7 Days Lemosho Route Multiday Tour

Kilimanjaro Vikings: Great Guides, Very Disappointing Organisation

Unfortunately, our experience with Kilimanjaro Vikings was very disappointing when it came to the organisation and, especially, our dealings with Charlie. From the beginning, we often felt that corners were being cut and that there was an attempt to make additional money wherever possible, even when this came at the expense of the overall quality of the experience. The hotel provided for the night before and after Kilimanjaro was a good example. It was still under construction, there were leaks, and overall it was simply not the standard of accommodation we expected before and after such a demanding expedition, when getting proper rest is particularly important. The rental equipment was another major issue. We were taken to a shop where the quality of the equipment was very poor. We happened to need a pair of boots that they did not have, so we were taken elsewhere. This actually gave us the opportunity to see first-hand just how significant the difference in quality was between the two rental shops. The lack of attention to detail continued on the mountain. Some of the tent zips did not work properly, the sleeping bags provided were all of noticeably different quality, and much of the rental equipment generally felt poorly maintained. When you are spending several days at altitude in difficult conditions, these details matter. What disappointed us most, however, was Charlie’s attitude towards us. Before the trip, during a phone conversation, he shouted at my mother and then hung up on her. On another occasion, our driver was around two hours late. When we called Charlie to understand what was happening, rather than trying to resolve the situation professionally, he again shouted at us and essentially told us that the driver would arrive when he arrived. I do want to make one thing extremely clear: this review does NOT reflect the guides and porters who actually accompanied us on Kilimanjaro. Johnny and his team were absolutely exceptional and were ultimately the reason our experience on the mountain itself was so positive. Our criticism is specifically about Charlie’s organisation, the quality and maintenance of some of the equipment provided, and the way we were treated as clients. For something as significant and demanding as climbing Kilimanjaro, we expected a much higher level of professionalism, organisation and attention to detail.

Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. we are sorry to hear that your overall impression of Kilimanjaro vikings was not what you had hoped for. We would ,however like to clarify a few points for the benefit of future guests reading this review. Regarding the hotel, the property is a new hotel and is one that we regurlaly use for our clients before and after their Kilimanjaro climbs, we have accomodated a hundreds of our clients there, we have not previously received complaints regarding the hotel of the nature described in the review above,we also provided the accommodation at a reduced rate for your group. That said, we understand that accommodation expectation can differ from guest to guest, and we are sorry the hotel did not meet your standard, but this could have been changed from the beginning had you informed us about what kind of hotels you want, and the Kilimanjaro price would have changed also, we gave you guys very reasonable price, i hope you know that too. Regarding our communication, i strongly disagree with the suggestion that i shouted at you or your mother,i did not shout at her or intentionally hang up on her, On one accasion,the phone connection was extremely poor and the call was disconnected,am sorry that the situation was frustrating, but it was not a case of me deliberately ending the call or refusing to communicate with you. Regarding the rental equipment, we always aim to provide equipment that are suitable for the conditions on Kilimanjaro,where a particular item or size is not available from our usual rental store, we arrange an altenative, as we did in your case with the boots.we take our equipment issue very seriously and we will review these point and see where we can upgrade. We are also pleased that you clearly distinguished your experience with our mountain crew from your concerns about the organisation.Johnny and his team are an important part of Kilimanjaro Vikings, and we are happy to hear that they were exceptional and ultimately made your experience on the mountain a positive one. We appreciate that not every aspect- of a trip will meet every guests expectations, and at the same time we believe it is important for future guests reading this review to have a balanced picture,particularly regarding the allegation that i shouted at or deliberately ended the call, which i don not believe accurately reflects what happened. We,however,surprised by the overall tone and characterization of this review, From the very beginning of your trip,there were repeated complaints about relatively minor matters,despite our team making efforts to respond to your concerns and accommodate your requests whenever possible. For that reason, while- we are dissappointed to see such a review,unfortunately it is not entirely unexpected. We understand that some guests have very different expectations and that,despite genuine efforts to provide a good experience,it is not always possible to satisfy everyone.Some people will remain dissatisfied regardless of how much efforts is made to assist them.That does not mean we dismiss feedback,we are always willing to learn from legitimate concerns and improve where necessary.

via Tripadvisor

Good

・cost : $1595+tips ・schedule : 7 days ・overall group : 3 friends, 2 guides, 13 porters They are so kind to reach the summit. Enough food, kind attendance, good explanation of the nature.

via Tripadvisor

Guides and porters were incredible

We climbed Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route and it was hands down one of the toughest things I’ve ever done — especially summit day. A long, cold, relentless slog, but such an unforgettable experience. Our guides — Johnnie, Temba, Conrad, Victor and Bonnie, were absolutely incredible. When I developed acute mountain sickness, they were calm and supportive. They monitored me closely and helped me push through safely. I felt genuinely cared for the entire time. The porters were also amazing. Their strength, kindness and constant encouragement made the whole trek possible. So much respect for the work they do. Richard was very responsive on WhatsApp while organising the trip, which made the planning process straightforward. Kilimanjaro is no joke, but with the right mountain crew beside you, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

via Tripadvisor

Responsive and helpful with every aspect of the trip not just the climb

This proved to be one of the hardest, yet one of the most rewarding things I’ve done thus far. Charlie from Kili Vikings was a great operator, who took care off every aspect of our trip, not just the climb. He was responsive and supportive, and answered all the questions we had. The climb was super well organised, our guides John, Conrad and Prosba were amazing - they took care of us for the whole week and were always careful so that our well-being is safeguarded, they made the climb that much more enjoyable. Apart from the climb, Kili Vikings also arranged us a safari tour, that was very well planned out and executed. Overall working with Charlie and Kili Vikings was a really enjoyable experience.

via Tripadvisor

Unforgettable experience

We had an amazing time, the whole crew was very helpful and attentive. Both Goodluck and Charles were excellent guides and clearly had a lot of experience in Kilimanjaro. Charles was very knowledgeable about the nature in the area and shared a lot of insights along the way. We were very comfortable in the tent, it was huge, and the food during the whole trip was amazing, we didn’t know we could eat so well up in the mountains. Goodluck did a great job assembling the team. Overall, we had an unforgettable time and everything went perfectly.

via Tripadvisor