Our Resources page is a must-read for all our travelers and it is aimed at preparing, informing and providing Wanderlust adventurers a reason to be excited about their travels. The right preparation, providing accurate facts and information are the most commonly overlooked joys of traveling on most adventure trips. From essential reading to adequate travel insurance and appropriate clothing to training guidelines for the type of trips we operate, we’ve got you covered.
Canadian, Australian, British and most European passport holders can obtain Tanzania visas upon arrival at the airport. The cost of a Tanzanian visa is $50, payable in US dollars. Confirm with your embassy. All travelers seeking to enter Tanzania should be in possession of a valid passport, at least six months prior to expiration.
The most affordable, yet convenient flight from the Northern Hemisphere is to fly via Amsterdam on a direct KLM flight to Kilimanjaro. KLM often run deals on this flight, which can be accessed through Wanderlust Adventures’ flight consolidation partner company, Tourcan Vacations Inc, Toronto. For trekkers in Europe, UK and the US, the easiest thing to do is to fly from a major local airport hub near you to Amsterdam and then catch the KLM connecting flight to Kilimanjaro.
An adventure vacation should bring you more memories and less worries. To ensure this, we have made travel insurance always mandatory on all Wanderlust Adventures trips. Should you need to cancel your trip due to illness (either yourself, an immediate family member, or a traveling companion) or for emergency medical care, evacuation, or baggage loss, travel insurance policy is your savior.
Wanderlust recommends all participants to have a medical check prior to booking a trip to Kilimanjaro. Ask your physician if high altitude trekking is permissible for your age, fitness level and health condition. Ask if any pre-existing medical conditions could cause problems in altitude or not. Ask if any of your medications can affect altitude acclimatization. Ask whether Diamox can be taken with your existing prescription medicines.
For efficiency and in our on-going effort to help protect the environment by reducing the need for printed papers, we have posted the trip booking forms, medical questionnaires and other relevant documents. Download, complete and save in your computer or/and have them e-mailed to us.
Yes, it’s all about the fine print. It is important to highlight these fine print stuff to ensure that our travelers are well informed of their (and ours too) obligations and responsibilities. We want you to be well informed all the way, from the investigation and research stage of your trip, the booking process, payment and cancellation deadlines, the trip itself and even what happens upon returning home.
These are much more than just an overused marketing slogans these days. But, we truly mean it and we work hard to change the enterprise-style travel business and engage travelers with powerful and meaningful real travel experiences and always give back. Just look at some of the wonderful initiatives Wanderlust Adventure trips include in their trips.
We love them. Prior to becoming adventure outfitters, we were travel agents ourselves. We know the nitty-gritty and the hard work a travel agent puts in when selling trips. Wanderlust Adventures is fully committed to supporting travel agents. We provide a competitive commission structure for most trips, unsurpassed destination knowledge and customer service. We aim to make your job as profitable and enjoyable as possible.
We want to help fellow travelers to get up to date and precise travel information when planning an adventure vacation. Some of the selected links available in this page can be useful for your travel planning. Including searching for maps, visa requirements or weather forecasts, our compiled list will help answer your pre-trip questions.
All travelers seeking to enter Tanzania should be in possession of a valid passport, at least six months prior to expiration. The passport is to be presented to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point: border station or airport. The passport must be presented along with one of the following:
All foreigners from non-Commonwealth countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have agreements with Tanzania under which the visa requirement is waived. Exemptions: Citizens of Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visas unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, or India. The visa is permission granted to a foreigner who intends to travel to Tanzania on business, for a holiday, to study or conduct research, or for other approved activities. When entering Tanzania, the visitor with a visa may then obtain from the immigration control officer, a pass or any other authority to enter the country.
Visas are issued by the following:
At Kilimanjaro Airport, passengers disembark their flights outside on the tarmac. Upon entering the airport, there is one line for visitors who have their visas and one line for visitors who need to purchase their visas.To avoid potential loss of passports in the mail or delays in visa processing, Wanderlust Adventures recommends that Canadian citizens obtain their visas upon arrival, at Kilimanjaro International Airport. It is an easy and simple process. The cost of a Tanzanian visa is $50, payable in US dollars. Confirm with your local embassy for additional information.
Finding cheap flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport is not an easy task because not many airlines fly to JRO, the IATA code for Kilimanjaro Airport.
