8 Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Lemosho Route

Exactly one year ago today (June 27, 2025), I began my climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro with Soraka Tours, and looking back, the entire experience went well beyond anything I could have imagined. I originally set off simply to climb the mountain, but the impeccable level of care, attention to detail, and genuine kindness received from the staff carried us every single step of the way. I truly cannot imagine having this experience with any other company. Heartfelt thanks to Sophia, Baraka, and the entire phenomenal crew, including Simon, Baltazar, Onesmo (Honey), Joseph, our amazing chef, Frederick, Rama, the porters (who were our superheroes), and so many others who took such great care of us. For anyone considering a trip to Tanzania, here are the highlights from my perfectly curated itinerary: • Beginning to End & Culture: It began with informative pre-climb meet-and-greets and gear checks. While dining on the rooftop at Kiliwonder, you can catch views of Kili when the cloud veil is uncovered. Staying at Panama was also excellent, offering great dining options and close proximity to the airport. Our cultural immersions were deeply moving, from learning from our gracious Maasai guide to the Materuni waterfall hike and coffee tour. Justine Materuni and his family welcomed us into their community and served the most delicious traditional meal and banana soup! • The Safari & Guiding: Our safari guide, Dennis, was great. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the local plants, trees, and wildlife, and he happily answered my endless questions with patience and enthusiasm. He made sure we saw as many animals as possible, and the hot air balloon ride over the landscape was breathtaking. • The Incredible Lodging: I had been quite anxious about the tent camp at The Whisper in the Serengeti before arriving, but it turned out to be a favorite. Despite hearing a lion roaring behind my tent each night, I got the best two nights of sleep there of my entire time in the country! We also stayed at the Nomad’s Rest Lodge, which is a total hidden treasure. Staying in their unique dome-style treehouse, smelling night jasmine for the first time, and touring their beautiful garden under the care of their gracious staff was unforgettable. From the shy mountain to the Savannah, Soraka Tours handles everything with world-class hospitality and a deeply personal touch. It was an absolutely beautiful & unforgettable journey. Asante Sana! 🏔️🇹🇿💗💐

Words cannot describe how incredible this experience was. From arrival to the airport to the final drop off at the airport the experience was simply amazing. The staff, the guides, the energy of the other group participants was top tier. The safety, organization, meals, accommodations, bathrooms everything I can name was pristine! From daily medical checks, morning wake up and tea served tent side, delicious multi course meals served 3 times a day with multiple tea and snack breaks, you are never in want for anything. Sophia and Barakka certainly know what they are doing and you can feel that in every step you take towards the summit. I couldn’t be happier with the company I chose to take on such an important and epic challenge.

I traveled with Soraka Tours to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and while I only made it up to 1000ft below the summit due to severe altitude sickness, I would choose this company again without hesitation. I was turned around after my oxygen saturation dropped to 60%. That was disappointing, but it was absolutely the right call. This drop was only noticeable because the guides constantly monitored our health, took safety seriously, and never let summit fever outweigh good judgment. I'm grateful they made the difficult decision. What made this trip unforgettable wasn't just the mountain however it was the people. The porters worked harder than I could have imagined. They carried incredible loads, set up camp before we arrived, prepared great meals, and somehow still managed to be smiling, singing, encouraging, and full of energy every day. Their work ethic and kindness were inspiring. The owner has built something special. She clearly cares about both her clients and her staff, and it shows. The entire team felt like a family, and the porters were treated with respect rather than simply as workers. That made a huge impression on me. If you're looking for a Kilimanjaro operator that prioritizes safety, treats its staff well, and provides an exceptional experience from start to finish, I highly recommend Soraka Tours.

I summited Mt. Kilimanjaro on my 60th birthday, and I’m very grateful to have done it with Soraka Tours. The team was kind, steady, and worked incredibly hard every day. The guides were calm and encouraging, and they paid close attention to how everyone was doing. The porters were just as impressive—always supportive and always showing up with a good spirit. You could tell they cared. Summit night was challenging, but I was patiently supported and encouraged. Reaching Uhuru Peak on my birthday meant a lot to me, and I know I wouldn’t have gotten there without their support. After the climb, we went on to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Everything was most exciting and well organized. The guides were knowledgeable, grounded, articulate, and easy to be around, and the experience felt and thoughtful. It was a life-changing experience for me and I'm most grateful. What stood out most to me was how genuine everyone was. They work hard, they care about what they do, and they take care of their guests. I’m thankful for the experience and would highly recommend Soraka Tours. — Hari Pulapaka DeLand, FL, USA

