Kilimanjaro On Foot
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $1,245 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Paul | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Bait and Switch on the hotel rooms, lectured repeatedly about tipping from guides
First, let me say that the guides did a solid job. They were friendly and got my entire group up the mountain. Now for the other part. The hotel we were originally supposed to stay in (Kibo Palace) was swapped out at the last minute for a place called the Keys Hotel. Don’t be fooled by the Keys three star rating, it is a one, maybe a two star. It’s not even close. I stayed at the Kibo Palace as I arrived a few days before my friends. The Kibo Palace is nice, an actual 3 star hotel. We all thought we were staying there as that is what Kilimanjaro on foot told us. It wasn’t till after my friends landed and were taken to the Keys Hotel that we learned otherwise. I had to change hotels from one I was already booked in.
Second issue, before we started to hike there was a meet and greet amongst the guides and our group. The guide must have spent a half hour talking about how much we should tip each person, which was well above what Kilimanjaro on foot had already recommended we tip, it seemed way excessive from this recommended amount.
Third, the guides got us up and down a day early. Not the worst thing, but it ends up that you have to book another night at the Keys Hotel which is quite expensive for the accommodations they offer. I would have been fine staying up on the volcano for our recommended time and coming down when we were scheduled to. This seemed like it was structured because the guides wanted an extra day off, not for our benefit. If they are able to get you up and down a day early it means they get a paid day off.
Fourth, the tipping is done not at the end of the trip but about half a day before. They make such a display about it and also make it a point that you had better tip generously or else. It's be better of Kilimanjaro on Foot to pay their people more and do away with the tipping all together and I wouldn’t have this awful taste in my mouth from the way the guides and sherpas behaved.
I would not recommend Kilimanjaro on foot for the reasons above. If you are aware of all of these factors you may want to consider them.