In this short article we’ve outlined how to get to Kilimanjaro safely, affordably and within a sociable timeframe!
This article is most relevant to United Kingdom and United States readers, but can equally be used by Europeans and travellers from Southern Africa, Australia, Asia and South America.
FLIGHTS TO KILIMANJARO, EXPLAINED!
To get to Kilimanjaro you need to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (IATA code is JRO). The airport, shown on the map below, is situated south-west of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park and is nearly equidistant from the two main towns, Arusha and Moshi. Most trekkers spend the night before their Kilimanjaro climb in Moshi, which is about a 45 minute drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
It is possible to fly into Arusha airport, but this is a small domestic airport that only receives internal flights and a few connecting flights from Kenya.
Sadly there are not many direct International flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), and none from the United States or Canada.
The most affordable, yet convenient flight for most prospective trekkers from the Northern Hemisphere is to fly from Amsterdam on a direct KLM flight to Kilimanjaro.
This flight departs Amsterdam around 10:00am everyday and arrives at Kilimanjaro International Airport around 20:30pm the same day.
KLM often run deals on this flight, which can be accessed through our Air Consolidation partner company, Tourcan Vacations Inc, Toronto.
For trekkers in Europe, UK and the US, the easiest thing to do is to fly from a major local airport hub near you to Amsterdam (most major airports in Europe, UK and the US have flights to Amsterdam), and then catch the KLM to JRO connecting flight.
Kenyan Airways and Ethiopian Airways
In terms of indirect flights to major African airport hubs near Kilimanjaro International Airport, your best option is either Kenyan Airways or Ethiopian Airways, who both operate routes from major United Kingdom, United States, European and some Southern Hemisphere airports. These flights go via Nairobi (in Kenya) and Addis Ababa (in Ethiopia) respectively. Once at these airports it is relatively easy to catch a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Connecting airlines include Kenyan Airways, Precision Air and Ethiopian Airways. A major downside of this route are the long delays and more worryingly, frequent reports of lost or delayed baggage, which can really mess up a trekking schedule.
British Airways
British Airways operate a route from London, UK to Nairobi, but this flight tends to be quite expensive
From Southern Africa
From Southern Africa there are many airlines that will get you to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam or Addis Ababa including South African Airways, Kenyan Airways and Emirates.
Qatar
A new international route direct to Kilimanjaro International Airport is operated by Qatar via Doha. For British citizens living near London or Manchester this can work pretty well as there is an option of travelling from both UK airports to Doha. The route also works well for trekkers living in the Middle East, India and Eastern Europe. Unfortunately layovers can be quite lengthy.
Turkish Airlines
Finally, Turkish Airlines are the newest operator with direct flights to Kilimanjaro. Flights are via Istanbul, which is great for anyone living in Europe or the Middle East. The flight times however, are rather anti-social, with the flight arriving at Kilimanjaro at 02:00am and departing, if you are taking the same airline back at 03:00am! Prices tend to be cheaper than other airlines though, so this option may be worth considering if you are on a tight budget. However, with an arrival at 02:00am, any gains in a cheaper flight will most likely be lost in the cost of an extra hotel night that will be required unless you want to tackle Kilimanjaro jet-lagged and sleep deprived (not recommended!!). This route doesn’t run every day either.
CONCLUSION
So there you have it. There are a few options for flights to Kilimanjaro, but all, except arguably the KLM flight from Amsterdam, are a little inconvenient. That being said, the pain of travel is far outweighed by the pleasure of reaching the Roof of Africa!
Travel insurance is always mandatory on all Wanderlust Adventures should you need to cancel your trip due to illness (either yourself, an immediate family member, or a traveling companion) or for emergency medical care, evacuation, or baggage loss.
When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Your insurance policy will need to be sighted by your leader on day one of your trip. Failure to do so will mean exclusion from the trip. Please ensure you have your policy number and emergency telephone number for your insurance company. If this is unavailable please ensure you have the necessary information required by your insurance company in case of an emergency.
You may take advantage of Manulife’s CoverMe Travel Protection Plan for Canadian travellers especially designed for Wanderlust Adventures or you can purchase other insurance on your own.
The following information was obtained from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.
Routine Vaccines
Be sure that you are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Main Vaccines to Consider for Tanzania and Rest of East Africa
You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health provider about which ones are right for you.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person. All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) should get vaccinated.
Influenza
Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Get the flu shot.
