Arusha
Treks and safaris in Tanzania are organized with local companies that provide fantastic logistical support. Make no mistake about it, it's the local team that is the most important aspect in a successful trip.
Here is the team of the company Big Expeditions, with whom I had the pleasure to work during my two years of guiding in African territory. Maybe you think there are lots of people, but in fact the photo shows only a small part of the whole team.
For a trek to Mount Kilimanjaro, there is an average of four or five local workers for each traveller. So, if I go with a group of nine people, the local team assisting us is made of 40 people ((9 travellers + 1 guide) * 4 workers). Among the team, there are 1 head guide, 1-2 guides, 1-2 cooks, 1 setting up tents, 1 in charge of the toilets, and the porters. There are some overlaps, for example, the person setting up the tent is also a porter.
Here is the lodge where the group of travellers stay when they arrive in Tanzania. It's a very comfortable place, but only for the first night. The next day, we start trekking to Mount Meru and nights are in alpine huts.
After Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, we come back to this place for a well deserved overnight rest.
With a few groups, I visited these waterfalls in the suburb of Arusha.
It's a short half-day trek to warm us up before climbing Mount Meru.
