Our Guides
We see our guides as "family." They are Thomson employees, and are dedicated solely to our company. We recognize that they are the key to the success of our trips. We treat them as family and take care of them as we expect them to take care of our climbers. They have great reverence for their work, and a passion to show you the wonders of Kilimanjaro and the African bush.
Most of our senior guides have been with us for over 10 years, and have climbed Kilimanjaro in excess of 150 times. They are English-speaking, and officially licensed by the National park. They receive continual training from us on safety protocols, standards of service, and also the finer points of knowledge of the natural world and the environmental impacts of tourism on the mountain.
Our cooks are extremely well versed on mountain cuisine, serving healthy, safe, and delicious food, to keep you energized on the trek. Our standards are high, and we understand that the best food begins with good ingredients and ends with careful preparation.
The porters on our treks are provided proper shelter, food, and we mandate proper foot-ware and cold/wet weather gear. We treat all our employees with respect, as we are a part of the local community and have been for 25 years. We employ over 100 people in the Arusha area, and their families are part of the Thomson family.
Keeping you healthy and safe is our priority. Our guides are ever watchful of your welfare, and are trained to prevent and respond to emergencies. We outfit our climbs with high quality safety equipment, camping equipment, and expedition gear. Reliable & modern gear makes a huge difference in your level of comfort and security on the mountain.
Equipment and Gear
Mobile Phones
All of our guides carry phones with extra batteries for daily communications with our support team in Arusha.
Oxygen Canisters and Stretchers
Hyperbaric Chamber
provided on all treks
Dining Tents
outfitted with tables and comfortable chairs with back support and armrests - a welcome shelter from the extremes of the mountain's weather.
Toilet Tents
are provided on each expedition, with a stable toilet seat.
Rentals
We offer a wide range of clean, high-quality gear including zero-degree (F) synthetic sleeping bags, self-inflating full length sleeping pads, telescoping trekking poles, Gore-tex jackets and pants, fleece jackets and sweatpants, and leg gaiters.
Mountain Sleeping Tents
are made by Mountain Hardwear, and have the following specifications:
- 2 and 3-person tents
- 8'9" long x 5'7" wide x 4' tall at the highest point - square footage of about 40 feet of useable floor space (2-person tent dimensions)
- fly sheet of thermo-insulating, UV-blocking polyurethane
- inner tent of water-repellant, breathable ripstop nylon with a floor of waterproof polyester and reinforcements at corners
- 2 shock corded duraluminum poles which cross at the top to support the inner tent
- storm guylines
- one door with external mosquito nets and extra ventilation outlets
- one vestibule
- adjustable air intake on the ceiling of the inner tent
- adjustable snow flap on fly sheet
- lamp holder hook and material holder loops
- internal holder material pockets
© 2002-2008 by Thomson Safaris, a Division of Wineland-Thomson Adventures, Inc.
