We climbed with E-Trip Africa [url]http://www.etripafrica.com/#/mount_kilimanjaro/[/url] on the Lemosho 9 day route. The trip was great. I highly suggest that you be sure that the company offers a portable toilet and tent. People from other groups were trying to sneak into our private toilet. It was a bit funny.

I understand that they also run Meru trips and our guide told us that Meru is much more amazing than Kilimanjaro. So maybe in a few years we will return to give Meru a shot.

Good climb

Kili is easy. It's a really nice climb. You don't need to get an expensive guide. If you've got the money then by all means go ahead and get one as it does improve your quality of life a bit. However, there is no real edge that one guide gives over the others. You're getting basic, but tasty food three times a day with pretty much everybody.

I used TEAM KILIMANJARO who was great. I was on their expensive version of the climb which meant that I had a portable toilet and an extra acclimatisation day. We didn't use the extra day. The portable toilet was handy, but I would have made due with the normal set up.

Zara is awesome and also very reasonable price wise. I used them a few years ago.

Have a look at [url=http://www.trekili.com]Trekili Eco Expeditions[/url]

I climbed Kili in 2009 with Moses and he is a great guide and all logistic were great - I recommended 100%. I will go again in couple of years waiting for my kids to get 15 years.

All the best
Mile

[quote="summitman175"]Hello jerry,

My name is Moses, and I am am a Kilimanjaro guide and I can organize your trip for Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. I have climbed Kilimanjaro 180 times Mt. Meru 70 and many other climbs to Mt. Kenya. I have organized many people from the summit post, if you need their references I will give them to you.
Please contact me at : moschriss@yahoo.com
The company I use is http://www.africanbroexpeditions.com they are the very best in Tanzania with great prices...
Hope to hear from you very soon

Cheers

Summitman[/quote]

Jerry,

We visited Kili with Kilimanjaro Brothers: http://www.kilimanjaroclimbingadventure.com/

Not only were things safe, clean, comfortable, etc., but we were having a blast on the mountain. Shoot George Mtaki an email and see what adventure he can pull together for you.

Enjoy!
Sarah

Hello jerry,

My name is Moses, and I am am a Kilimanjaro guide and I can organize your trip for Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. I have climbed Kilimanjaro 180 times Mt. Meru 70 and many other climbs to Mt. Kenya. I have organized many people from the summit post, if you need their references I will give them to you.
Please contact me at : moschriss@yahoo.com
The company I use is http://www.africanbroexpeditions.com they are the very best in Tanzania with great prices...
Hope to hear from you very soon

Cheers

Summitman

I've climbed Kili twice- One was a nightmare with a shoddy operation that I booked through a retailer (turned around at gilman's) and once an absolute pleasure (and made it to Uhuru!)> On the second go, I had truly excellent UK guide and ground operators that've been working on Kili for fifteen years. I know they recently began offering direct bookings, so you don't have to part with the extra thousand or so to a local tour re-seller.... But they're one of the longest standing and safest crews operating on Kili, and, I can tell you, it's an absolute, disheartening train wreck it is when you don't get the right crew.

You can check them out at [url]http://www.kilimanjarojourneys.com[/url]

They offer Meru as a warm-up extension. Were you thinking of doing it before or after Kili?

Anyway, hope that helps, best of luck!

[b]Adventures Within Reach [/b]out of Boulder CO has the most helpful and accomodating staff. They take the time to sit and find out what type of trip you are really looking for along with a very personable staff that is fun and just all around great people. I highly recommend them.

What email address did you use for Zara Tours ? The one on their website doesn't work ??

It's your own, clean, has a seat, is close and just an all around better option. With all the liquids you'll be drinking your constantly going to the bathroom. I think it cost us an extra $140 for the tent which really means an extra porter. This did not include the extra tip. Have you ever been in an African pit toilet? They can be pretty nasty on the mountain with all the various issues people are having.

Here is a pic of me doing my best dump impersonation outside our bathroom tent at Shira camp :)
[img]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383357_2965194807476_1189803871_3244373_851100507_n.jpg[/img]

Scotty P............What dates are you climbing ? What's the cost ? (if you don't mind me asking).

Tonka..............I have to bite. Why is a toilet tent worth it ?

I just did the Machame over Christmas and we used the Marangu Hotel. We had a private 7 day climb and they did a good job. They are one of the oldest guiding companies and a member of the group that supports a minium wage and weight limit for their porters. It's also a nice hotel right in Marangu. Take it for what it is, a porter supported trek. So my advice is spend the extra money on a bathroom tent. It means another porter but it is so worth it.

I am going with Zara in March based on strong reccs from another climber friend who has used them twice. 6 day Machame..

Thanks for the reply. How about Zara Tours ? Anybody have any experience with them ? It seems as though I've heard their name here before.