Why are other companies’ prices higher/lower?

There are three tiers of climbing operators—Luxury, Mid-range, and Budget.

We are a mid-range company. We provide a high standard of service for a reasonable price.

Luxury operators charge prices much higher than ours for things you do not need, such as matching uniforms and larger advertising budgets.

Budget operators charge prices lower than ours and leave out things you do need. These items or services include waterproof tents, comfortable sleeping pads, hot meals that are nutrient-rich, and Wilderness First Responder certified expert guides. They may also have only one guide for six people. We offer a 2 to 1 client-to-guide ratio.

See more here: Choose An Experienced & Safe Operator

What are your refund and cancellation policies?

Payments

A 30% deposit, paid by credit card or wire transfer is due at the time of booking. The trip balance payment is due 60 days prior to trip departure. Failure to make full payment by the due date may result in forfeiture of the trip deposit and any partial balance payments. The Company reserves the right to cancel any reservation should timely final payment not be received. It is the Client’s responsibility to ensure payment is made by the due date.

Deposit

If the trip cannot be confirmed the deposit will be refunded. This is a rare occurrence. Otherwise, the deposit is not refundable under any circumstances.

Cancellation requests:

  • 60 days or more before the trip start date, the cancellation fee is 30% of the total trip price.
  • 59 to 31 days prior to the trip start date, the cancellation fee is 50% of the total trip price.
  • 31 days or less prior to the trip start date, there are no refunds.

Trip cancellations must be made in writing and acknowledged by the Company. The cancellation shall be deemed to have been made on the date such notice is received by the Company.

Transfer

Should the Client be unable to make their trip it may be possible to transfer payments and deposits. The new trip must occur within one year of the original date. The Company reserves the right to prohibit a trip transfer. For a request to transfer made more than 60 days before the original start date, a fee of $200 per person will be charged, should a transfer request be granted. For a transfer request made within 59 to 32 days of the trip start date, a fee of $400 per person will be charged, should a transfer request be granted. No transfers will be granted less than 31 days of the trip start date.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is mandatory. The client must have valid travel and medical insurance which covers high altitude trekking, medical and repatriation costs, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation. The client must provide proof of insurance before the trip commences. The Client will not be allowed to participate in the trip without such insurance and will not be entitled to any refund. Furthermore, the Client certifies that he or she has adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage he or she may suffer while participating, or else agree to bear the costs of such injury and damage himself or herself.

If the Client leaves the trip, voluntarily or involuntarily, under any circumstances, after the trip has begun any additional cost incurred due to such action is the responsibility of the Client. There are no refunds for services not utilized.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept:

Credit Cards – Mastercard, Visa, and AMEX (there is no additional fee for paying with a credit card)
Wire Transfer – International or Domestic wires

We also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Affirm (if approved)

Checks are not accepted.

How do I book a trip?

To begin your booking you can fill out a booking form request for a group climb or private climb, email us or simply call us at 602-730-5028.

We will send you a booking form within one business day. Please note that requesting and receiving a booking form for a specific trip does not reserve or confirm the climb for you. Climbs are not confirmed until we receive the completed form along with the deposit.

A 30% deposit, paid by credit card or wire transfer is due at the time of booking. The trip balance payment is due 60 days prior to trip departure.

Once we receive the completed forms and deposit, we begin to arrange your climb, safari, and lodging. This usually takes between 2-3 business days. When your climb, safari, and lodging are all set up, we have officially confirmed your trip.

This means that your booking is all set to go. The deposit is not refundable once the trip is confirmed.

What kind of bags should I bring, duffle bag or backpacks?

When climbing Kilimanjaro, you will need to bring at least two bags. One should be a daypack that you will carry during your hike. The second bag can be a duffle bag or a backpack. This bag should be 75 liters up to 90 liters. We do rent 90-liter duffel bags.

Think of your first bag, your daypack as your carry-on luggage. You will have access to this bag during the entire day as you hike. This daypack will weigh about 15 lbs. It will contain your water, your lunch, snacks, rain gear, camera, and maybe an extra layer of clothing.

Your second bag is like a check-in bag. You will give this bag to a porter and he will carry it from campsite to campsite. You will not have access to this bag during the day. It will be waiting for you inside your tent when you arrive at your campsite. This bag will contain all your other clothing and toiletries.

The second bag should not weigh more than 33 lbs. If it is a duffle bag, it does not need to be waterproof as the porters will put it inside another larger waterproof bag. However, we do recommend waterproofing everything inside of it in case the outer bag leaks. See here: https://youtu.be/0fhfp8J4UE4

If it is a backpack, it should have a rain cover because the porter will most likely wear it as a backpack as he carries it.

Do I need any vaccinations to get into Tanzania?

There are no specific vaccine requirements needed to enter Tanzania from the United States.  However, be aware that the government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination. This is due upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever. If you fly directly from the United States to Tanzania (including layovers in which you do not exit the airport) you will not need the yellow fever vaccine. However, if you are arriving from a country listed here, you will need the yellow fever vaccine.

Do I need a Passport and/or Visa to get into Tanzania?

To gain entry into Tanzania, US citizens, and most other nationalities will need a passport and visa. The passport must be valid for 6 months after the intended length of stay.

Visas can be obtained prior to departure from the USA (recommended due to long wait times at JRO) or at your point of entry into Tanzania. The visa cost for US citizens is $100. More information can be found here: http://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/?page_id=76#visaForms
?page_id=76#visaForms

Visa at JRO

JRO Visa Windows

Obtaining a Visa at JRO airport for citizens of most countries is a relatively simple process. When you arrive at JRO, there will be two lines. The line on the right is for people purchasing a visa. The line straight ahead is for people who have a visa.

To get your visa you fill out the required form and get in line for the first window. Give them the form and show them your passport. Go to the line for window two. Pay for the visa and get your photo taken. Go to the line for the third window and receive your visa.

How many days ahead of time should I arrive?

Our climbs have an arrival and departure day built in. We recommend arriving at least one day early. This will give your body time to adjust to the time change and also recuperate from the long flight. It also gives you a cushion in case your flight is canceled or delayed, or if your bags are lost or delayed.

My flight lands in the evening the night before the climb. Is this okay?

Many of our clients will take the Delta/ KLM flight from Amsterdam. It arrives around 8 PM. By the time you go through customs and take the 45-minute drive to the lodge, you will arrive around 10 PM or later.

If you arrive at 10:00 PM the night before the climb, you will miss our pre-climb briefing. We can give you an abbreviated briefing the next morning.

Our suggestion is that you arrive one day early if possible. This way you will get one day to relax and recuperate for your climb. This will also allow us to track down any missing or delayed luggage and accommodate any flight delays.