Soraka Tours is the Way to Go! - I would not consider any other tour group besides Soraka if I were to climb Kilimanjaro again. I love their attention to detail and will forever be spoiled from this trip alone. The food, camp preparation, and tour guides are hands down the best!

Awesome experience with Soraka - Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar - What an awesome experience we had in Tanzania with Soraka Tours! First up was an amazing 8 day climb up Mt Kilimanjaro. The guides, the porters, the food and the equipment was all top notch! Soraka also arranged and led a great 4 day safari in the Serengeti/Ngorongo Crater which also allowed us to spend a night in a tented camp in the middle of the Serengeti! We finished with a 4 day stop in Zanzibar, which was fabulous with pool time, snorkeling with dolphins and Stone Town. Overall, a wonderful experience and Soraka is highly recommended!

Friendly & Professional Staff Willing to go Above & Beyond - I climbed with my girlfriend and family, and we are all so thankful to Soraka for doing everything they possibly could to make out climbing experience an amazing one. Before the trip, communication was strong from Soraka. The company was proactive in describing what to expect on the climb and how to prepare in terms of both equipment and training, and promptly answered every question that I had. Sophia then checked our gear before we departed for the mountain to ensure that it was suitable - this went a long way toward helping us feel comfortable on the climb later on! On the climb itself, I quickly noticed that the staff was prepared to go above and beyond to make us comfortable and make our climb easier on us. We had three guides and upwards of thirty other staff accompanying our group of five climbers - and of those other staff, there were a number of specialized roles, including a chef who made us meals each day, a person to operate our handwashing station (which I noticed not every other tour company had), a waiter to deliver us our meals and give us coffee and tea in our tents each morning, and someone responsible for managing and cleaning our bathroom tents (which again not every company had). The guides and more verbal or climber-facing staff were all fluent in English, although all of them had some degree of competency in English. In all cases, they went above and beyond and truly seemed to wish to make our dream of summiting come true - and as a result, formed real bonds with myself and the other clients that have lasted since we left the mountain. Our equipment also seemed to be a step above the rest. We slept in large tents with particularly comfortable sleeping pads. Additionally, we ate our meals at a table in a very spacious "meal tent," for lack of a better term. It was also in this tent that we underwent medical checks in the morning before we departed for the day and in the evening before we went to sleep - checking our blood oxygen levels, checking our lungs for fluid, and running through a list of other signs of altitude sickness, exhaustion, and other impediments to the climb. Although my group did not encounter any difficulties at this stage, it is important to note that the guides come prepared with a number of potential remedies and adjustments that they can make to help a struggling climber. I strongly remember obtaining a diamox prescription before climbing in order to combat potential altitude sickness. And as for the experience of the climb overall - it was amazing. Over the eight days, you make your way through (I believe) four distinct ecological zones, which change due to the altitude and temperature differences, such that each day is new, interesting, and substantially different than all the others. Millions of years of changing weather and volcanic activity have made natural wonders that you explore on your way up the mountain, which ultimately makes it difficult to narrow down which pictures to show people afterwards because you'll end up with so many amazing ones! Summit night is challenging, there's no sugarcoating it, but if you are in reasonable health you are overwhelmingly likely to succeed (with the help of the guides and porters). Consider this - humans are some of the greatest distance travelers, evolutionarily speaking, in the history of the world. You are no exception - though the ~6hr ascent can feel physically taxing, if you are motivated to reach the summit, then it is extremely likely you will do so, and the challenge makes the reward that much sweeter.

An Unforgettable Climb with Soraka - Climbing Kilimanjaro with Soraka Tours was everything I hoped for and more. The crew went above and beyond—always positive, attentive, and professional—which made the 8-day journey a trip of a lifetime. The camping equipment was excellent, and I was especially grateful for the thick sleeping bag mattress that helped me get real rest at altitude. My guide paced the climb perfectly and led me to the summit just as the sun broke over the horizon. It was an incredible moment and one I’ll never forget. The team at Soraka Tours delivered a climb of my dreams and allowed me to safely and successfully summit Kilimanjaro.

Incredible and unforgettable experience! - This was my first experience traveling internationally to climb a mountain and of course was anxious as a solo female traveler but immediately upon arrival, I was put at ease and Soraka did all the leg work so that I can focus on being successful on my summit. The team of porters and guides were so supportive and knowledgeable and kind and they made it fun and always made me feel safe. I loved the group of hikers that I joined and the connection I made. All the little things, like hot water pouches to put in my sleeping bag to keep me warm, the thick sleeping pads that were so comfortable, tea every morning at my tent during wake up call, the slow pace of the guides, the songs they sang to keep up our spirits up during the longer treks - made the experience that much better. As an experienced backpacker who is used to roughing it and carrying a heavy pack and doing all the set up and cooking and cleaning, this was like glamping for me! Everything was done by the porters and it gave me time to rest and journal and take in my new environment and socialize and really reflect on my journey. I loved every moment of it and was so sad to say goodbye to everybody at the end. I want to come back and try a different route with this same team!