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly illness spread to humans through a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. Vaccination should be considered for travellers going to areas where rabies exists and who have a high risk of exposure (i.e., close contact with animals, occupational risk, and children). Rabies, pre-exposure vaccination, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities.
Typhoid
Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors.
Malaria
There is a risk of Malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in Tanzania. Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no vaccine against malaria. Protect yourself from mosquito bites. This includes covering up, using insect repellent and staying in enclosed air-conditioned accommodations. You may also consider pre-treating clothing and travel gear with insecticides and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bednet. Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. See a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before you travel to discuss your options. All travelers should take one of the following drugs:
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito. Travellers get vaccinated either because it is recommended for their protection.
Risk
Country Entry Requirement*
Recommendation
* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.
Food and Waterborne Diseases
Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. Food and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout East Africa and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis).
Stay Healthy Tips
Do’s
If no screening or air conditioning is available: use a pyrethroid-containing spray in living and sleeping areas during evening and night-time hours; sleep under bed nets, preferably insecticide-treated ones.
Dont’s
Concerns About Ebola Virus?
You have probably heard the news about the ongoing Ebola epidemic in Africa. As of January 5, 2015, there have been approximately 20,600 reported cases, with nearly 100% of these cases originating in West Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia).
There is virtually zero risk of exposure to Ebola while in Tanzania. As the map below illustrates (Courtesy Safari Bookings), the outbreak is many thousands of miles away. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids. Infected people are not contagious during the incubation period, and only become contagious with the onset of symptoms. Therefore people who are most at risk are health care workers and families of infected people, not tourists.
While we understand your concern and care for your safety, it is safe to continue with your Kilimanjaro plans until further notice. We will monitor the situation very closely and notify our clients of any changes.
If any confirmed cases of Ebola arise in Tanzania, we will allow clients to reschedule their climb without any penalty for up to a full year later. Therefore, you can book with confidence!
For efficiency in serving our valued clients and in our on-going effort to help protect the environment by reducing the need for printed papers, we have posted the trip booking forms, medical questionnaires and other relevant documents here in PDF format. They can be downloaded, complete and save in your computer or/and have them e-mailed to us. Print them only if necessary.
Yes, it’s all about the small print. we certainly know it is important to highlight these fine print stuff to ensure that our travelers are well informed of their (and ours too) obligations and responsibilities. We want you to be well informed all the way, right from the investigation and research stage of your trip, the booking process, payment and cancellation deadlines, the trip itself, the liability concerns, unforeseen emergencies and even what happens upon returning home.
The conditions that govern the purchase of a tour package, whether Air & Land combined or Land Only as listed in this web site constitutes a contractual agreement between Wanderlust Adventures and the customer and implies your acceptance of all Wanderlust Adventures terms and conditions as stated herein. Please ensure you read them carefully and understand these terms and conditions prior to booking.
Call OR E-mail us to check availability
Due to the complex nature of our trips that require consultation with our adventure experts, we do not offer the online booking option. Besides, our groups are always small – sometimes very small – and they can fill quickly, so contact us to check availability.
Reserve your spot
When signing on to one of our adventures, you agree to sign our Acceptance of Terms & Conditions Form, which states that you and your party have read and understand the important information on these pages, including a release of liability prior to and/or during your trip. Your reservation is neither guaranteed nor considered complete if we do not receive an Acceptance of Terms & Conditions form from you.
Receive confirmation letter & Trip forms
You will receive a confirmation letter upon booking, along with a reading list prepared exclusively for your expedition. You will also receive an insurance form and a copy of the trip dossier (if any) detailing the services we offer, as well as booking forms requesting additional vital information.
Pay Final balance
Your final balance will be automatically charged to your credit card in file unless you advice us prior to the final balance due date indicating you prefer to pay by personal check.
Receive your Pre-Departure Briefing & preparation materials: Your Pre-Departure Briefing will arrive approximately two to three months prior to your trip. This booklet will inform you on how to prepare for your trip, what to bring, what to leave home and what to expect. It will be accompanied by further material that will help you prepare for your expedition. We send your Pre-Departure Briefing electronically!
Final Documents
Receive your courier package with electronic copies of air tickets, insurance certificate if purchased from us, important list of contacts to leave at home and other goods approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure.
