As Exodus Travels begins new tours backed by explorer Aldo Kane, Adam Shaw asks John Seka about the Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Route
Q. What can people expect on your Kilimanjaro tour?
A. Tanzania is a beautiful country, and in the dry season you can see lots of animals – giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, warthogs. The culture here is so hospitable, we love visitors. It’s like another planet – we call it Planet Kilimanjaro – where everyone is a winner as soon as they arrive. It’s the only place where you can feel the four seasons across a few seconds, and you have to remember ‘no pain, no gain’.
Q. What challenges will guests face?
A. You don’t have to be very, very fit. As long as you can put one foot in front of the other, you can do Kilimanjaro. The only big challenge we have is altitude sickness, which can happen to anyone. We ask people to follow the three golden rules: drink lots of water, walk slowly and have a positive mental attitude.
Q. What’s it like to reach the summit?
A. The last night is my favourite. We usually leave the camp around midnight, walk calmly for an hour and then start the switchbacks up to the crater. Here you can see things that are like nothing else in the world.
We have glaciers, incredible views and night skies full of stars – it is one of the most beautiful places you can imagine. But you must be alert to altitude sickness because there is less oxygen. We help people take their pictures and get back down safely.
Q. How does it feel to be associated with Aldo Kane?
A. It’s a big thing and something Exodus deserves because they have done a formidable job over the years. I’m so proud to be associated with this partnership. Everywhere I go, I tell people about it and suggest that they get involved with the trips on offer.
Q. How are things looking for the future?
A. Life was so hard during the pandemic, but we are seeing more people returning to Tanzania. A lot of groups have booked with us this season. Because of lockdown, people want to push themselves and they want adventure – they’ve gone from glamping to camping.
Q. What’s your favourite thing about Tanzania?
A. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you believe in, we are very welcoming. And we have a shared identity through our language, Swahili. We are a very safe and diverse country. You can climb Kilimanjaro, go to Zanzibar and Ngorongoro, see how coffee was originally made – we want people to experience all that.
PICTURES: Alberto Campanile
Read more
6 of the best adventure honeymoon destinations
How to sell a budget-friendly family trip to Australia
Saint Lucia: how the island is becoming an active traveller’s dream destination
