Climb Stories
Organ Recipient Overcomes All to Climb Kili
After a life-saving liver transplant in 2017, Peter Matthews set a lofty recovery goal: trek Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. It took years of training and fortitude, but…
How Scot Farber Climbed Kili for Make-A-Wish and Shattered His Fundraising Goal
Scot Farber had never climbed a mountain. He had never hiked. Living in the flatlands of North Texas, he didn’t have opportunities for either. But for nearly 20 years,…
From the Highest Freestanding Mountain to the World’s Toughest Race
A Plan and a Promise When her parents would bring her hiking and backpacking as a child, Heather loved the travel aspect of it all. But the active components? Not…
A First-Class Experience
My Thomson experience was first class all the way, and I can see why the workers on this mountain all aspire to work for Thomson. I would like to point…
A Wonderful Culture and the Kindest People
The climb is amazing. Our guide, Onest Mtui, is terrific and has to be one of, if not, the best! He is a very kind person and loves his job.
This Trek Reinvigorated My Thirst for Adventure
I had been looking forward to climbing Kilimanjaro for 13 years. About ten years ago, I started doing web searches and Thomson was consistently rated the best. The awards and…
Discovering What’s Possible with Drive and Determination
Waiting with anticipation and trepidation in a small tent on a wind-swept moonscape at 15,200 feet elevation the night before summiting Kilimanjaro leads one to reflect on life and what…
Kilimanjaro Became My Freedom
I’ve been to five star hotels around the world. The people who work for Thomson are better and work harder than anyone I’ve ever met. They are by far superior,…
Touching the Roof of Africa on a Trip of a Lifetime
“On June 29th, 12 strangers aged 15–75 came from all over the U.S. for a Thomson Safaris trek. We quickly bonded as a group as we were all hoping to…
My Daughter and I Shared an Experience I’ll Never Forget
Years ago, out of the blue, my daughter told me that she wanted to climb Kilimanjaro with me. Last Christmas, I surprised her when I said we were going to…
We Had a Great Time and Would Do It All Again in a Heartbeat!
“The trip was amazing, and exceeded all of our expectations. It was over too quickly. Our guides were great, very knowledgeable and we felt like we were in good hands.
Climbing Kilimanjaro, Breaking World Records
Vanessa O’Brien has been described as a “force of nature,” a fitting name for a woman who has set her sights on summiting the highest peaks on the planet in…