How do I choose an operator to climb with the Kilimanjaro?

The first thing to note is that you are not legally allowed to climb Kilimanjaro without a guide. We understand that this may be frustrating to some, especially those who have trekked the mountain before, however, these are the rules of the park and they are followed strictly.

The second thing to note is that, because of this, there will always be inherent costs with climbing Kilimanjaro that no tour operator can get around. Kilimanjaro park fees make up the bulk of the price as the park charges at least $130 per day per climber to be on the mountain. You then need to factor in guide and porter costs, transportation to and from the park and the cost of food and drink along the trek. Typically, with a group of 10 climbers, there will be 40 support staff. When you combine the costs together you can see why tour operators charge what they do. The question is then which operator to choose?

When deciding upon an operator it is important to understand that Kilimanjaro is a serious mountain at serious altitude and making your decision based on price alone would be a big mistake. You not only want to reach the summit, but you want to reach it safely. Therefore, price should be only one element of your overall decision when choosing a tour operator. High altitude trekking comes with inherent risks and is certainly not the place to look for a cheap cost.. The best operators offer a high quality safe service at a reasonable price. Summiting Kilimanjaro is certainly an achievable goal and the choice of the tour operator that you make is among the major keys on a successful climb.

Important things to consider when choosing an operator for your climb

Be aware by doing research by your own
The first thing before choosing the tour operator to climb with you have to be very carefully to have a caution of any operators who seem to offer much lower price than the normal costs. These operators always less well organized, will use lower quality equipment and gears, will use less reliable and will provide less experienced guides and porters with less proficient level of English in order to reduce cost and to acquire many customers. When you choose you should know that the higher cost the efficient service you get but the lower cost the poor service you get. And normally these tour companies do not have a permanent rescue team in case there is any emergency occur when climbing. You have to ensure that you book with an operator that offers competitive costs and provides good equipment, guides and porters as well.

Check overall quality
When choosing your tour operator price is something very important to consider but you also choose overall quality of service they provide to you. Should not be the only marker then check whether an operator will give you the kind of quality you want. You need to look a little in detailed. Do your research by checking Trip Advisor reviews and check online forums also check testimonials on the operator’s site But be aware of reviews that seem fake.

The operator also should gives you fixed details about their brand names, equipment they use and registered certificate and also you can check the quality of their equipment. When considering any operator’s credentials, summit success rate is often just as important as their safety and professional record. Beyond of these entire if you are still not satisfied you can call at company team assistance in order to get more help.

Check to see if the tour company is registered
All tour operators in Tanzania are regulated by the local government authorities and are required to have various proper up to date licenses for taking tours in Kilimanjaro National Park. As clients you should be able to ask your operator to provide you the copies of their licenses as required. Not only essence of the company but also their operator’s guides should also be licensed to take tours on the mountain. And the company they should be able to provide evidence of license certificate.

Research about ethics
Tour companies should show the ethics to their customers as required because a number of guides working on the mountain some of them are not apply ethical behavior because some of them they treat their porters badly. As required anyone that has climbed Kilimanjaro will know full well that these men are absolutely integral to the whole venture. They are the real heroes of the mountain, and at least deserve to be paid and treated fairly for their invaluable service. During climbing activities are the one who do hard work than other who climb without carrying anything or carrying simple equipment.

Other ways of choosing best tour operator

Safety
The climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro should be dangerous like on other mountains so make sure that the companies you choose is strengthen the security during the trip from starting up to destination. Choosing a good operator could make it effective. This decision is probably the most important one when you're doing your planning. Make sure that you choose an operator who will be responsible for all your safety on the mountain, your comfort and your effort of reaching the summit.

Book Local
The issue of book locally it could help you to get an evidence of all things that you want to know. As we know many of the foreign tour operators actually use local trekking agencies to provide the guides on the mountain, so booking with a Africa natural tour for your Kilimanjaro trek you can get better service than other companies because everything is controlled and managed by them locally. For the things that you want to know you can ask directly all the questions you want on their website.

Read the reviews
Also reviews could help you when choosing the tour to climb with. According to clients comments about your choice tour then good your operator claims they are, you can get extra comfort from using the feedback given by those who have climbed with them before you. When you are reading those reviews take a lot of time to read in detail. If you have and worries about what you reading call them in order to get many details about any concerns been expressed by visitors about either safety, food they provide, the quality of the equipment they use and also about what are people saying about the quality of their mountain guides. Don’t forget to see on how they treat the porters. Remember that climbing Kilimanjaro is a serious exercise and a poor quality operator who doesn't pay attention to these matters may not get you to the top of Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa.

Read the Operators Website
Make sure to know how they organize their work and how they arrange their timetable when they use to climb on which route. A good operator has to care about your safety on the Kilimanjaro trek, and they will want you to be prepared before you arrive. Check the website pages carefully. And other thing you need to know is their mountain guides experienced and trained that they are qualified to trek with customers and they have ability to trek.

The following are also some things to consider when choosing tour to climb with
Ensure the operator meets the basic legal requirements. The tour operator they should meet all requirements as regulated by government of Tanzania like to have tour lessen of company and guides lessen. The company should have financial bonding to protect your money if they go bust. The tour company should have proper public liability insurance and also a Tanzanian Tourist Board license, if the company qualifies to have all of these requirements then this is best tour operators.

Don’t forget to ask guide about what food they are provides during trip ofcourse you need good food and plenty of it to have the energy to summit the Kilimanjaro. Don’t forget to ask you guides before starting trekking.

Make sure how the operate care about their responsibility. The best tour to climb with will care about their guides and porters. Membership of the Tanzania Porters Organization (TPO) and Kilimanjaro Guides Association (KGA), TPO makes sure its members treat their porters well. The best Kilimanjaro tour Operators all sign up to TPO’s and KGA rules. But also you should look at what they say about the environment.

Check out what they will do in case of emergency. The best tour will need to plan best ways to solve any emergency which may occur during your trip. Things that do go wrong are must be solved fast as possible because can interrupt the trip. The best tour operators will always reschedule your climb right down to the last moment at no extra cost. They also should make sure that they arrange better planning about rescue service.

Get proper references. You should also get real emails and contact people yourself and if you use any social media or Trip advisor check out an operator’s page as you can see exactly what other current climbers have said.