Kilimanjaro Brothers more fun and enjoyable climb!
Kilimanjaro Brothers Climbing Adventure
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $170 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Greg Hansen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Tour Operator and Guides = Amazing Climb!!!
We researched 4 different tour operators, but Kilimanjaro Brothers (KB) won the day (and our business) with quick email responses, George Mtaki's personal phone calls, competitive pricing, and excellent service and guides. Kilimanjaro Brothers is a local Moshi, Tanzania tour operator and thus 100% our fees stayed in Moshi and the local area.
George and his sister met us at the airport to facilitate our arrival to the hotel late on our first night in the area. Upon KB's recommendation for the rainy season, we signed up for the 6-day trip (on the mountain with 1-day acclimatization) utilizing the Marangu Route and its huts--perfect for the 3 afternoons of wet weather. We were treated like family with great hospitality. The daily service and food was superb--our server and porters were kind and respectful. The guide and assistant guide were extremely knowledgeable and exceptionally helpful. In fact our head guide, Priscus, volunteered to carry my day pack from the Kibo Huts to the summit which helped a 67-year-old dad reach the summit with his two sons.
Not only was it a great climbing but enjoyable cultural experience as well as 2 nationalities intertwined for 7 days and enjoyed a wonderful associations that will last a lifetime.
The outstanding hospitality continued as George met us at 5:00 am to see that we got off properly for our safari day to the Ngorongoro Crater. On our last day in the area we had no plans, so George volunteered with one of his associates and took us around Arusha. They made sure that we enjoyed the local sites and arrived timely at the airport that evening for our return flight.
I and my 2 sons highly recommend Kilimanjaro Brothers for your next climbing and safari adventure. George Mtaki, and his associates, will exceed your expectations for the adventure and experience of a lifetime.
DE
Email Jörn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience Kilimanjaro in a fantastic way!
We wanted to climb Kili on the Machame route and checked out lots of different companies that offered this trip.
Since we are from Germany it seemed easiest to just pick a german one but when we found Kilimanjarobrothers and started emailing with George we decided to go with the local company.
And it was a great choice!!!
We flew to Nairobi because tickets to Arusha were not affordable during the time we planned our trip. George helped organizing transportation and always replied kindly to all questions we had.
The trip itself was awesome. Thanks to our great guides Ibrahim and Joseph we made it up to Uhuru Peak even though there were very hard episodes during the climb they encouraged us to push our limits. Also they were looking out for our health condition. On the other hand they told us lots about the mountain, plants, animals, history of different tribes living there and we shared lots of laughs, had long conversations about culture, politics and personal stuff. Plus the whole crew of porters, cook and waiter were just great people that were always looking for our needs and did a fantastic job!
All in all a great tour that I can highly recommend! Ask for those two guides to lead you, they are awesome! Support this local company cause the competition is very hard and they deserve it!
https://www.tripadvisor.de/ShowUserReviews-g317084-d4985709-r351509631-Kilimanjaro_Brothers_Climbing_Adventure_Day_Tours-Moshi_Kilimanjaro_Region.html#
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Email Anna DeMonte | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience with Kili Brothers
I just returned from a two week trip in Tanzania with Kili Brothers and it was absolutely amazing. I would 100% recommend this company and can't wait to come back.
I began my trip with a 7-day Machame climb with three other climbers from the USA. From the beginning, Kili Brothers was accommodating and helpful. Our guides, Ibby and Said were encouraging, Fun, and very knowledgeable/professional. All four of us made it to the summit! It was a great time, and it was one of the best feelings of my life. Our group also had the Kili Brothers photographer/videographer who captured each day of our climb and after we returned to moshi, they put together a video recapping our experience and the drive of all the photos-- definitely utilize this option. We were the only group on the mountain with a photographer!
After the climb, my mother flew in from the USA and met me for a 7-day safari with Kili brothers. Our guide was Hussein, and again, he was amazing. Totally knowledgeable and fun. We saw the big five, cheetahs, wildabeast migration, everything! We were so sad to leave.
George was very very responsive to all of my emails throughout the process. He answered every single one of my pestering questions and it made me feel very confident leading up to my trip.
If anyone has any questions about my experience, feel free to reach out. Thank you George, and everyone else at Kili Brothers. I had an amazing time and can't wait to return.
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Email Dan Crumb | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Kili climb (Rongai Route) and safari with local company Kilimanjaro Brothers!!
