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

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]