PRICING:
To offer the lowest and most competitive pricing for our clients, all of our trips are priced according to the minimum/maximum number of full-price participants on the trip. Wanderlust Adventures staff if any, our family members or guests of our company such as travel writers, photographers, trip leaders-in-training are not factored in the sales prices featured. Prices are quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD$) as well as United States Dollars (US$), unless otherwise indicated, and are based upon the prices of service providers, exchange rate, cost of fuel, taxes and other fees in force at time of preparation of the programs.
All prices are valid upon date of publication and are subject to change without notice because the trip dates and prices have often been published more than a year in advance. Between that time and the time of the trip’s actual departure, we are occasionally faced with exceptional cost increases or currency fluctuations that we cannot absorb. We do everything we can to keep our prices the same as published. Unless the customer has paid in full, all prices may be increased at any time and for any of the above reasons. Where there is an increase in the total price of the Travel Services after a deposit has been paid and the cumulative increase, except any increase resulting from an increase in retail sales tax or federal goods and services tax, is more than 7 per cent the customer has the right to cancel the contract and obtain a full refund. Please note that for trips in certain areas of the world such as Europe, Patagonia and for some trips in Asia, prices are always seasonal. In such cases, the prices quoted in our web pages may just be indicative estimates only and are not final. It is your responsibility to check back with us for accurate final pricing.
PRICE INCLUDES
Airfare: Applicable on Air & Land combined packages only.
Meeting/Assistance/Transfers/Porters: Airport / Hotel round-trip transfers at all destinations and includes one suitcase per person. Some Land Only programs does not include transfers, unless specified otherwise. Such clients will join/leave our trips at the first and the last hotel in the itinerary.
Accommodation: Most accommodations in our programs are based on double sharing occupancy. A single supplement is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations, subject to availability. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate. However, if a roommate is not available, the forced single supplement as advertised in this site will be charged.
Meals: Meals as per itineraries
Local Guide & Fees: Professional English-speaking local guide(s)
Wanderlust Trip Leaders: Accompanying trip leaders are generally included for all departures with a minimum of 8 persons per trip departure.
Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: By motor coach and entrance fees as per itinerary.
Services Charges & Taxes: All taxes charged by local governments on services, which are part of the program, are included except those imposed by airport authorities (Navigation fees, airport improvement fees for Toronto, other related taxes/fees, Canadian Air Travelers Security Charge, Airline insurance fee).
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Personal expenses: Telephone, Wi-fi and data port charges at some hotels, meals and drinks, unless otherwise specified in the itinerary.
Tips: To guide(s) driver(s) and hotel personnel.
Insurance: At time of deposit, customers may purchase travel insurance as indicated on registration form.
Wanderlust Adventures exclusively works with its associate company, Tourcan Vacations Inc. They operate a full-time air travel department to assist our guests with air transportation needs from their home cities to the starting point of their trip, plus any required additional travel services. Some guests prefer to do them on on their own and online in search of cheaper rates. This is indeed recommended. These online sites and air travel companies often gain last-minute fares or “special” deals that cannot be obtained directly through our services. We encourage our guests to do their research and select the booking method that best suits their needs.
DEPOSITS & FINAL PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
A nonrefundable deposit of $300-600.00 per person (depends on the trip style and destination of the trip), is required at time of booking. Wanderlust Adventures office must receive final payment 60 days prior to departure. Reservations made less than 60 days prior departure date must be accompanied by payment in full. If final payment is not received within the required period, Wanderlust Adventures reserves the right to cancel any such reservations without prior notice and levy applicable cancellation fees. Some Adventure trips require final payment 90- 120 days prior to departure. Please ask your Adventure Specialist.
RESERVATIONS/DEPOSIT/CONFIRMATION:
Reservations are strictly personal and must be accompanied by a deposit or payment in full before they can be considered confirmed.
PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD:
Verbal authorization given by travel agents or customers to Wanderlust Adventures for the use of a credit card confirms the reservation, whether or not the registration form is signed at that time. Signed copies of Credit Card Authorization Forms must be in our possession before final documents will be issued.
PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE:
We occasionally offer savings should you prefer to pay us by cheque. Please contact us or refer to the Pricing page of each trip for more information. Cheques should be written in favour of our associate company, Tourcan Vacations Inc with a note ” Wanderlust………………………………………….(name of the tour) tour”. In order to offer these savings, the final payment cheque should be received by our office by the date of final payment due. (Shown in your invoice). Should we do not receive your cheque on time, we will proceed to charge the balance payment on the credit card on file.