Choose Kilimanjaro Brothers!! My daughter and I just climbed Kili, 6 days Rongai route, with a team from Kili Brothers and then spent 5 days on safari getting up close with the amazing animals in the Tanzanian National Parks; we had the best experience. This is a local Tanzanian company that knows the country, knows the mountain, and knows how to take care of their customers. Our Kili guides, Arden and Ally, led the whole team setting our slow "pole pole" pace ensuring we reached Uhuru Peak. They have a serious approach to the trek as there are risks going to 19k feet, but most importantly they have fun and created an inclusive family atmosphere. We had 3 hot meals a day that our cook Yahaya prepared and James served, usually with a short lesson in Swahili, that were great and included fried chicken, pasta, rice, beef, vegetables, a nightly soup, fresh fruit, omelettes, porridge, salads and popcorn.
The safari was another great experience, just the 2 of us and our guide/driver Hussein traveling through Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, and Ngorongoro Crater. The animals need no description and we saw all but the very rare rhino. The lodges and tent camps were great with Serengeti Acacia Tented Camp http://www.serengetiacaciacamps.com/ a must, Ikoma Safari Camp http://http://www.ikomasafaricamp.com/home.html a close second, after all the wildebeest did run through camp! Two personalized highlights Hussein gave us were leaving the main road between Ngorongoro and Serengeti NP to avoid the washboard road so we ended up all alone with just twiga, tembo, punda milia, paa, and more all to ourselves. Lunch under an acacia tree with nothing but blue sky and wind in the grass. The second special touch was again leaving the other vehicles and more well travelled paths to go far out around the granite Kopjes looking for Simba and Duma . Hussein spotted a cheetah in the grass and after some long lens shots we drove thru the grass and end up 15 ft from her while she sat and posed for us. Off the main track experiences really made this trip a personal and special trip, thank you Hussein!
The both portions of the trip were reasonably priced, covered everything and there were no additional charges once we were there or along the way. A small deposit held our reservation for months and receipt of the final payment wire transfer was acknowledged the same day. Email communication was quick, clear and most helpful. When I go back I will only consider Kili Brothers!
The following has nothing to do with my climb or safari, so you can stop here, unless you want to understand the nature of the people that are this company.
My daughter wanted to find a volunteer opportunity in Tanzania for the month between college graduation and our trek up Kili. I suggested she ask George Mtaki with whom we had just made our trip arrangements if he could recommend any local organizations. She did, giving some very vague requirements, and all of this has nothing to do with the business of Kilimanjaro Brothers. George replied with not only suggestions, but a whole plan of multiple schools, places to stay, and transportation between locations. She selected one of his options, Good Hope Moshi, to stay for the whole 4 weeks. Shortly before her departure from the US, George wrote and asked if she needed him to pick her up at the airport, or if Good Hope was meeting her. With the reply that she had a ride, he let her know that he would stop by the school and make sure they were ready for her arrival. There was never any expression of additional cost or hesitation in taking time to answer questions or provide information for this assistance; as Jen who was waiting for us after our climb said "there must have been 100 emails between Katherine and George, I have your email address!"
Finally, on our very last night which was spent in Arusha and where we were supposed to be picked up for our evening for our flight home, George met us and offered to come back in the morning and take us back to Moshi, 2 hrs one way, so my daughter could go and say goodbye to the friends and now-family at Good Hope. While she was visiting there, George took me to his home, introduced me to some family, more of the "Brothers" and shared some ugali and fish stew with me. I'm sure there are many companies that will get you to the top of Kibo and show you all the animals you want to see. Some may be cheaper, some may be bigger or smaller. I cannot imagine that any company will treat you better, be more responsive, or make this more personable and memorable as Kilimanjaro Brothers. (Note: I don't write reviews, and usually read them with caution. This company and people moved me enough to post this and in Trip Advisor.)
CA
Email Amanda & Amber | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari
My sister and I enjoyed a 6 day, 5 night safari with Kili Brothers and are happy to share our experience with everyone!
I'll start with some summary notes and then detail our days further at the end :). I apologize for the length of this review but I tried to include all the things we tried to find out before going ourselves!
The Good
- Animals! We saw the big five plus so much more!
- Cris, our wonderful guide was so good!
- Tented camps! A must experience!
- Service overall... The staff at all places were always pleasant and friendly
- The toilets! Better than many European countries that we've visited!
