Kajeli Erick

Kilimanjaro is the trip of a lifetime because it is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and very close to the equator – yet with permanent glaciers. To reach the top, a climber must navigate through its five zones: the cultivated zone, the mountain rainforest zone, the moorland zone, the desert zone, and the Arctic (summit) zone. So, climbing Kilimanjaro is like traveling from the Tropics to the Arctic for only a few days!

Lemosho is my favorite route. Trekkers have more time to acclimatize before the summit because the increase in terms of altitude from one camp to the next camp is less than 1000 meters. This makes it best for acclimatization.

Easy Travel is the best choice because the company has good management who care for the mountain crews and the climbers before, during, and after the trek. The company has the best-trained guides with Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certificates. These ensure the safety of climbers and crew while on the mountain. Easy Travel also provides the very best in equipment and Food.

My favorite month of the year to climb is August because it is the driest month on the mountain. The summit is clear most of the time.

My favorite part of Mount Kilimanjaro is the summit because of its unique attractions. These include its permanent glaciers, the crater itself, and the ashpit. The crater is known to be extinct, while the ashpit is dormant. That is why Mount Kilimanjaro is known as a dormant volcano.

People are surprised to see the permanent glaciers on the top of a mountain so close to the equator.

The Maasai culture is my favorite Tanzanian culture, especially their traditional dress style – this has remained unchanged across many generations.

Karibu, which means ‘welcome.’
Asante, which means ‘thank you.’
Tembea pole pole, which means ‘walk slowly.’

My guests will be surprised to learn that I am a Wilderness First Responder with more than 13 years of experience as a mountain guide.

I advise all climbers to get the correct mountain gear, such as proper boots for trekking and good-quality, waterproof rain gear. It is also important to have enough layers of clothing to keep themselves warm throughout the hike, especially during the hours of darkness and on summit day.

I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 18 times a year for the past 13 years, approximately 230 times.

One of the biggest challenges is the bad weather during the rainy season, as everything gets wet, from clothing to equipment. Strong winds or snowstorms can make it hard to continue the trek, and sometimes the trekkers are forced to descend.

I would advise people to drink 3 to 4 liters of water daily, with electrolytes such as mineral water. The human body contains minerals, and when we drink much water, those minerals are washed out. I would also advise everyone to ascend gradually and to dress to keep warm.

Among the many challenges faced by me as a mountain guide, I would highlight the trekkers who have not disclosed all the necessary information about their medical history, those who do not carry all the necessary equipment (and refuse to have it checked before we set off!), and of course, the bad weather – such as heavy snow – which can very occasionally prevent a summit attempt.