Kilimanjaro-Aufstieg auf der Lemosho-Route (7 Tage)

Incredible, one of the best hiking experience I ever had!! We were a group of 5 people from the same family, it has been hard in some instance but the experience has been amazing. The difficulty came from the altitude and not from the hike. We have been extremely lucky to be surrounded by a team of experts from Altezza. This team was composed of a chief guide, 2 assistant guides, a cook and a team of 22 porters supporting our journey to the top. This team was shining by their experience, their professionalism, their kindness, their dedication…. we were one team. They help us to achieve our dream to reach the top of Africa. Altezza company has been great since day 1, when we requested a quote as it was very well explained. The have incredible videos providing tips and advices regarding the material, the climbing, the agenda day by day and they even advice you how to dress during the climb to avoid to be cold. When you do a trip like that you want to have real experts that will surround you from the beginning till the end and this has been our experience with Altezza. I strongly recommend the Altezza company and their team of experts. I here can name some of them, chief guide Stanley Silver Minja, the assistant guide Wilson Godfrey Harry and the assistant guide Salim Hamisi Ng’onye as they were all great people with whom we could develop some great relationship. They provided us support and explained us Tanzania. Part of our soul remain at the top of Kilimanjaro.

Just completed the Meru and Kilimanjaro treks - what an experience! Altezza Travel were excellent - collection and drop off at airport and hotel were hassle free. The trekking guides and support teams were well organised, experienced and friendly - first class. A special shout out to Kassim our Kilimanjaro head guide, he made sure everything went to plan and was instrumental in getting everyone to the top safely, nothing was too much trouble, a real ambassador for Altezza. Also to Valancy (poli, poli) second guide for great pace settings, to Pascoe our waiter, Bestie, Benedict and Jackson for all help on summit push, Emanuel our camp master and Hamish our chef. The whole team were superb and helped to make this an unforgettable experience. I would highly recommend Altezza Travel.