- Open top safari truck! The experience wouldn't have been the same in any other type of vehicle
- The overall experience! We loved this trip!!!
The Not So Good
- Airport greeting and drive to Arusha
- Rhino Lodge is a bit overrated
- Wait times at the park entrances
- The door to get in and out of our truck broke... This started a hilarious series of us climbing in and out of the front seat :-P
Driver
Our driver, Cris, was very young (25) but that wasn't a problem at all! He was fun to hang with, really cared about finding us the animals we most wanted to see and was great about getting that truck into the tightest places to get us a great view! He was a bit loose on following the exact itinerary which drove my sister crazy but I didn't mind. In the end I think we hit all the main parts of our itinerary with the exception of the Olduvai Gorge as Cris explained that there wasn't much to see there.
Booking
George (the owner) was very helpful. He answered all of our questions (and trust me, we had many) in a prompt manner and payment was easy - down payment online and the balance when we arrived in Tanzania.
Packing Tips
- You may experience three seasons in one day - pack a hat and gloves!
- Snuggies!!! We each brought one and debated it due to how bulky they are but we used them almost everyday!
- Bug spray was absolutely necessary at some of the camps (especially Acacia)
- Wet wipes came in handy everyday
- Most places had great supply of toilet paper so don't pack too much!
- Motion sickness meds (lucky we didn't need them but lots will!)
Food
The food surprised us... It was yummy everywhere we went and nothing too out of the ordinary. Everyday you will get a boxed lunch which are very similar, so get ready for a lot of chicken! Both breakfast and dinner at each place were buffet style.
Arrival
Upon arrival in Tanzania there was someone (Jenipher) waiting at the arrival area for us at the main exit of the airport who quickly showed us to the van that would take us to Arusha. Jenipher and the driver were very quiet on the drive, it would have been a better welcome had they been chatty and more engaging... But alas it was almost 10pm. Once we got to our hotel, The African Tulip, Jenipher helped us check in. We asked her some questions about what the plan was for the next day and then off to bed we went.
Day One
The next morning we got up and met our driver, Cris. We sat with Cris and Jenipher, paid our balance and quickly reviewed the itinerary. They had swapped out two of our planned accommodations which was unexpected. We had done a TON of research on the places we would be staying so this made us nervous but it did all work out in the end and we were happy with the changes once we saw them in person.
After that we hit the road and began our journey to our first park, Tarengire, the home of elephants! I will not delve into the details of all we saw, but trust me - this was a great place to start. Along the drive Cris was great about explaining things about the Maasi tribe that we passed a lot and other facts about the country. That night we stayed in the Bougainevilla Lodge which was nice.
Day Two
We hit the road to the Serengeti via the road across the top of the Ngorogoro crater. Be prepared for looooonnngggg waits at the entrance to both Ngorogoro and Serengeti parks. Along the way the view is stunning but if you are one prone for car sickness make sure you bring something for each day! This is not a trip of those with a weak car stomach!
Once we got to the Serengeti we saw some amazing stuff and that night stayed in our first tented camp, Serengeti Savannah Tented Camp. What a crazy experience that was with hyenas - true Africa!
Day Three
Animals, animals, animals!!!! That night we slept at an amazing camp, Serengeti Acacia Tented Camp. One word: Amazing! Ask to stay here, no matter which company you book with!
Day Four
This day we got up before sunrise and did an early morning game drive. We saw the sunrise over a small lake with flamingos - stunning!!! We also saw quite a few animals sleeping on the road. It was definitely worth getting up that early! After we returned to our camp for breakfast we hit the road again for another game drive and then in the afternoon started the drive back to Ngorogoro to our accommodations at the Rhino Lodge. Rhino lodge was one we were very excited about but honestly we could take it or leave it... Great sunset view atop the crater though!
Day Five
We descended into the Ngorogoro crater and spent the whole morning on a game drive. We searched for the elusive Black rhino and finally found one of the six that exist in the park! After our game drive it was time to head back to Arusha :( Cris stopped at a few souvenir shops: one of the roadside ones so that I could practice the art of bartering and a more established store type that was a pleasant shopping experience. Upon arrival in Arusha we said a sad goodbye to Cris!!