My daughter and I booked with Soraka because it was a Tanzania company and had a female co-founder. I can not say enough good things about Soraka. They took great care of us from the moment we booked our climb. They have the best guides that are trained to care for people at high altitudes. We had medical checks twice a day where they took our heart rate and O2 levels plus listened to our lungs.They also asked us questions about how we were feeling. I could also tell that they were observing us while we were hiking. My daughter lives at altitude so she was able to go faster so one of the guides took her at a faster pace. I thought I would lose weight on during the climb, but I was wrong. The chef was amazing and creative with cooking us delicious and nutritious meals. It did not take long for our waiter to figure out serving sizes for everyone so food would not go to waste. One of my favorite part of the day was getting woken up with hot coffee or tea to drink in our tent before breakfast. Once again the waiter, figured out that I wanted hot water and my daughter wanted tea so he did not have to ask. The camp master would sing while he was working, which always made me smile. You could tell that the whole crew got a long and worked as a team to make sure we were safe. The porters knew what I needed before I even asked. They made sure I had enough water in my bladder, hot water for washing up after being on the trail, a fist bump when I got camp. I noticed the very first day, that the porters all had good hiking shoes, clothes and gear that Soraka provided them with. I left my summit jacket, thermal shirts, thick socks and rain poncho for Soraka to give to the porters when they need to replace their clothing. The head guide could see I saw struggling emotional and he reminded me that I was very strong. He encouraged me to cry the happy tears when I got to the top of the Barranco Wall and my daughter was waiting for me. The guides never once doubted us, they were so encouraging to our whole group. “One Dream…One Team” was our motto along with “Non stop…..to the top” . I know that I could not have reached the summit without the whole team….the guides, porters and the rest of the group. The group was 5 friends plus my daughter and myself. I was the oldest at 55 years old and my daughter was the youngest at 21.

We just finished a great trek with Soraka Tours! Every detail was taken care of and it was more comfortable than anticipated. The guides were fun but also extremely professional, putting our health first. The porters were superhuman and always gave us words of encouragement as they zoomed past on the trail. If you’re looking for a female, US/Tanzanian owned, KPAP certified operator, definitely go with Soraka!

From the initial trip planning to the completion of the trek, Sophia was phenomenal and had every detail covered! We had 3 amazing guides who provided briefings about each day on the trek. The food was delicious and they easily accommodated my vegetarian diet. I was impressed with the twice daily medical checks, which ensured that early signs of altitude sickness were addressed. Our team of guides and porters worked hard to keep us safe, prepared, and motivated for a successful summit day! I also very much appreciated the transparency in how tips were distributed to our porters. I would travel with Soraka again and highly recommend them to anyone considering a Kilimanjaro trek!

The most amazing experience because of the crew! They were unforgettable in the best way possible. The service was one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Everyone went above and beyond for us. Truly enjoyed getting to know the team. It was such a heartfelt experience with lots of singing. The chef fed us really well! Some of the best soups I’ve ever had. They made this experience one of a kind that I’ll never forget. I am grateful for this experience because of Soraka!

I could not possibly say enough good things about Soraka Tours! I climbed with one of my friends, and as two young girls, we felt so safe, comfortable, and cared for by every member of the Soraka team. Everyone was encouraging and always smiling! Our guides went above and beyond to ensure we had a blast on the mountain by teaching us card games and dancing/singing with us all the way to the top! They matched our excitement and energy so well. Our guides were very knowledgeable and well-trained in understanding the mountain and safety precautions. It was very easy to trust them with my care! The rest of our team was so intentional about taking care of us in every way, such as dusting off our shoes after hiking for the day, waking us up to tea in the morning, or making sure our water bottles were always filled. The team at Soraka was phenomenal at paying attention to details. For example, my friend and I love Nutella, and by the third day we had downed the entire jar. Our waiter was so aware of what we liked to eat and what we didn't prefer, so he knew when we ran out of Nutella. Our guides communicated with the Soraka team that was not on the mountain, and they sent someone up with a new jar of Nutella! My friend and I were ecstatic the next morning when we saw the new jar sitting there - it was like magic!! Another magical moment happened on summit night: We had been hiking through the cold darkness for what felt like an eternity when our guide stopped and said, "Tea time!" I thought he had to be joking. How could they possibly have anything warm?! But he pulled out a thermos full of hot tea, and we drank it right there on the side of the mountain in the middle of the night. It was such a small thing, but in that moment, that tea felt like it sustained me. The gear was high quality, and everyone on the team was very knowledgeable about how to use it. Additionally, I very much appreciated that our porters were given high-quality gear, such as shoes, layers, and gloves, if they wanted to use them. It was clear that Soraka values the well-being and safety of its employees, which allowed them to care for us exceptionally well! I came down from the mountain with so much more than just cool pictures or epic stories - I came down with a team of guides and porters that had become my Tanzanian family. I won't be forgetting their names or faces for a long time. In every area, Soraka Tours excelled and went above and beyond to make this climb the adventure of a lifetime.

From the moment we landed in Tanzania to the moment we said goodbye, everyone at Soraka Tours treated us with care, professionalism, and kindness. We took a 3 day safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater before our Kilimanjaro climb. Our accommodations and safari experience were amazing. We had a private jeep for just the two of us and were able to get so close to our favorite animals. Our time on Kilimanjaro was life changing. I felt extremely safe with our guides and the careful gear check from Sophia before we left. Each day our health was checked and our guides were so attentive to our needs. They also paced the climb perfectly and this was instrumental in the success of all 5 people in our group in reaching the summit. The tents and mats provided by Soraka Tours were comfortable and spacious. The food was delicious and both our waiter and chef were so thoughtful and accommodating to everyone's dietary needs. As someone who had never completed a multi-day climb and with very little camping experience, I had many worries before our trip started. By the end of the first day, I felt so supported and encouraged by everyone at Soraka Tours. I am so grateful to the entire team and hope to travel with them again one day.