It is difficult to know where to begin reviewing Altezza Travel, because calling them simply an outstanding Kilimanjaro expedition company somehow doesn’t come close to describing what we experienced. We climbed Kilimanjaro with Altezza on the Lemosho route, supported by an extraordinary team of approximately 35 people. By the end of the expedition, my overwhelming feeling was this: I simply cannot imagine that there is a better company with which to climb Kilimanjaro … and I genuinely cannot imagine that there could be a better group of guides and mountain professionals than the people who took care of us. This was not just exceptional organization. It was an extraordinary demonstration of professionalism, competence, warmth, teamwork and human kindness in one of the most demanding environments most of us will ever experience. At the center of it all was Shobani, our lead guide. There are some people who are simply made for what they do. Shobani is one of them. From our first steps on the mountain through to the final, exhausting hours of summit day, he projected a remarkable combination of confidence, experience, judgment, patience and calm. He seemed constantly aware not only of where we were physically, but of how every member of the group was doing. On a mountain like Kilimanjaro, that matters enormously. You are progressively becoming more tired, the altitude begins to affect everyone differently, the environment becomes increasingly unforgiving, and by summit night even simple decisions can feel difficult. At those moments, you discover the difference between having someone who can guide a hike and having someone in whose judgment you are prepared to place your safety. We trusted Shobani completely. And that trust was earned every single day. His deputy, Dickson, was equally exceptional. The relationship between the two of them was seamless. There was no drama, no visible uncertainty, and no sense that anything was ever being left to chance. They watched, assessed, encouraged and adjusted constantly. Somehow they managed to keep us moving forward without ever making us feel pushed beyond what was sensible. That balance requires tremendous experience. The mountain itself supplied plenty of tests. The Barranco Wall is an unforgettable part of Kilimanjaro … a relatively short but intense piece of climbing where suddenly the broad trekking trails give way to rock, exposure, scrambling and some wonderfully improbable maneuvers. It was exhilarating. It was also one of those places where the quality of your guides becomes immediately obvious. Altezza’s team positioned themselves exactly where they needed to be, offering a hand, a foothold, encouragement or reassurance almost before you realized you needed it. And then came summit day. Nothing quite prepares you for summit night on Kilimanjaro. You begin in darkness, already at extreme altitude, and climb for hour after hour while your body is telling you that sleeping would be a much more rational activity. It is cold, relentless and mentally as well as physically exhausting. The strings of headlamps climbing the mountain above and below you are an image I will never forget. That night the Altezza team became something more than guides. Vincent and Juma, together with Shobani, Dickson and the rest of the summit team, was simply magnificent. They watched us constantly. They encouraged us when encouragement was needed. They helped when help was needed. Most importantly, they kept us safe. There was never a sense of bravado about reaching the summit at any cost. The mountain was respected. Our health was respected. Decisions were thoughtful and deliberate. And when exhaustion began to overwhelm us, there was always someone quietly there. Eventually, step after extraordinarily slow step, darkness gave way to dawn and the seemingly impossible became possible. Those moments near the summit will stay with us for the rest of our lives … and so will the people who got us there. But one of the things that makes Altezza remarkable is that the people whom you see at the front of the expedition are only part of the story. Every day we would leave camp and somehow, almost magically, another complete camp would appear ahead of us. Tents ready. Bags delivered. Food being prepared. Water available. Everything organized. And then the entire operation would be dismantled and moved once again. Watching this happen day after day gives you an enormous appreciation for what an expedition like this actually requires. Billidad, our camp manager, orchestrated an extraordinary operation. Our camps worked. Every day. At every altitude. Whatever the weather and however difficult the terrain. When we arrived tired, everything that mattered was simply there. Adelaide, who looked after us inside the tent, was wonderful. It is difficult to explain how meaningful relatively small acts of care become after several days on a mountain. When you are cold, dusty, tired and increasingly aware of the altitude, having someone quietly making your environment as comfortable and organized as possible makes an enormous difference. Then there was Azael. Every member of our group came away with enormous affection and respect for him. He had one of those jobs whose importance becomes more obvious with every passing day. He worked constantly to keep our immediate environment remarkably clean and civilized in circumstances where neither is easy. He did it with extraordinary good humor, dignity and care. People often speak about “Leave No Trace” as a philosophy. On Kilimanjaro you also see the human beings whose hard work makes that philosophy possible. Azael was one of those people, and he deserves enormous recognition. And then there was Albert, our chef. I still don’t completely understand what form of culinary sorcery allows someone to produce the quantity, variety and quality of food we were served while moving a kitchen progressively higher up an African mountain. Meals were not merely fuel. They became punctuation marks in the day … opportunities to sit together, recover, laugh, discuss what we had just accomplished and contemplate what was coming next. Keeping people eating at altitude is also not trivial. Appetite changes, stomachs become unpredictable and energy requirements remain enormous. Albert somehow kept producing food that people actually wanted to eat. That is a genuine expedition skill. What impressed me most, though, was the culture of the entire Altezza team. There were approximately 35 people supporting our expedition, and yet they operated with the cohesion of a single unit. Nobody appeared to be simply “doing a job.” Everyone seemed invested in getting us safely up and down this mountain and in making the experience as extraordinary as possible. They cheered us. They laughed with us. They worried about us. They carried an almost unimaginable amount of equipment. They broke camp after we left and somehow passed us on the trail carrying loads that made our own backpacks look ridiculous. Then they arrived ahead of us and rebuilt our world before we got there. And the following morning they did it all again. For days. The physical strength involved is remarkable. The professionalism is remarkable. But what stays with me most is the warmth. By the end, this did not feel like a commercial transaction between clients and an expedition company. We felt that an entire group of people had committed themselves to helping us achieve something that mattered enormously to us. Kilimanjaro itself is spectacular, of course. There are moments of extraordinary beauty … the changing ecological zones, the immense skies, the volcanic landscape, the glaciers appearing above you, the excitement and intensity of Barranco Wall, the surreal world above 4,000 meters, and finally the indescribable experience of standing at the top of Africa. But mountains do not create great expeditions by themselves. People do. And that is ultimately why I would recommend Altezza without reservation. They provided superb logistics and equipment. They fed us extraordinarily well. They created comfortable camps in very uncomfortable places. They monitored us carefully. They managed altitude and safety professionally. They made a complex moving expedition appear almost effortless. But far more importantly, they gave us Shobani, Dickson, Alvery, Azael, Billidad, Adelaide, Vincent, Juma and an extraordinary wider team of men who poured themselves into helping us succeed. We arrived hoping to climb Kilimanjaro. We left with an enormous respect for the mountain … but perhaps even greater respect for the people whose lives and expertise allow the rest of us to experience it. To Shobani in particular: thank you for your leadership, your judgment, your patience and your absolute belief that you could get us there safely. To Dickson, Vincent, and Juma: thank you for being there during the moments when it mattered most. To Albert: thank you for somehow running a restaurant on the side of a mountain. To Billidad: thank you for making an enormous logistical operation appear effortless. To Adelaide: thank you for all those small acts of care that became very big acts of care as the days went on. To Azael: thank you for the tireless work that most people will never completely understand until they have lived on a mountain for a week. And to every porter, guide and member of that remarkable 35-person Altezza family whose name I have unfortunately not recorded here: we saw what you did. We know that our summit belonged to you as much as it belonged to us. There are many companies that will take you to Kilimanjaro. After experiencing Altezza, I cannot imagine choosing another one. Extraordinary in every possible way. Five stars seems inadequate.

