Amedeus Cyril Maro

We got in contact with Erick from Joining Safaris for our 8 days Kilimanjaro hike and 6 days Safari trip through a friend’s recommendation. Right from the beginning, Erick was very clear with his communication and responded very quickly to our many questions. He was very welcoming and friendly, we were invited to his house for a BBQ goat dinner on the day of arrival and we got to meet his family and other fellow travellers. The 3 of us who did the Mount Kilimanjaro hike were all slightly nervous because we didn’t have any mountain climbing experience. The guides Amedeus and Rock and the rest of the team did an exceptional job looking after us, making sure we were safe, comfortable whilst giving us an insight into the Tanzanian culture. The cook Hussein also did an amazing job and cooked so many delicious meals! Amedeus made sure we were mentally ok and helped us carry out backpacks when were were physically exhausted! We had a private toilet which is highly, highly recommended. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and I couldn’t have done it without Amedeus and his team. It’s definitely an experience of a lifetime. We then had 2 days rest in Moshi where Erick and his team took time to show us around Moshi. Following which we went on a 6 day safari led by guide Emmanuel. We chose the luxury option and the accomodation and food were amazing, such a huge contrast to camping on the mountain! During the 6 days we visited Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Taragire. Emmanuel did a great job driving whilst making sure we were comfortable and spotting animals for us. I don’t know how he does it but he has such amazing eyesight, he could see animals we could barely see even with binoculars! We saw the big 5 and the highlight was witnessing 3 lions hunting some warthogs. Overall it was a fantastic and unforgettable trip. Erick and his team were very helpful from beginning to end. I can’t recommend Joining Safaris enough!

I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive to book a Kilimanjaro hike with Erick at first since I’ve never met him before, but his company came highly recommended by our GP friend Grace in Australia. Having arrived in Moshi we were looked after by Erick and his crew like VIPs. They made us feel very comfortable and safe in this foreign town. Erick even invited us over for a Sunday bbq at his home on the night of our arrival and we met German tourists as well as some friendly English medical students doing elective in the local hospital. Our Kilimanjaro hike took the 8-day Lemosho route. Our guides were Amadeus and Rock, both of whom were charismatic and caring, considerate gentlemen who took into account the sensitive needs of our female travel companions. The hike wasn’t easy; it was the toughest mountain climb I’ve ever undertaken but Amadeus’s team really looked after us like family and respected our privacy like we were the most precious guests in their country. The porters were equally kind and considerate and they went over and above their boundaries of duty to make us feel comfortable and looked after. Over the week’s hike it was not hard to fall in love with the guides and crew as they treated us like their own family and welcomed us to do the same. I would recommend Joining Safaris as a first choice to any of my colleagues and friends wanting to visit Kilimanjaro and Serengeti. They made me feel safe, comfortable and at home in Tanzania.