Kilimanjaro Will Change You - One year ago I committed to climb Kilimanjaro. I was joined by a longtime friend, my son, his girlfriend, and a new friend. I originally thought my goal was to summit Kilimanjaro. But as I trained I saw my body and mind begin a lasting transformation. I chose Soraka because my wife started this company after summitting Kilimanjaro 5 years ago and felt ab sort of life-calling. She was determined to provide fair wages to the porters while sharing ownership with Baraka (from Moshi), whose life had been as a porter and guide on Kilimanjaro. While I was prepared physically and geared-up, I couldn't have imagined what it's like to experience 50% oxygen, minimal sleep, cold, and what seemed like an ever-moving target (Kilimanjaro was always watching us, but never appeared to get closer). We laughed and cried our way to the roof of Africa! Normally I'm a do-it-myself kind of person. But I realized that one team really does help make one dream. Soraka was like a great professional photographer at a wedding. They were always there paying attention to the details, but made us feel like we were in charge of ourselves. They kept us safe and helped us reach our dream of summitting. Why is Soraka different? Well I think they have some big advantages over the competition. Sophia brings a woman's touch. Everything is just nicer and more comfy from the walk-in mess tent, to branded sleeping bag warmers, to 4 inch inflatable mats, to afternoon tea, to great food. Then there is the team. We had 35 helpers for our 5 person climb. On our summit night, our 3 guides were joined by 3 extra porters, just in case we needed help. Each morning we woke up to hot coffee delivered to our sleeping tent. We would have our morning medical check before breakfast. And then we would be checked again before dinner. Soraka was so amazing that one day a group of three students approached us and asked how tips worked. Since they were students, they had paid a stripped down price for their trip. But then came the shakedown. Their porters demanded a 30%+ tip. We compared notes and they were saying that our camp and team was obviously way better than theirs but were being pressured into paying money they didn't have. I learned that this is a strategy for some companies. They take a very small profit, offer no extras, short on safety, and don't pay their porters. Then at the end they use aggressive tactics to extort tips. At Soraka, we were told in advance what a good tip would be (about 10%). Each one of us felt great about our tips to the hardest working and most enjoyable people on earth, our porters. In fact, when we got home, we nearly doubled the tip. I cannot explain how this experience changed my life. I really believe that Soraka has a humanitarian vibe that infected me with pride and commitment to be a better person. Kilimanjaro is magic. Thank you Soraka!

Best in class - I am so grateful I found Soraka Tours for my Kilimanjaro adventures. They were attentive and responsive every step of the way and graciously accommodated a range of abilities on the mountain. As the slowest hiker in my group, I especially appreciated the respectful care the guides provided me to make sure I safely and successfully made it to each campsite. Soraka takes good care of their clients and their workers, and it shows up in a top-notch experience. Highly recommend!

An Experienced of a Lifetime! - Where do I even start with this review. Firstly, all communication was timely and concise. Everything from start to finish was impeccably done by Soraka tours. The owners really welcome you to Tanzania and make you feel like you're a part of their family. The porters and guides became family as we traversed up Kilimanjaro. Food was good. Service was 5 star. I highly recommend this company to make your climbing dreams come true!

An Unforgettable Tanzania Experience-- Kili, Safari and Zanzibar!!! - I had an amazing trip to Tanzania with Soraka Tours!!! The 8 day trek to the summit of Kili, the 2 day safari and the relaxing stay at The Mora Resort in Zanzibar were well planned and offered top notch service throughout. The owners, Sofia and Baraka (a local Tanzanian), gave us personal attention and took care of our every need. The guides and porters were amazing-- they looked out for our safety and ensured that we could summit!! The food was delicious and plentiful, the tents were spacious, the sleeping mats comfy and the private toilet was very useful. I highly recommend this tour company!!

The only company I'd reccomend for Kilimanjaro! - I HIGHLY recommend Soraka Tours for your Kilimanjaro trip. I used Soraka for my first time summiting Kilimanjaro (and first time to Africa). The trip blew my expectations away and I don't think I'd recommend anyone else!!! Every single member of the team was not only professional but also cared about my well being the entire time. They provided services like giving you tea when you wake up in the AM, providing home cooked meals, getting you water when you needed it... and all with a smile. I knew that we'd have porters to carry our bags, but the level of customer service was BEYOND!!!! I also got the chance to speak with some of Soraka's team members one on one and they all said how Soraka was the best Kilimajaro trekking company they've ever worked for. Soraka treats its works with ethics, care, and respect. They dont just talk the talk, they walk the walk when it comes to treating their workers fairly and with dignity. Sophia is not always on trips with every group, but if i ever had an issues, she always took care of it. And even then, her team always took my issues seriously and make right. I always felt like someone was looking out for my wellbeing, even when doing something as intense as the 8-day Lemosho Route. Also, Soraka Team does a great job of adjusting for people of different abilities. Our group was a mix of athletes, people who casually hike, and everyone in between. They were really good about adjusting to every individuals needs, always checking our O2 levels and ensuring no one was left behind. They also could keep up with the more athletic folks in the group (e.g., splitting groups as needing during hikes to focus on those who needed it most). For those worried about not being "super athletes" and just "regular people", Soraka is a good fit. Plus, if supporting a black woman owned business is important to you, this is the ONE!!! Sophia creates an incredible experience and truly runs an ethical company. 12/10 all around. I have no complaints.