Climbing the summit of the highest mountain in Africa is not a task for the faint of heart. Each year more than 60,000 people gather from all around the world and try to ascent to the top. But not everyone succeeds in doing so, as it is purely a test of your determination and will.

The climb will be an experience of a lifetime, and a large part of your success will also depend on the tour agent you choose from. You should be very cautious before booking, and here is a list of some red flags which you have to look out before settling for a tour agent.

They Offer To Provide You The Cheapest Packages:

Kilimanjaro is a popular climbing destination which attracts thousands of tourists attempting to reach the summit each year. This has resulted in several hundreds of operators offering similar services competing for business. To lure in more customers, they provide rock bottom prices and ‘cheap’ packages.

Due to the prices being so low and to maintain profits, these budget-friendly agents often cut on quality standards and safety. They hire cheap and uncertified porters who are inexperienced to guide you to the top, they also lacking proper customer training and treat you bad which ruins the experience in the end.

Remember that your trip to Kili is one of a lifetime experience, and if you fail to reach the top all of your money and effort is wasted. Never cut corners risking your life and money.

They Refuse To Tell You Entirely About The Trip:

Now that you have found an agent try to research all about them and their company on social media sites and read reviews from people who have previously booked trips from them. Contact the company and inquire about even the tiniest detail of where you will stay, list of equipment provided, and if the gear has been properly serviced and certified.

Find out how an actual trip to the mountain is like and then try to compare the services they offer. You may find a lot about successful treks to the top of the mountain here.

Keep a close eye on how much information they share with you, if they try to avoid answers then maybe they are hiding something. A good agent should always be open and transparent about how things run.

If you book your trip from a local agent after you arrive, you can get great discounts as you can now directly communicate and negotiate at their office. You can also check out different companies by yourself. Keep in mind that good operators may be pre-booked on your preferred date, so you may have to do some running.