CHARGES FOR CHANGES:
Changes to a reservation: Subject to a $50 change fee outside of 60 days of departure. Within 60 days of departure cancellation penalties will apply.
Changes to the itinerary: Any changes to itinerary are subject to a $ 25.00 fee per change.
Change in the room occupancy:
If any change made by one or more customers alters the basis of room occupancy, rates will be adjusted to reflect true room occupancy status.
Change in customer’s name:
Changes of customer names will be treated as a cancellation and cancellation fees will apply.
Changes made subsequent to departure date:
Charges will apply for any changes in customer reservations (subject to availability) subsequent to the departure date.
CANCELLATION CHARGES:
Charges will apply in the event of any cancellation. No Services either cancelled or unused subsequent to departure. Insurance premiums are non-refundable, in whole or in part, whether cancelled before or after the departure date. The day of departure is excluded when calculating cancellation or change fees. All cancellation fees must be calculated based on the total amount of the products and Travel Services purchased. Wanderlust Adventures reserves the right to cancel a booking where any payment is not received by its due date ( 60 day prior to departure).
CANCELLATION BEFORE DEPARTURE DATE:
If cancellation is necessary, please advise Wanderlust Adventures in writing.
Cancellations
**Plus any unrecoverable deposits paid to airlines or overseas suppliers.
FULLY OR PARTIALLY UNUSED SERVICES(AFTER DEPARTURE):
No refunds will be made for any unused portion of an itinerary including accommodation, sightseeing, cruises, transfers, meals, international or domestic flights with or without notice unless cancelled or missed by the supplier.
FLIGHTS AND CARRIERS (Applies to Air & Land Inclusive Programs Only):
Customers acknowledge and accept the following
Changes: Flights offered by Wanderlust Adventures and its air travel consolidator partners are conducted in accordance with the applicable tariffs of the air carrier and pursuant to regulations set out by the Canadian Transportation Agency. All such flights and rates are also subject to approval by the relevant government authorities. Consolidations and changes in the published schedule, aircraft type, days of operation, air carrier providing air transportation and flight itinerary may be undertaken at any time and without prior notice, in accordance with the air carrier’s tariffs.
Schedule Check and Connecting Flights: Flight schedules are subject to change without notice. Customers having purchased air only must reconfirm their return flight within 24 to 72 hours prior to the scheduled take-off time. Wanderlust Adventures undertakes to notify customers reasonably in advance through means it deems appropriate of any schedule changes resulting in the advancement or delay of the flight departure times or in case of cancellation of a flight. Whenever customers book connecting flights, they must allow sufficient time to make their connection. No control can be exercised over air carriers to guarantee flight schedules, which may be altered or affected by various circumstances. Wanderlust Adventures will not be liable for any change of schedule or a missed flight connection, including any additional fees incurred and special, incidental or consequential damages (including the carriage of baggage) arising from the foregoing, whether or not it had the knowledge that such additional fees or damages might be incurred.
Airport check-in: It is recommended that customers arrive at the airport check-in counter at least 3 hours prior to departure. Failing this, their reservation may be cancelled and their seats assigned to other customers, with no right of recourse.
Seat assignment: Unless already pre-assigned, staff at the air carrier’s check-in counter conducts aircraft seating.
Other applicable conditions: Air transportation is subject to all applicable government regulations and is governed by the Montreal Convention, or the Warsaw Convention as the case may be, the applicable tariffs of the air carrier as well as the conditions of contract appearing on the airline ticket. Any amendments or changes to the applicable air carrier’s general terms and conditions of carriage once filed with and approved by federal regulatory authorities, are not subject to additional public notice and are legally binding.
Refusal to transport: Removal of passengers: Wanderlust Adventures shall not be liable for refusal by itself or the air carrier to transport a passenger nor for the cancellation of a reserved space or removal of a passenger due to, but not limited to, safety reasons, to prevent the violation of any applicable laws of any country or to prevent any hazard or risk to such passenger, to any other person or property, or to the flight.
VALIDITY OF AIR TICKETS (Applies to Air & Land Inclusive Programs Only):
Tickets are made out in the name of the customer and are not transferable. Tickets are valid only on the dates and flights indicated unless informed otherwise at the time of booking. Unused portions of tickets may not be used for travel on other flights and are not subject to a refund at any time.
