- What an amazing trip it was! A once in a lifetime experience made possible by the excellemt team of Altezza, thank you to all porters, kitchen crew, toilet man, camp master, the aspirant guides and our guides Amos and Israel. We took the northern circuit to the top.of Kilimanjaro with extraordinary views of the mojntain, great acclimatisation and successful ascent. Warmly recmmended to everyone who seeks a relaxed and ambitious expedition to the highest point of Africa!

Amazing team and life changing experience! - Amazing experience with the Altezza team! Every single crew member went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment on our dream trip up the Kilimanjaro.

Pole Pole to the Roof of Africa: Climbing Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit - It had been five years since the dreadful Covid outbreak that I had last taken a trip. Life happened: I put adventure on hold, bought a house, and got a tenure-track job teaching history and global studies. However, as my 50th birthday drew near, I made the sensible decision to climb Africa's highest peak, freeze, and experience widespread pain. Pre-Climb: Reality Check & Prep I enjoy being outside, whether it be hiking, swimming, or camping, but I had never climbed a 14'er or hiked above 12,000 feet. Unsure of my altitude endurance, I did what any contemporary explorer would do: I dug deep into blogs, ChatGPT, and an embarrassing amount of YouTube, which is, let's face it, essentially heart healthy. Because of its extended acclimatization period, the Northern Circuit route has the highest success rate, according to my "research." However, there are costs associated with that: more miles, more days spent outside, and more chilly, restless nights. Training There were lots of regular Joe types on YouTube, which gave me hope. Additionally, I discovered my guiding firm via a YouTube review. Pro Tip: Select an ethical climbing company that has been approved by KPAP: Climb with a Companion for Conscientious Travel Discussion ChatGPT graciously created a "lazy person's strength routine" for me that would work my arms, shoulders, core, legs, and ankles in an hour. I recorded hours spent on my stationary bike as well. I trained consistently for five months, minus the typical "life happens" breaks. Although I couldn't prepare for altitude because I lived in Texas, I did spend eight days hiking the South Rim and Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park, which was a terrific way to get ready for long climbs and elevation gain. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arrival in Tanzania Airport Kilimanjaro International (JRO) is the place to land. I selected flights with just one little layover because I was traveling from the United States; they are highly recommended. Pro Tip: Obtain your visa at the airport if your nation is eligible for visa-on-arrival. Too many passengers with previously applied e-visas were stranded in lengthy verification lines, in my opinion. One of my best choices was to arrive two days before the climb. It allowed me to recuperate, overcome jet lag, and avoid feeling like a zombie on the first day. Your body will appreciate it if you don't overbook day trips in advance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Northern Circuit Route (A Day-by-Day Vibe Check) Day 1: You will hike through the hot, humid, and sometimes rainy rainforest. It seems surprisingly simple. Have fun. Day 2: A steep ascent. The woodland will give way to a place of cold evenings and a lot of "why am I doing this?" questions. Day 3–4: After that, the landscape changes, going from alpine desert to moorland to rainforest to the arctic zone. Use trekking poles (unless you prefer impressing others over having knees), take it slow ("pole pole"), stay hydrated at all times, and stop frequently for photos. Pro Tip: There are less glaciers up ahead by Day 5, when you're facing Kenya. Don't wait to take your breathtaking snow-capped photos. To take beautiful night sky pictures, set your phone's camera to long exposure. Days 5-6: You will miss your bed so much by now that your mattress may even become the object of your fantasies, much like a long-lost lover. The reward is on the way, so persevere. Pro Tip: Sock liners are superheroes for preventing blisters. Don't neglect them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Summit Push (AKA: Why Am I Doing This Again?) Day 6: Four to five hours of hiking and an elevation gain of roughly 2,700 feet are required on the day before summit night in order to reach School Hut Camp. Before you crash, take a nap, drink plenty of water, and begin layering up. Pro Tip: To keep your sleeping bag warm and ready, place your summit gear inside. Day 7: You'll get up for the push at midnight. You can accomplish this despite the long, chilly, steep trek, which can occasionally be windy and cruel. Be careful when layering. Sweating too much is worse than being too cold. I had to take off my down vest in the middle of my trip after starting with four top layers. Gaiters, hiking pants, fleece pants, rain pants, and a Smartwool base layer are on the bottom. The hiking pants were useful for the descent, although I could have omitted them. Pro Tip: To extend battery life, keep gadgets warm (in your sleeping bag or jacket). You will arrive at Gilman's Point or Stella Point around dawn. Inhale, rejoice, rest, and get ready for the final stretch. The last stretch across snow and ice is grueling and magical, so prepare yourself. You'll get that last rush of adrenaline when you see the sign. Put your hand on it. You deserve it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At the summit of Uhuru You are now a member of a limited, international group of individuals who have reached the top of one of the Seven Summits. Take your pictures (or it didn't happen, isn't it?) and then pause for a few minutes to breathe in the wonder and awe of it all. This is what you did. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Descent (Spoiler: It’s Not the Easy Part) Day 7-8: It's no joke to come down. With loose pebbles, slides, and sore toes, the hike to Millennium Camp takes five to six hours, followed by another five to six hours the following day. Pro Tip: Make sure your boot laces are tight. Hours will pass while your toes become used to the front of your boots. You will formally be a Kilimanjaro summiteer once you leave the trail. You will receive a certificate and, more significantly, the right to proudly boast about it for the rest of your life. Final Tips: Ask your company - I chose to go with Peak Planet - how much cash you will need for tipping the guides, the kitchen staff, and porters at the end, so that you’re prepared. Listen to your guides, they are there to help you succeed. STAY POSITIVE!

