<-- Catherine and Thierry from Montreal, Canada - Machame Route, October, 2007
Back row from left to right: Oscar Mohammed (porter and waiter), Nicodemus Urio (porter), Nestor Sarumbo (head guide), Shidrack Mafie (porter), Tadei Ukello – can’t see his face (porter and toilet crew).
Front row from left to right: Barakaely Mafie (porter), Anderson Urio (porter and camp crew), Catherine Thierry, Peter Mbise (cook), Kadogo Estefan (porter), Peter Mbise (assistant guide).
Why choose Duma as your Kilimanjaro operator?
Duma is a socially responsible company that provides excellent service to its clients. Our goal is to provide a safe, comfortable, and fun trekking experience at a reasonable price. Because we are based in Tanzania, we can provide high quality gear and pay our staff well while continuing to offer climbs at a lower price than competitors offering a similar service.
We're an IMEC partner.
Duma Explorer is a proud partner for responsible travel with the International Mountain Explorers Connection. Duma is one of just a few Kilimanjaro trekking companies to qualify for IMEC membership. In order to be a partner, Duma must adhere to IMEC's guidelines on porter care regarding wages and gratuities, loads, and provisions on the mountain. For more information on IMEC's guidelines for Kilimanjaro operators, please view their website at www.mountainexplorers.org.
Equipment
We use the best equipment available.
· Our sleeping tents are high end North Face VE 25 and Marmot Thor 3P winter tents, ensuring that you are as warm as possible on the mountain.
· Our mess tents are imported Marmot and Mountain Hardwear expedition tents, ensuring that your dining area is warm and dry.
· We use three man sleeping tents for every two climbers, ensuring that you have enough room to spread out inside your tent.
· A portable altitude chamber is carried on all Crater Camp ascents and large trips. Click here to read the various climb itineraries and view dates for upcoming trips.
· We supply a camping chair with back support for each climber.
· We provide a private toilet tent for each climb.
· A Katadyn expedition water filter purifies drinking water for larger groups, while First Need water filters are used for smaller groups.
· We provide staff sleeping tents, ensuring that our employees are warm, safe, and rested during the climb.
· You are always in phone communication with the Duma office during your trek. The crew also carries handheld radios to communicate with the campsites and park rangers in case of any problems.
Staff
Each of our mountain guides has at least ten years of experience, and each is well-trained in first-aid and high altitude climbing. Click here to read some of the bios of our Kili crew.
· We are one of just a few companies to pay porters the wage recommended by Kilimanjaro National Park.
· We have permanent porters, which means we know all of our mountain employees very well!
· We use two or more licensed mountain guides for large groups.
· There is always an assistant guide, even for groups of two climbers.
· All aspects of your climb are designed and arranged by Duma’s owners, Stacy Readal and Hezron Mbise.
· When planning your climb, you communicate directly with Stacy Readal, a Duma owner, experienced climber, and Tanzanian resident.
· We are a licensed Kilimanjaro operator based in Arusha, Tanzania. We do not outsource any portion of our climbs.
Food
Our excellent dining options have impressed clients for years. Click here for a sample menu.
· We buy our meat from Northern Tanzania’s best butcher, ensuring that you have the highest quality meat products during your climb.
· Vegetarian requests are accommodated as well as requests to try local foods.
· We provide food for our porters.
Price
Given what we offer and the wages we pay our staff, our price is extremely fair. As we do not run an international office, we are able to pass along our cost savings to you while continuing to purchase high quality equipment and provide excellent service.
If you have to cancel your trip for any reason, we’ll allow you to apply your payment to a later trip.
Your climb includes the following items:
· All park entrance, camping and rescue fees
· All meals and filtered drinking water while on the mountain
· High quality equipment including mountaineering sleeping and mess tents, tables and chairs, winter sleeping mattresses, staff tents and a toilet tent
· Transfer to and from Kilimanjaro National Park
· All guide, cook and porter salaries and fees
· Portable Altitude Chamber on large climbs and Crater Camp ascents
Personal mountain equipment such as 0 degree Fahrenheit sleeping bags, trekking poles, and mountaineering clothes is available for rent. Please see our Kilimanjaro packing list for more information.
The climb does not include gratuities, soda/alcohol, energy snacks such as Power Bars, visa fees, travel/health insurance, lodging or meals in Arusha, or items of a personal nature.
© 2008 Duma Explorer