When it comes down to it, reviews are only meaningful if they can be trusted. What I wish I knew before climbing Kilimanjaro is that there are only three techniques to verify the validity of a business and its services without parting with your hard-earned money. One way to go about it is to assess if platforms offer a feature where past customers can post pictures of a company’s services. The second-most effective method is to see if there’s a possibility of reaching out to past hikers. Lastly, you’d want to assess the context within the review so as filter out fake recommendations. Short reviews such as “great service” or “wonderful delivery”, without any contextual input, are likely fraudulent and shouldn’t be considered. (1) This post will show you examples of vetting criteria you should check for in reviews, as well as many trusted sources you should investigate before deciding on a Kilimanjaro operator.
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How To Verify Ultimate Kilimanjaro’s Reviews?
- TripAdvisor — TripAdvisor is a popular review destination for many travellers looking to visit Kilimanjaro. Anyone can post anything on the site. That’s both good and bad because people have created accounts to gripe or rave about a particular experience that may or may not have actually happened. (2) On TripAdvisor, you can find a feature where past hikers are able to attach pictures of their Kilimanjaro trekking experiences onto their reviews and, unlike other review platforms, TripAdvisor has various Kilimanjaro price lists for customers to compare. However programs with poor acclimatization profiles, like the Marangu route on Kilimanjaro, are regularly advertised on the first pages of the site. Make sure to get all the way to the 10th page in order to conduct a thorough comparison. Especially when comparing the Lemosho vs Machame route or, even when comparing, Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp trips.
- Trust Pilot — Trust Pilot is another review platform that’s open to everyone. It’s well suited for financial industries however, you can also find and compare Kilimanjaro package recommendations on the website. Here there are no features present to verify the validity of a business’s service without looking into the context of recommendations. (3)
- Facebook — Facebook reviews are probably the most reliable reviews of Kilimanjaro hikes because the recommendations on a company’s page are often attched to an individual’s profile and are likely to include pictures of the experience. (4) You can go so far as to reach out to previous customers in order to get a first-hand feedback loop regarding the company leading the expedition. It’s much easier to authenticate recommendations on Facebook compared to other review platforms on the internet. Here, you’ll come to realize the Western Breach on Kilimanjaro is dangerously unsafe and you also get the option to solicit Kilimanjaro packing lists and Kilimanjaro training tips from other travelers.
1. Compare XPATS International Vs. Ultimate Kilimanjaro Tripadvisor Reviews
Review From Rhiannon O.
I had a truly unforgettable experience doing the 8 day Lemosho route with Xpats. We were looked after from the minute we landed at the airport, and made to feel very welcome by John and the guides. Our whole itinerary was very well organised and laid out so we always knew what we were doing and John went above and beyond making sure all our needs were met…
…Overall a brilliant trip, made even more memorable and stress-free by knowing we had John looking out for us at each step. I would definitely recommend Xpats to anyone wanting to climb Kili!
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8 Day Lemosho Program
Hiked Kilimanjaro on June 22, 2022
English
Compare XPATS International reviews on TripAdvisor
Get first-hand experiences from hikers that recently trekked Kilimanjaro with XPATS International.
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2. Compare XPATS International Reviews On Trust Pilot
Review From Lena K. & Laura G.
First of all I would like to say thank you to John and his team for this great trip. First we successfully climbed up the uhuru peak via the lemosho route and then we decided to go a three day safari trip (tarangire and manyara national park and nogorongo crater). What I appreciated the most was that John was available all the time before and during our vacation. He gave us helpful tips as well as supporting us with administrative things like visa, other activities, health care… that went far beyond his actual job.
Also as I had no connection to reach out to my family during the hike, John tried to reach our guides as often as possible to give my sister at home a live sign from us. I felt safe with him at all times and that is for me one of the most important things. It was definitely a service that went far beyond what was expected…
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8 Day Lemosho Program
Hiked Kilimanjaro on January 22, 2022
German
Compare XPATS International reviews on TrustPilot
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3. Compare XPATS International Vs. Ultimate Kilimanjaro Guide Reviews On Facebook
Review From Diane W.
We have just finished the 8 day Lemosho route with XPATS. The guides and porters were amazing, spirits were high every single day! We were fed extremely well the whole trip, and it was delicious. Every morning we were greeting with tea & coffee, when we arrived at camp popcorn, and a meal would be waiting for us!
The guides were very knowledgable and safety aware. We learnt lots about plants, Swahili, culture, and overall had an amazing time with them! They kept us singing, chanting and dancing the whole way to the top! We all summited successfully also!
John was super helpful throughout the trip, and before it – answering any questions we had no matter the time of day! He helped us get the best prices for things, arranged a safari for us in Arusha National Park and showed us the best of Arusha food/culture! Would definitely recommend using XPATS!
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8 Day Lemosho Program
Hiked Kilimanjaro on June 22, 2022
English
Compare XPATS International reviews on Facebook
Get first-hand experiences from hikers that recently trekked Kilimanjaro with XPATS International.
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Compare Ultimate Kilimanjaro reviews on Facebook
Get first-hand experiences from hikers that recently trekked Kilimanjaro with Climbing Kilimanjaro.
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4. Chat With Hikers That Climbed Kilimanjaro With XPATS International
Review From Alice B.
I had an amazing experience climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in June 2022 with Xpats International on the Lemosho 8 day route. We were looked after phenomenally by the crew on the trek and also from John at Xpats on the ground. John spent a lot of time communicating with us prior to the trip to make sure we had the correct kit/information we needed for a successful summit. The experience was enhanced by the friendliness of the crew, amazing porter services and excellent food and water supplies to keep us going. There was never a dull moment as we were singing and chanting and dancing with our guides and porters along the trek. Our medical stats were monitored closely and we all felt very looked after by the guides. It was a challenge but I definitely could not have done it without the support of the crew and John.
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8 Day Lemosho Program
Hiked Kilimanjaro on June 22, 2022
English
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