Fair Voyage operates all Kilimanjaro climbs according to highest safety standards:
- Experience and training of guides and mountain crew: All our guides have many years of experience and usually guided over one hundred groups and hundreds of climbers to the summit safely. We invest significantly in our guides, such that all our climbs are normally led by Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified guides (with limited exceptions only in case of uniquely tailored climbs with particular requirements on climber request and always shared transparently with you). Furthermore, our mountain crew undergoes regular safety training such as First Aid, CPR and COVID-19 safety procedures.
- Fair treatment = alignment of interests: Because our mountain crew enjoys fair employment and working conditions, is well trained and love what they do, they only have your best interest in mind—to provide you with an enjoyable and safe experience. Your safety is their priority. Guiding you to the summit is their passion, bringing you back down safely is their mission.
- Safety equipment: We carry customary safety equipment such as a pulse oximeter, emergency oxygen and a first aid kid on every single climb, as well as a Gamow bag if your climb involves an overnight stay at Crater Camp. We do not consider custom stretchers necessary for your safety because faster wheeled stretchers and porters are readily available on the mountain, but are happy to upgrade your climb with a custom stretcher for your comfort. Most importantly, our guides have the necessary training to use all equipment and interpret your pulse oximeter readings.
- Daily safety checks and briefings: Our guides perform daily safety checks and record your measures (heart rate, blood oxygen, symptoms of altitude sickness and personal state) on your personal tracking sheet. Beyond the routine safety checks, our guides are constantly looking out for you and watching out for any signs of altitude sickness.
- Setting the right pace: Walking slowly is key to ascending safely and minimize the risks of altitude sickness. Athletic and ambitious climbers have the natural tendency to walk too fast. By keeping you to a slow and steady pace, making regular breaks, and reminding you to stay hydrated, our guides not only know but—more importantly—enforce what it takes to minimize your risks of altitude sickness.
- Continuous safety checks while walking: Furthermore, Kilimanjaro climbers have the tendency to underplay when they are not feeling well because of a tendency to “be strong” and not complain, as well as forgetting in the thin air that descending safely is always more important than reaching the summit. Through observing your behavior, facial expressions and through casual dialogue, our guides are experts in detecting your true state and constantly watching out how well you are adjusting to the thin air. Nevertheless, it is also your responsibility to always be honest with your guide.
- Safe guide-to-climber ratio: You will always have at least two guides for groups of two climbers or more, and at least one guide for every two climbers. This ensures that there are always enough guides to split the group when necessary, especially to assist climbers with descent when in their best interest, whilst allowing other climbers to proceed with their summit ascend.
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