There’s only one Mount Kilimanjaro. One Uhuru Peak. And with over 35,000 trekkers climbing its slopes every year, companies like Thomson bear a huge responsibility to be responsible stewards of the mountain. And every year, Thomson steps into that responsibility with confidence. All Thomson head and assistant guides are trained in the principles of Leave…
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Tanzania. Although some things have been adjusted (see our new Standard Operating Procedures), there are some things about trekking Kilimanjaro that won’t change… How Impressed You are with the Porters Carrying 33 pounds is no easy task to begin with – never mind doing it at…
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is no easy task – now imagine doing it with 30 pounds of gear on your back. Between carrying the weight, withstanding unpredictable weather patterns, enduring extreme altitude, setting up and breaking down camps along the route and lifting the spirits of trekkers throughout – put it all together and you are…
Your guides are your most important assets on Kilimanjaro. That’s why we go the distance to make sure every guide, not just your head guide, is a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Because we’ve seen just about everything on Kilimanjaro; unexpected snowstorms, twisted ankles, altitude sickness – the right guides spot the warning signs beforehand…
Imagine waking up at 13,200 feet on Kilimanjaro on the sixth day of your trek. A friendly face might hand you a cup of coffee as you tie your boots. Another might refill your water bottles. Later, a team breaks down your tent, toilet tent and dining tent, stows away the food and cooking equipment…
You’re never more than an inch from success and failure on Kilimanjaro; we’re talking about footwear of course. That inch of rubber and leather between your feet and the mountain is critical for the trek. Luckily, your trip doesn’t have to fall to pieces if your hiking boots do. Two of our most popular stories…
Thomson sets “the premier standard for ethical treatment of Kilimanjaro porters,” according to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). What does that mean? Let’s talk about the specifics: pay, equipment and accountability. Some of the Highest Wages for Guides and Porters on Kili Paying guides and porters well is incredibly important to…
Imagine standing at the foot of Kilimanjaro preparing to hike 45 miles over seven days – 19,341 feet up and then back down again. You wear an old pair of sneakers, and most of your clothing and equipment isn’t mountaineering quality. You carry a 60-pound pack, balancing it on your head. Over the week, you’ll…
The fact that Thomson provides fresh meals throughout your entire Kilimanjaro trek, including fresh produce daily, comes as a surprise to many climbers. Few other companies make the effort to provide fresh, healthful food. Once you realize all the behind the scenes work that goes into Thomson’s mountain gourmet food, though, you understand why it’s…
If you look at Kilimanjaro’s history, one culture stands out as being intimately tied to the mountain: the Chagga. But the Chagga didn’t live around the foothills of Kili in isolation, and in fact, for several centuries, they weren’t a unified culture at all. Much like their neighbors (and longtime adversaries) the Maasai, the Chagga…
