimanjaro is an amazing experience, one that not many people can say they’ve experienced. But if you are reading this, then chances are that you are thinking about it. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and overall 4th highest in the world. But despite the frightening altitude on which the highest point is located (5895 m), climbing Kilimanjaro doesn’t require any previous climbing experience or any climbing gear, such as ropes. What you will need to climb this giant of a mountain is determination, strong will, and the best tour guide to guide you to Uhuru, the highest point of Kilimanjaro.
We’re guessing that your will is as strong as anyone who’s previously managed to achieve this amazing accomplishment, and we’re guessing your determination is just as strong, all that is left is finding the tour guide. So for that reason, we are going to tell you how to find the best Kilimanjaro tour guide.
Source: The Citizen Tanzania
1. Trekking Style
Much like choosing a hotel, tour guides of Kilimanjaro can be categorized into three categories: Budget tour guides, Mid-tier tour guides, and Luxury tour guides.
Budget tour guides usually will cost below $1000 for the whole 5-6-7 days of trekking. These tour guides are the worst ones to choose because the park fees can cost up to $800 a day per day for a whole 6 day climbing of Kilimanjaro. So you can imagine how unprofessional these tour guides are. Most of the time you will be accompanied by a less experienced tour guide who is not fluent in English, as well as, low tier equipment.
Mid-tier tour guides usually cost up to $2500 for the whole trek, with a some-what better tour guide and better equipment, and the luxury tour guide, whom we always recommend, can cost up to $7000 and you will be accompanied with an expert and expert equipment.
2. Verify The Quality
Climbing Kilimanjaro is no joke, you are still climbing 5895 m, and there are many things that can happen to you. So for that, we recommend you always research the tour operator on his previous history with other climbers. You can find out about his climbing experience and service by checking online resources like Tripadvisor. You will have to do a lot of research on finding the best tour guide/operator because you will be putting your life into his hands, as well as your hard earned money.
Source: cango.sg
3. Verify The License
Kilimanjaro tour guides are regulated by the Tanzanian government, and they can issue licenses for them to offer their services to tourists. You can ask your tour guide to send you copies of these documents, as well as, any extra verification stating his validity. Make sure always to check if the license is up to date, and you can even report him if you find anything suspicious.
4. Ease of Doing Business
The way you interact with your tour guide during the booking process can reveal how he will conduct the tour itself. There are three major areas to always asses: Responsiveness, Friendliness, and Payment Terms.
Responsiveness is one of the most important areas to look for in any tour guide company. The perfect tour guide will be open to communicating with you through multiple channels like phone, email, etc. And the fast response is ideal as it shows how professional they are.
Source: Stingy Nomads
Another important area is to determine how friendly the tour guide is with you and the groups they’ve managed. The payment terms are also important. Some tour guides may require a costly bank wire transfer, and that is not the ideal payment option for you. Some require you to pay in cash upon arrival, and that’s also a big no in my book as you don’t want to be carrying up to $7000 in cash with you as you travel to Kilimanjaro. The preferred payment option should remain via a credit card or PayPal transfer.
If your tour guide meets all the above criteria, then you can rest assured knowing that you’ve made the right choice with the right guide.