Day Six
We had prearranged for a day excursion with another company to go experience the Kikuletwa hot springs. We were unaware that Kili Bros would want to see us on this last day, so once our day excursion company had dropped us at the airport, Jenipher met us there and took us to a small restaurant a few minutes away where we had a bottle of fizzy, got our certificates and a small present from them. Then it was off to our flights home.
Sigh... Wish it had never ended :-)
A very good local Company
Kilimanjaro Brothers are a very good local Company.
We chose them for our Kilimanjaro Adventure and our 4 Day Safari.
Everything was well organized and the Staff was always very friendly.
George always responded very soon.
The Food was amazing and the Lodges on the Safari very good.
Thank you for this great experience!
https://www.tripadvisor.de/ShowUserReviews-g317084-d4985709-r404399251-Kilimanjaro_Brothers_Climbing_Adventure-Moshi_Kilimanjaro_Region.html#
Email Karen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Company
I would definitely recommend Kilimanjaro Brothers. We climbed Mt Kilimanjaro using the 8 day Lemosho Route . We found the guides and porters fantastic and the meals were very good. The guides would always make sure we were eating enough and to always go pole pole so we would acclimatise well to reach the top of Africa, and we did it YEH!!! Thanks Kilimanjaro Brothers.
They would always reply to our emails and there were many of them. When it came to payment we had a few concerns but in the end everything was good.
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Email Liz Pendergrass | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Surprise Birthday Celebration with Kili Brothers at 19,341 feet!!
What an amazing experience!! We climbed Kilimanjaro with Kilimanjaro Brothers in March of 2017 and had an incredible time. Our guide Abraham and assistant guide Massaga were awesome! They were attentive, motivating, and fun to be around. They made the experience what it was. Every need we had on the mountain was taken care of, including them toting ginger tea up the peak on summit night. We were summiting on my husband’s birthday and at the top we were surprised with a Birthday Cake at 19,341 feet!! A porter literally carried that thing for a few days to surprise us. THAT’S customer service like no other.
We also arranged for a safari through Kilimanjaro Brothers and that was equally amazing. I definitely suggest that as well! I will also say that we were taken care of from the moment we stepped off the plane. Transportation, lodging every night, and every meal was taken care of from the time we landed to the time we took off. They thought of everything and I really appreciate that team! Kili Brothers all the way!!
Email Robert | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mount Kilimanjaro Trek and Serengeti Safari
We booked both the mountain climbing and the Safari through Kilimanjaro brothers.
Both were incredible
For the Trek - led by our guide John was extremely patient and answered all our many questions regarding wildlife/culture/scenery. The chef, Massawe prepared us fantastic meals in difficult situations. The porters took great care of us, supplying us with tea and snacks!
For the Safari - Juma was our driver, he went to great lengths to make sure we saw as many of the animals as possible - he also got us a fantastic view of the Wildebeests crossing the river Mara!
We stayed at the Maramboi lodge - all the staff were fantastic - as was the food and the quality of the room - a beautiful place.
I don’t have anything negative to say - we were happy with everything.
Thanks for a trip of a lifetime
CA
Email Logan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great experience with Kilimanjaro Brothers
My girlfriend and I completed a 8 day hike on Mount Kilimanjaro going up on Lemosho route and descent through Mweka.
Each of the trekking day was different and had varied memories. Mount Kilimanjaro itself is grandeur and Lemosho route is definitely very scenic, more than we had anticipated.
The key to a successful ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro is to take it laid-back during the first days and ensuring that you acclimatise to the altitude before attempting the final hike to the summit. Upon hitting Uhuru Peak, it is quite a sense of great achievement standing on top the mountain. It is for sure a an amazing experience watching the sun rise over the African skies and with amazing views.
We used the service of Kilimanjaro Brothers directly and George made all the arrangements for us. Everything was delivered as planned and at reasonable cost. Robin, the Kilimanjaro guide was an excellent choice and an expert in helping out alongside the a team of porters and cook.
The cook and porters were all very good and well organised, the food was good, warm and plentiful with fresh fruits. Everything was on time and the guide adjusted hiking tempo to our abilities and frequent photo stops. He knew well what he was doing. The hike itself, landscape and nature, is of course exceptional.
Without the help of Robin, we wouldn’t have succeeded in reaching the summit. George was an excellent planner and made all efforts in providing all the information we needed beforehand. Everything was as per the details provided and trust me that they know the mountain very well, providing you with the right info and the potential problems and solutions.
For us, using Kilimanjaro Brothers was a great experience.