Kilimanjaro Needs Good Guide

Sun., Jan. 25, 1998

James T. Yenckel Washington Post

Q. After dreaming about it for 25 years, I would like to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in the spring. Is there a reputable company that offers group trips departing from the United States?

A. The summit of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro rises to 19,340 feet and reaching it requires a great deal of stamina. On the way up, you want experienced guides who can detect mountain or altitude sickness - if you begin to show signs of falling victim to it - and who know what to do about it.

Mountain Travel-Sobek - (888) 687-6235 - of El Cerrito, Calif., a leading adventure travel firm, warns participants at the outset it will send them back down the mountain if their health seems endangered. Look for a tour company that practices this kind of caution.

I have never taken a Mountain Travel-Sobek trip, but over the years I’ve sought expert advice on adventure travel from its managers and guides, and I would feel very comfortable putting myself in the firm’s care. It has scheduled several 13-day Kilimanjaro trips for 1998, with departures in January, February, June, July, August and December - prime trekking months. The price is $3,390 per person and air fare to Africa is extra.

Unfortunately, participants do not depart from the United States as a group. But flights to Tanzania and Kenya generally fly from London or Amsterdam, and Mountain Travel-Sobek will meet your plane.

Jerry Mallett, president of the Adventure Travel Society of Englewood, Colo., which promotes trekking and other adventure activities, describes Mountain Travel-Sobek as “a good company,” but the firm is expensive, and he suggests consumers shop around. The names of other firms can be found in the adventure travel directories of Outside and Men’s Journal magazines. A travel agent familiar with the Specialty Travel Index, a twice-yearly directory of offbeat travel, can also help.

Before booking, get references and check them, Mallett advises. Ask how long the company has been in business. Sobek, which affiliated with Mountain Travel a few years back, is celebrating its 25th season. Request a copy of the firm’s liability insurance, and get details on your guides and their experience. At the very least, do they speak English?

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