Ten out of ten! - Our trip was seamless from beginning to end. No detail was overlooked. The climb was difficult and only possible due to the incredible crew we had that was singularly dedicated to one goal, safely getting to the top. They call themselves the "dream team" and totally live up to it. Everyone from head guide Elia, and assistant guide Starson, camp manager Authmen, chef Peter, waiter Ismael, and last but not least summit porter Paul (who without his help, I'm not sure I would have made it, went above and beyound. If you have the oportunity to request a specific guide / group, ask for Elia and the "Dream Team"!

Awesome Experience - First class trip from start to finish. Planning was spot on. Crew was truly amazing. A shout out of gratitude to Regan David Lyimo and Frank Daudi Mbise for their amazing assistance in getting me down the last 13 km with a bum knee. You two were so far above and beyond any expectation in your desire to help and allow me to complete my trek. Communication was fantastic with Maria who planned our trip without a hic-up…. Thank you to all involved in making a once in a life time trip to Kilimanjaro.

Team OG summits Kilimanjaro 2024 - Beyond words. From start to finish…ahhhmazing. To quote our guide Khatib. Khatib brought the positives vibes with his spirit, knowledge and smiles. Albert was our lead guide and he made sure we had a successful adventure. Cannot praise him enough. Ally was our third guide. He was always there to get me over boulders and rocks! The guides were truly gifted. They kept us motivated and safe. We were a group of 5 women on private hike via northern route. The mountain and our guides perfectly trained us all to acclimate and summit. The food served by Steven was truly delicious and nutritious. The camp was set up and ran perfectly by porter Rashid. He helped wrangle us all together each morning to get ready for our new day. Robert was our young porter in charge of our 2 private bathrooms. A tent with a portapotty. It was always well maintained and he did it with grace and a smile. Big props to Robert! He will make a fantastic guide someday! Altezza thought of everything. Their group on the ground were very dedicated to us 5 women. There were 29 of them taking care of us! Team OG!! Thank you for an adventure of a lifetime! Sept 29-summitted 08:50 October 6!!

Look no further than Altezza - I cannot say enough amazing things about Altezza Travel. From Denis helping with all logistics during the planning stage, to our Kilimanjaro and Safari teams, it was outstanding. You can view Melanie D and Jenna B reviews for more specifics and photos. We spent a tremendous amount of time researching tour organizations prior to our trip and all 5 of us couldn't have been more pleased with Altezza. The care and detail they delivered was exceptional. We're a well traveled group and were blown away at the level of customer service and care provided by everyone we encountered. The warmth of heat, gracious hospitality and genuine care for our well being was top notch. Save yourself a lot of research time and book straight away with Altezza.

No. Circuit route - 8 days - An unforgettable experience - thanks to Altezza and our amazing team! Albert, Khatib, and Ally always led us with sincere care and professionalism ❤️. Other guides in training (Erik, Amani and Remi) were frequently close by to help out as well. Steven - our waiter - and the entire stomach engineering team kept us extremely well fed and had tea and snacks on the ready along the trails just when we needed the boost most. Reaching the summit safely was at the forefront with health checks twice daily and establishing a pace where no one would be left behind was set by our experienced guides and we all did it together!! After 8 days with our team of guides and porters they started to feel like family and we were sad to say farewell. They all made us feel safe and well taken care of. We admired their strength, knowledge of the mountain and positive cheerleading along the way. I can’t imagine accomplishing such a monumental, once in a life time goal with any other team. Denis - skillfully arranged all pickups, accommodations on the front and back end at beautiful properties and the Altezza team that helped us go through our gear the day prior to departure added to the sense of proper readiness and organization. Every driver we encountered was attentive and great communicators sharing info about their beautiful country and time to destination etc. Everything was seamless! I wholeheartedly recommend Altezza and a visit to Tanzania!

Best crew with Altezza to summit Kilimanjaro! - I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Altezza and the team! Starting with Denis who managed ALL of our itineraries. The crew at the Aishi Machame Hotel were so very accommodating and helpful when managing our luggage and gear for the climb. OUR CLIMBING CREW WERE AMAZING!!!! Lead by the experienced and trustworthy Albert, we had a team of 29 helping us achieve our dream of summiting. Of the five of us (all women in our 50's), we all summited!! Albert was amazing along with his guide crew of Ally, Khatib, Robert, Remy and Ammane. The food was delicious served by the wonderful Steven. Special thanks to the entire crew for making our experience comfortable, achievable and FUN!

- - We had booked our Kilimanjaro tour with another operator. However, the guides from Altezza (Justin and Honesti) helped us a lot when I got sick. They were very competent in terms of medical knowledge and had a lot of medical equipment with them. We saw that the higher price also resulted in better quality.