In September 2024, we booked an 8-day private safari in Tanzania followed by a 6-day Machame route Kilimanjaro group trek with Monkey Adventures. The Monkey Adventures website describing the tours was very helpful, and communications that we sent via e-mail with our Monkey Adventures travel specialists John and Sylvia was responded to promptly and all our questions were specifically answered. Prior to our booking we also were able to schedule a What’s App call with our travel specialists to review our travel plans. Payment via wire transfer was secure and we received prompt confirmation that our payment was received by Monkey Adventures.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a friendly driver met us at the airport to take us to our hotel for the first night. The next morning we met our Safari guide, Moses, during breakfast at the hotel. The land cruiser that we were going to travel in for the next 8 days was well maintained, sturdy and spacious, had a refrigerator and multiple phone chargers.
Our safari tour took us to Tarangire, Lake Natron, Northern and Central Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The volume and variety of animals we saw on our trek was overwhelmingly amazing, and we were able to see the Big 5 along with the Ugly 5! We witnessed the great migration of the wildebeest across the Mara River, with crocodiles lurking and lunging in the river. We saw herds of elephants and giraffes, many male and female big cats with lion, leopard and cheetah cubs in tow, and massive hippo pools. Be sure to bring extra binoculars for your entire group so everyone can take in the amazing scene, particularly some of the birds that you encounter in the savanna.
Our guide Moses was an exceptional, a 5-star safari guide who was fun, friendly, knowledgeable and had a sixth sense and great communication with other safari guides on how to find animals in the safari. Lunches provided during our safari days were freshly prepared and we had lunch in the savanna in dedicated safe picnic areas. Roads in the park and travelling between parks for the most part are bumpy, rutted and slow going. Formal toilet facilities are very limited. Be sure to bring a gaiter or facial covering to deal with the dust. Our lodging in the parks was exceptional, great locations and vistas, attentive service, and exceptional meals.
Debrief in Arusha with Monkey Adventures was efficient, and there was a room to freshen up and change before travelling to airport for return home for one of our party. There is a restaurant at the airport to obtain a meal before travelling out of Africa. One recommendation would be to bring more cash to cover tips for transport drivers, hotel staff and guides in the parks. We did stop at an ATM in Arusha that was safe and secure to obtain some extra cash during our time in Africa, but there are limits on how much money can be withdrawn at one time.
We had an uneventful transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi to rest before beginning our 6-day Kilimanjaro trek. The morning of our trek, we met our guides, Mohammad and Raman to review our trek. At this point, I would recommend making sure all extra gear ordered (private toilet, extra mattress) have been prepped for the trek. We had a full van stuffed with gear, our guides and our porter on our travel to the Machame gate. There is a bit of a wait at the gate as gear is unloaded and weighed, and we had a picnic lunch at facilities at the gate. There is a small shop that sells any backpacking gear you may have forgotten and maps of Kilimanjaro to purchase. Only cash is accepted at this store.
We began our trek at a slow steady pace with manageable inclines. Most days you are getting into camps mid afternoon, after starting around 8-9AM. Having a private toilet was a definite plus as public toilets may be far from your campsite, and the private toilet can serve as a changing room for your group. We are from Colorado, so our pre-trek training included weekly treks of 4-6-mile hikes and just continuing our regular walking/gym schedules. There were no trail conditions on this trek that were any different than hiking in the mountains of Colorado. Every night, our guides would do a health check asking if we had any symptoms of altitude sickness and obtaining our heart rate and oxygen saturation.
The only really challenging day was summit day. We arrived in base camp early afternoon, had an early dinner, and it was suggested to try and get some sleep beginning at 5PM as we had to start our summit attempt at midnight. During health check, one member of our group had a low oxygen saturation and had to descend. Midnight arrived with little sleep. I had 5 upper layers of clothing and 3 lower layers of clothing, with gloves and hat and was comfortable. It is 5K to the summit with over 4,000 ft of elevation. The hike up is very slow going, taking 7 hours, you are basically looking at the boots of the hiker in front of you. However, sunrise at the summit is amazing and the sense of accomplishment is great. One recommendation would be to take a pair of clear goggles with you to wear during your nighttime summit hike. It was windy, cold and dark, and when the sun rose, my contacts had become dirty and frozen from the 7-hour trek! Taking photos at the summit is disorganized and chaotic, but well worth the effort!
We descended very quickly, reached base camp in about 4 hours, took a nap and then did a short hike to our next camp. At the exit gate, there is a shop with snacks and souvenirs and porters willing to clean your boots for you for a small fee which is well worth it. We had lunch at a restaurant a short distance from the exit gate with an excellent gift shop to pick up souvenirs from your trek, credit cards are accepted. Transfer back to Moshi for debrief was uneventful and efficient. We did book a hotel room for the afternoon before our flight to clean up, finalize our packing and have dinner at the hotel before transfer to airport for our evening flight home. Be aware that dinner service can be slow at the hotels, often taking 45 min to get your food.
Overall, our experience with Monkey Adventures in booking our safari adventure and Kilimanjaro trek exceeded expectations, and we recommend them without reservation.
Scott, Sandy and Aaron
I did the 6-day Machame route up Kilimanjaro in October 2024, and it was truly unforgettable. I was traveling solo, but I joined a group with three other hikers.
Our guides, Gasper and Paolo, were great. The night before the hike, they double-checked my gear to make sure I had everything. Gasper and Paolo were calm and experienced. They were both really supportive and knew exactly how to pace us and help us through the tougher sections.
The food on the trek was good—there was plenty of it, and it was tastier than I expected. Every meal kept us energized, with lots of variety like soups, pasta, rice, and veggies, plus snacks to keep us going.
I rented a sleeping bag from their shop, and it was top quality—super warm and comfortable, which was a relief because the nights got really cold.
Summit night was tough, but Gasper and Paolo did everything to keep us motivated. At one point, they even sang songs to cheer us up, which really helped lift our spirits. The summit porter, Mr. Fauzani, was also incredibly supportive. He encouraged me when I was down to my last drops of energy, giving me that final push I needed to reach Uhuru Peak. It was an unforgettable moment, and having such a dedicated team made all the difference.
The Machame route itself was beautiful and took us through so many different landscapes, from rainforests to rocky, alpine areas. Each night at camp, we shared stories and laughs over dinner, which made the experience even more special.
If you’re thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro, I’d definitely recommend going with Gasper and Paolo. They made the whole adventure safe, enjoyable, and absolutely memorable.