BAGGAGE ON FLIGHTS:
Limits: Air carriers have individual rules and regulations with respect to baggage weight, size and number. Customers must consult with the travel agent for applicable restrictions.
Liability: The provisions of the Montreal Convention, or the Warsaw Convention as the case may be, the applicable tariffs of the air carrier, as well as the notice appearing on the passenger ticket and baggage check, govern the loss of and damage to baggage and establish the limits of air carrier’s liability. Baggage lost or damaged while boarding or disembarking a ship must be reported to the Purser’s office prior to the ship’s departure from port or prior to leaving the local customs area. Passengers’ baggage and property are transported, stored and handled at owner’s risk at all times.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
It is the full responsibility of customers to obtain at their own expense all necessary travel documents required by all relevant government authorities, including all ports of call, and to comply with the laws thereof. Passports will be required for all air and sea travel to or from all destinations and may have to be valid for six months beyond the date of the expected return to Canada. Canadian Citizens born in certain countries may require a visa in addition to a valid passport. A permanent resident card will be required for permanent residents/landed immigrants who are not Canadian citizens. One (1) parent traveling with a child under age 18 may have to obtain a notarized letter of consent signed by the parent not traveling. Customers are responsible for checking which documents are required, and then make certain that they have the necessary documents in hand prior to departure. The carrier or relevant authorities, without further recourse or the possibility of a refund, may deny customers boarding privileges failing to provide the required documents. Entry to another country may also be refused even if the required information and travel documents are complete. No refund or replacement will be given for lost or stolen travel documents. Wanderlust Adventures shall not be liable for any aid or information given by its employees or the travel agent in connection with obtaining any necessary travel documents or complying with any laws, whether given orally, in writing or otherwise, or for the consequences suffered by any customer resulting from his/her failure to obtain such documents or to comply with such laws.
CUSTOMER ADVISORY:
Some events are part of normal unpleasant occurrences, which can happen when traveling abroad. The customer realizes this, solely assumes the consequences thereof and agrees that Wanderlust Adventures cannot be held responsible for any damages owing to such occurrences.
Living Standards: Customers are asked to bear in mind and accept that living standards and practices at the destination, and the conditions there with respect to the provision of utilities, services and accommodations, may differ from those found in Canada.
Service disruptions: Some services including water, electricity, air-conditioning, security, sanitary conditions, pools, food, beverages and other services or benefits may be suspended or interrupted partially or completely during the customer’s stay. Likewise, depending on the occupancy rate of hotels, ‘ la Carte dining may be replaced by buffet or vice-versa.
Food, water and beverages: The food, water and beverages may not be up to North-American standards. Accordingly, customers assume sole responsibility for any illness suffered while abroad or upon return owing to the quality of the food, water and beverages.
ROOM ALLOCATION:
Hoteliers are solely responsible for room allocation, in accordance with the category reserved by customers. Should customers choose to alter their room category upon arrival at destination (upon availability), they must make their own arrangements with the hotelier and assume all additional fees levied by them.
CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT CONDITIONS:
Customers acknowledge and accept that hoteliers, in accordance with international standards, request that occupants check in between noon and 3 PM and check out by noon on the scheduled day of departure or by noon on the day immediately preceding a late night departure.
CUSTOMERS REQUIRING ASSISTANCE AND CARE AND WHILE TRAVELLING
All customers requiring special care, assistance, attention or treatment must advise Wanderlust Adventures and the air carrier of any and all specific needs at the time of booking, in order to arrange air transportation, hotel and tour accommodations.
CHANGES TO TRAVEL SERVICES:
If confirmed goods or Travel Services are no longer available prior to the departure date or subsequent to arrival at destination, Wanderlust Adventures reserves the right to substitute them for comparable goods or Travel Services, or, alternatively, to cancel them.
Changes to a coach tour itinerary: Wanderlust Adventures and the participating coach tour operator reserve the right to cancel, alter or re-schedule any timing, to omit one or more stops, to substitute alternative itineraries or to otherwise amend the coach tour content of these holidays with or without prior notice to the passenger.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Health: Customers, whose physical condition so requires, must ensure that they have a sufficient quantity of any required medication with them, and that they carry such medication in their hand baggage at all times. Customers must also consult competent medical authorities prior to departure about preventive medical measures as regards to the countries to be visited.
