Thomson Guides

Ensuring safety on Kilimanjaro means trekking with the best guides who are experts in monitoring your health and in recognizing symptoms of altitude sickness in the early stages.

Thomson Kilimanjaro Guides are licensed guides and medically trained as Wilderness First Responders (WFR). Their experience and knowledge of Kilimanjaro is unparalleled with hundreds of summit ascents and extensive training in evacuation procedures under their belts. They are leaders with impeccable judgment and natural ability to instill confidence.

Dedicated exclusively to Thomson Safaris, our guides are committed to helping you successfully reach the summit of Africa's highest peak.

We're proud to introduce our head guides, all certified by NOLS with Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness Advanced First Aid, and Heartsaver CPR.

: Wilbard Minja

He began his guiding career in 1986 because he loved the mountain and it gave him the opportunity to assist his family in Marangu. As a guide he has climbed the mountain over 200 times.
Wilbard prides himself on his attention to detail, and takes great care in quietly managing all the details that make up each trek. He is dedicated to his climbers, making sure they are healthy and happy.

: Jonas Ruta

After college in 1993, Jonas began climbing the mountain as a porter to earn extra money. He loved the mountain and meeting people from all over the world so much that he decided to continue training and was certified as a Kilimanjaro guide in 1996. He has climbed Kilimanjaro over 150 times as a head guide.

: Bernard Shirima

Bernard is the best representative of a new generation of Kilimanjaro guides. With a gregarious personality, a solid education and an athletic physique, he took the fast track to guiding success.
He trained and obtained his license as a mountain guide when he was just 21 years old. Six years later, he has reached the summit nearly 100 times. Beneath his ebullient smile is a no-nonsense reverence for Kilimanjaro.

: Andrew Kitema

Andrew grew up in southern Tanzania but moved to the Kilimanjaro region with his family in 1999. His natural skill and love for the mountain are proof that guiding is more of a calling than merely a job. He is built to climb, with a sturdy frame and incredible fortitude.
A skilled leader, he tirelessly manages all the details to make sure your trek runs as smoothly and safely as possible. He is a certified guide with more than 150 Kili summits under his belt.

: Prosper Kamil

Prosper began his guiding career in 1989 as a porter. He quickly worked his way to a lead guide position and joined us in 1995. He has climbed Kilimanjaro over 150 times as a lead guide.
Prosper is an extremely capable and organized leader. His quiet confidence and professional manner, as well as his experienced crew make each trek a success.

: Kaen Kapange

Kaen began his guiding career in 1998, as a porter, and in the same year trained and was certified as a guide. He joined us in 2002, and has climbed Kilimanjaro almost 100 times. Kaen is foremost dedicated and passionate about sharing the mountain, and at all times with a professional manner.

: Nickson Moshi

Nickson began his guiding career in 1994 as a porter. He quickly worked his way to a lead guide position and joined us in 2003. He has climbed both Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru over 200 times as a lead guide.
Nickson is an extremely capable and astute leader, and has a natural ability to make his climbers feel at ease, and is exceptionally perceptive, possessing a sixth sense of how far to push, and when.

: Wilfred Moshi

He began his guiding career in 1999 as a porter, and within one year underwent the guide-training course and became a certified guide. As a head guide, he has climbed the mountain over 100 times.
Wilfred's passion is learning about other cultures, and his travels have taken him all over the US, and throughout East Africa. He is dedicated to his climbers, making sure they are healthy & laughing as much as possible.

Mount Kilimanjaro Treks & African Wildlife Safaris