The Legal Stuff
By booking a climb with Team Kilimanjaro, while we hope you will thoroughly enjoy the convenience of having to deal with only one small, tight-knit team, nonetheless, because of the way pertinent laws apply differently in each country, a number of different legal entities are involved:
History of "Team Kilimanjaro"
Team Kilimanjaro was originally started as a sole tradership in the UK in June 2004, four years after John first speed-climbed Kilimanjaro from the park gate to the summit in under 13 hours. For the first few months of operations TK relied on subcontracting the services of a local, long-established, Arusha-based trekking operation to provide Kilimanjaro guiding services to John's clients.
It quickly became clear, however, that using this operational model it would not be possible to deliver services in line with John's expectations on behalf of his climbers. The following year John therefore returned to Tanzania to sponsor a new trekking operation and to recruit, train and coordinate the members of staff employed by this locally incorporated company himself, and to provide his own expedition equipment for the expeditions operated by this new local team.
Arien Lifestyle Limited
With the growth in the size of the operation and the necessity to obtain access to more efficient banking services, Team Kilimanjaro, the brand that was established in 2004, was eventually no longer operated as a sole tradership. Arien Lifestyle Limited (named after John's firstborn child who first summited Kilimanjaro at the age of just 9 years) was therefore established as a limited company, incorporated in the UK with company number 11217578 and VAT number GB 288975812 - retaining the original brand / trading name of "Team Kilimanjaro".
VAT - Since the place of delivery of service (East Africa) that clients purchase is outside the United Kingdom and the EU member states (see VAT Notice 700, paragraph 22.4.3), no VAT is chargeable on the services purchased, and Arien Lifestyle Limited is required only to charge VAT on their coordinating services billed to the local Arusha-based company, Kilimanjaro Team Limited.
With Arien Lifestyle Limited being based in the UK climbers benefit from competitive UK banking conditions, and may pay for their climb or safari by bank transfer in any of the following currencies, without having to pay any commission or forex costs, and Arien will ensure that the price you pay reflects the live Interbank rates applicable on the day you are invoiced for the payment:
- Pounds Sterling - GBP
- United States Dollars - USD
- Euros - EUR
- Australian Dollars - AUD
- Canadian Dollars - CAD
- South African Rands - ZAR
Our Suppliers
When booking a climb with Team Kilimanjaro, we in turn subcontract the services of Kilimanjaro Team Limited, a locally-incorporated company based in Arusha, Tanzania, who in turn obtains the services of accommodation and transport providers, licensed mountain guides, cooks, porters and safari guides.
Our expedition coordinators will commonly refer to our suppliers collectively and Arien Lifestyle Limited corporately as "we", or "Team Kilimanjaro", even though the aforementioned organisations exist as separate and distinct legal entities with different owners, directors and shareholders.
Package Holidays
Arien Lifestyle Limited are not travel agents or Air Traffic Organisers, and do not sell package holidays. Clients of "Team Kilimanjaro" are required to obtain their own flights. They may either book their own hotels or have these booked by the local supplier, Kilimanjaro Team Limited.
Following Frank John's sad passing away in March 2022, some former climbers have requested the opportunity to contribute towards helping Frank's surviving wife, Clara, cover the costs for the family.
Several years ago, Team Kilimanjaro were approached by representatives of the Maasai community that live close to the Lake Natron region of northern Tanzania, with a request to assist villagers in obtaining clean water.
It is estimated that since the turn of the previous century, the world has lost more than 99% of its rhino population, and that today, only 29,000 of these majestic creatures survive.
Wilderness first aid is the knowledge and ability to effectively address injuries, illnesses, or emergencies outside of modern facilities, out in the wild. Skills include knowing how to dress a wound, treat a burn or bite, or set an injured limb. These are important skills that can save your life or the lives of other outdoor enthusiasts. Learn more and be better prepared for your next hiking or backpacking adventure.
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Many people spend a lot of time and money training and equipping themselves for a Kilimanjaro climb, only to fail in their objective of reaching the summit. Failure is avoidable and we really want trekkers to understand how to prevent it.
As from March 2021, PCR testing (or rather, sample-taking) is now available at Seronera and Ndutu airstrips in the Serengeti. This facility has been implemented to prevent clients having to either curtail their safaris or dissect their safaris with a journey to Arusha or, more recently, Karatu (FAME Hospital), mid-safari - so as to satisfy the "less than 72 hours old" validity rule that most airlines are required to enforce.
Arusha Pedal Series club aims to organise a group ride three times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, and Saturdays. All keen cyclists are welcome to join.
We read widely divergent estimates of deaths on Kilimanjaro, but how dangerous is it really? In this post we share our own experience of the dangers.
First of all - you can definitely still climb Kilimanjaro during COVID-19! There is absolutely no impediment within Tanzania. Issues only potentially arise with your own country's rules.
Although there is no requirement to have a PCR test for COVID in order to enter Tanzania, many climbers are nonetheless required by their airline to show evidence of a negative COVID test before boarding the flight home.
This following information is provided to reassure prospective climbers that there is a straightforward way to enjoy the incredible tourism and adventurous opportunities that Tanzania offers, while ensuring that returning home afterwards is stress-free.