Description: I can't speak highly enough of my experience with Tropical Trails. Choosing a trekking and tour company for my Kilimanjaro-safari trip was a daunting task, to say the least: book after book advised me to consider it a life-or-death decision. So after months of research, correspondence, and quotes, I decided, warily, on Tropical Trails. It was kismet.
Annette was my contact, and she was excellent at providing information and equipment lists, revising the itinerary to fit our needs and budget, communicating changes, and responding to questions. She was also patient when we kept changing our final count of travelers in the group, and not at all pushy in getting our business. I really grew to like her through our email chain, and our introduction in person at Tropical Trails’ Arusha office felt like a reunion.
Tropical Trails arranged our entire itinerary, including hotels in Arusha; our weeklong Kilimanjaro hike; a hotel and campgrounds for a Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro safari; and rental equipment for all. Above that, they employed (at fair wages) our guides, cooks, and porters, a truly gifted assembly of people who supported us for two weeks. Tropical Trails seems to have a knack for working with the best, from putting us up at Karama Lodge to equipping us with high-quality tents and sleeping bags to providing us with incredible local guides. They were not among the most expensive companies offering us quotes, but everything was top-notch and a great value for the quality.
Finally, I can’t mention Tropical Trails without praising their affiliation with William James, our head guide on Kilimanjaro. He’s among the most amazing people I’ve ever met, and I credit his intimate knowledge of the mountain and his brilliant hiking strategies with getting 100% of our group to the summit of Kilimanjaro. William himself has reached the summit 99 times (probably more by now), but he made it seem like he had the experience of 99 treks and the passion of a first-timer. Tropical Trails truly made my Tanzania experience the most memorable of my life.
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