I had the most incredible time climbing Kilimanjaro with Altezza. I was extremely impressed with the professionalism of the whole team. Justin, our team leader, was just amazing. He flawlessly balanced being energetic and motivational with being wholly professional. Everybody trusted his experience and judgement and he guided his whole team expertly, but also managed to be fun, energetic and morale boosting throughout. A true leader and great person. The guides were all fantastic and every single member of the team went above and beyond to support our team and also seemed genuinely delighted for those that made it to the top. I would recommend Altezza to others climbing Kilimanjaro and felt safe in their care for the duration of the trip. They were professional and communicative from the moment I booked it. A wonderful experience and I am very happy that I chose to do it with Altezza.

Just completed a 10-day trek of Meru and Kilimanjaro with Altezza and couldn’t recommend them enough. Everything was incredibly well organised, and the whole team were fantastic. A special thank you to Kassim, Valency, Benedict and Jackson — they were amazing throughout, with Kassim going above and beyond to get me to the summit. Also a big mention for Pasco, our waiter, who was always friendly, attentive and kept us laughing after some long days. The whole team truly lived by “One Team, One Dream”. An unforgettable experience — thank you Altezza!

Altezza delivered on everything they promised. They are true professionals and know exactly what they are doing. The premium package was worth every penny and I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you Altezza for helping me get to the summit.

Altezza are the go to company to guide on Kili and Meru. We undertook a summit of Meru and Kilimanjaro over a 10 day period. Their guides are well trained and knowledgeable, providing insights and info along the way. The overall team (21 for the Kili trip) provided an excellent experience and would not hesitate to use them if ever going to Tanzania again.

Excellent service from Altezza. The guides for the Kilimanjaro trek ensured everyone is safe and healthy on the trek. Everyone is well taken care of. The food is excellent too. The guides keep encouraging us on summit night and helped us to achieve our goal. Wonderful experience with the Altezza Team.

Last year a friend proposed to climb to Kilimanjaro. He had researched the routes and operators and suggested we hire Altezza for our trip. We were 13 persons in our group between families and friends. Every one of us really was surprised by the great service and how nice and helpful the whole Altezza team was.

I rarely write reviews, but this one is deserved. Altezza as a company: For my fist time in Tanzania, Altezza have proved themselves as a company that cares about the client. From landing to take-off, they will ensure you are looked after. Every staff member I met were full of personality and knowledge. It is clear Altezza strive to be the best service on the market and they deliver. Do you pay for it? Yes, of course. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I always felt safe with their staff and their English is almost immaculate. I ran into a few minor irritations and issues during my experience, it happens, and Altezza allowed us to feel heard and resolved all of our issues. I've never experienced such elite customer service. You know you're on holiday when someone asks you where are you staying on xxth and you don't know. Not because you haven't been informed. But because you have unrattled trust that it's all sorted and you just get in the vehicle (drivers were always early) at the allotted time and the rest just happens around you. I swear, you could try and trip the company up and you'd probably fail - is there any higher praise? The experience on Kili: Our guides (Abram and Shammah) are competent in English and Swahili. We had great banta and laughs. They taught us some phrases in Swahili. They were always aware of our safety without being overbearing and always kept the mood light and fun whilst still getting their points across. I could go on, but I think I have made my point.