Kilimanjaro summit success on the up

Kilimanjaro summit success on the up
By admin


More people are now making it to the summit of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro than ever before, according to local firm Tanzania Rift Valley Tours.

The company now claims a 95% summit success rate, which it attributes to better availability of equipment and medical supplies.

However, the figure is well above that cited by the Kilimanjaro National Park which estimates only 41% of trekkers actually reach the Uhuru summit, with the majority turning around at Gilman’s Point.

The firm differentiates itself from many rivals by insisting climbers spend an extra day acclimatising to the high altitude. As a result, its tours generally last seven days rather than six offered by many competitors.

Head guide Peter Simbo has worked with the firm for 10 years, during which time the frequency of tours has risen from one per month to around four.

The vast majority of business continues to come from charity groups, but other types of travellers are growing in number, he added.

While the UK remains its number one source market, Australia is also showing good growth in second place.

Simbo also revealed the most popular of the six official trekking routes up the 5,895 high mountain has also switched from the easier Marangu route to the lesser travelled Rongai route.

"On the Marangu route, you have to share the hut with other groups, whereas on Rongai we camp, so you can have your own tent," he said.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]