significant snowfall circled with several glaciers
Equitorial Star Adventure Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $350 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Katherine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing team for an incredible experience hiking Mt Kenya!
This was my first multi-day trek and at altitude so I was a bit nervous, but the Equitorial Star Team made sure I made it to the summit with ease! Duncan provided all the information I needed before I arrived, arranged my equipment rental and transport, and was quick to respond to my questions. Patrick, the guide for my trek, was incredibly patient, motivating, and knowledgable about when to go fast and when to take your time. He also answered my many questions about the various sights along the way. Juma, the chef, made great meals that kept me going on long days in rain and snow, and the porters Samuel and Julius were always willing to lend a hand.
In short—I highly recommend Equitorial Star, worth every penny for a once in a lifetime experience! I also recommend the 5 day route going up Sirimon and down Chogoria. Summit day is very long (10+ hours), but you get the benefit of a more scenic route down and ending with a hot shower and private room for your last night.
Email Margaret | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best, successful and enjoyable hiking experience ever with Duncan
I have done several hiking for example 3 and 5 days hiking. In the first time thought I couldn't make but through the encouraging effort and help from Duncan, I made it to the summit. I always hike 2 or 3 times a year. It has now become my hobby. I appreciate Duncan for the respect, good communication, very reliable, caring and value of money. I can testify that Duncan is very fair in cost compared to the services he offer. I can recommend Duncan now and forever
Email Edward | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and highly experienced local guides and team
For my family this is our second time with Duncan and John, I feel we have become great friends.
This year they provided another great service guiding us up to Point Lenana, including my three children.
Great value for money, we always felt safe and were receiving expert advice and knowledge.
Thank you.
Email Ben | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The team supporting me made every effort to guarantee the trip of a lifetime! I am truly grateful!
I had a dream to conquer the two highest peaks in Africa. After my partner and I did some research on different guiding companies, we Equitorial Star due to their unanimously high ratings from clients. Equitorial star is also a locally owned and operated business in Kenya, which will save you money as you are dealing directly with the guides and not through an agent or external organisation acting as the middle man.
I spent a lot of time chatting with Duncan about my dream, and how we could make it a reality. The plan was to fly to Nairobi, then head South to Tanzania and attempt Kilimanjaro with my partner. After Kilimanjaro, my partner would return home and I would continue by myself to Mt Kenya to attempt Batian Peak, the highest peak on Mount Kenya. Batian is a long technical climb that requires specialist equipment and skills.
Right from the beginning the service from Equitorial Star was amazing. We were met at the airport by Duncan, who then introduced us to Patrick. Patrick would escort us to Tanzania where we met the local team we would work with to attempt Kilimanjaro. Patrick was with us every step of the way ensuring we had all our needs met. As my partner is inexperienced, Patrick paid extra attention to her and I believe it was due to his efforts that we both successfully summited Uhuru Peak!
After Kilimanjaro Patrick escorted us back to the Kenyan border where he had to leave us as he was required to guide another person back up the mountain. Duncan personally drove us back to Nairobi where we spent 1 night in a very nice hotel by the airport. My partner left in the morning, and Duncan collected me from the airport to start the journey to Mt Kenya. The next morning I met John and my new team and we started the climb that afternoon. I had a team of four supporting my climb, and they made me feel like royalty the whole way! John was extremely knowledgeable and taught me so much about the mountain, the flora and fauna. We also had a great time taking so many photos, and by the end of the trip John was basically a professional photographer!
I wasn't expecting to summit Lenana peak, but after chatting with John he was very serious about guiding me up Lenana on the way to Shiptons camp! We successfully summited Lenana and then continued down to Shiptons camp, where I waited to meet my technical guide. That afternoon Simon met me at Shiptons, and we prepared our climbing gear for the following day. Simon is a 50 year old mountain ranger who loves to climb and has been a technical guide for many years. I was completely amazed by his knowledge of the route and familiarity with the mountain. He guided me safely to the highest point on Mount Kenya, Batian Peak, a memory that will stay with me forever!
The next morning I was back with John and the crew, and we made our way back down the mountain and towards a hot shower.
Duncan then transferred me back to a hotel near the airport in Nairobi, having provided me the trip of a lifetime!
I had a dream to summit 2 peaks, and the crew at Equatorial Star helped me successfully summit 3!
I would love to go back and do it all again some day!
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Email Heather | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mt. Kenya: Great Value for a Once-in-A-Lifetime Experience
In July, four of us (Americans in our late 20s) completed the 4 day Mt. Kenya Sirimon- Chogoria trek with a team of 7. We found Equitorial Star to be the most economical option and were thrilled by the level of service we still received. The porters were friendly and professional. The food was good. Our guide, Patrick, took excellent care of us and was very knowledgeable of surrounding plant and animal life, as well as safety on the mountain. He even lent one of us his dry shoes when ours got too wet! Of note, and of no fault of the company's, the third day of the trek is very long and rigorous. If you choose to complete this trek in 4 days, be prepared for Day 3 to be one of the longest and most challenging hiking days. Despite our sometimes waning spirits on that day, Patrick and his team took great care of us. Mt. Kenya was unforgettable!
Email Sean | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Mt. Kilimanjaro trekking
Everything was organised through our constant telephone and email contacts. Duncan is one of the best travel agents I have dealt with. He organised and supervised over everything. He even accompanied me from Nairobi to Moshi to check over everything before my departure. Once in Moshi he handed me over to his colleague and made sure I was comfortable in the hotel. The team of : guide, cook, helper, 2 porters were superb. The guide Shafii is very experienced and especially good in understanding your pace and knowing better than yourself how much you need to eat, what you have eaten and your energy levels. The cook was outstanding. He prepared elaborate and specific kcal dishes according to the need of the day. I am very pleased with the special 1 to 1 service I was given and Duncan was personally there and then his colleague Njeroge, supervising on me.
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After traveling the world over this team of caring and Highly skilled staff her the very best.
I cannot recommend any higher equatorial star! They gave us a glorious experience full of thrills and some of the Best shoes around! Navigating the monetary portion of the trip took a little planning converting American dollars into Kenyan shillings, and cash seemed to be the easiest method. We felt like family when this trip was done