Activities: Wanderlust Adventures cannot be held responsible for any accident or mishap occurring at the destination during the practice of activities in which the customers participate of their own free will and initiative.
Trip Ratings: Trip members have the responsibility to select a trip appropriate to their abilities and interests. In order to assist you, we grade each trip with a Trip Rating. We are also happy to discuss the trip with you, as well as provide you with names of past participants who can discuss their experience with you. Trip members must be in sufficient good health to undertake the trip. Trip members are responsible for preparing for the trip by studying the itinerary and pre-departure information sent by Wanderlust Adventures. and for bringing the appropriate clothing and equipment as advised therein.
Discretionary Tips & Gratuities: The destination tour leaders, guides, freelance contractors, logistical staff, porters and drivers Wanderlust employ are all paid salaries for their work. However, they always go out of their way to make your experience with them special and do not perform their responsibilities just for money. They do accept tips and gratuities should you determine that they performed their jobs at an outstanding level. Gratuities should reflect your satisfaction with their level of service.
CANCELLED TRIPS:
Wanderlust Adventures reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup or logistical problems that may impede trip operations. The refund of all land payments received shall release Wanderlust Adventures from any further liability. A trip with insufficient signup would normally be cancelled a minimum of one month prior to departure.
Wanderlust Adventures, must normally make substantial payments to its suppliers (hotels, transportation companies, etc.) far in advance of the scheduled embarkation date. If a trip is cancelled due to force majeure (acts of God, war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding, etc.), Wanderlust Adventures will promptly refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However, Wanderlust Adventures, does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made, and our use of best efforts to recover these payments will not include the institution of any legal proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.
Wanderlust Adventures is not responsible for expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for a cancelled trip (e.g., nonrefundable advance purchase air tickets, visa fees, inoculations, equipment, etc.) or for any additional arrangements should the trip member have embarked prior to the scheduled group departure date.
LIABILITY & FORCE MAJEURE CIRCUMSTANCES:
Wanderlust Adventures shall not be liable for failure in the performance of any of its obligations, including without limitation, for any loss or damage resulting from any delay, cancellation, loss of personal belongings, illness, bodily injury, accident, death, deterioration of Travel Services, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, disappointment or frustration, either mental or physical, due to:
EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY:
Wanderlust Adventures makes arrangements with air carriers, hotels, transfer operators and other independent parties to provide customers with Travel Services they purchase. Although Wanderlust Adventures takes great care in selecting these service providers, it does not have any control over them and cannot be held responsible for their omissions, fault or negligence, or that of their employees, nor for any loss or damages suffered as a result thereof. Travel Services provided are subject to the conditions imposed by the service providers and their liability is limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets, vouchers, international conventions and agreements.
ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED:
Wanderlust Adventures shall not be liable for the quality or safety of activities (such as excursions, optional tours, little extras and others) available at destination that customers may wish to participate in and which are not included in the package, nor for any other representation made by the operator of any such activities. Any written or oral contract for all such activities shall be deemed to be made between customers and the operator of such activities and shall be undertaken at the customers’ own risk of loss, damage or injury. Wanderlust Adventures shall not be liable in any manner for any complaints or claims that may arise as a result of participation in any such activities which are offered by third parties over whom Wanderlust Adventures has no control.
MISCELLANEOUS CLAUSES:
Wanderlust Adventures shall not be liable for (a) expenses such as additional hotel nights and meals not specified in the individual trip itineraries, but which may be required to get to or from a trip start or end; (b) expenses due to the delay of a trip for any reason (e.g. bad weather, trail conditions, land slides, flooding, sickness, etc.); (c) expenses incurred in recovering luggage lost by airlines, belongings left behind on a trip, or in shipping purchases or other goods home from abroad.
PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMING RIGHTS:
Wanderlust Adventures reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any of our trips, and may use any such records for future trip marketing, promotional and/or commercial purposes without payment.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Wanderlust Adventures strictly complies with principles of confidentiality with respect to customers’ personal information, including in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
LAWS:
The laws of the province in which the Canadian gateway city is located govern this agreement. Any legal action instituted against Wanderlust Adventures must be heard before the courts of this province. For the purposes of any such proceedings, the parties hereby agree to elect domicile in the judicial district of the Canadian gateway city in question. The voiding of one or other of the clauses hereto shall neither annul nor invalidate this agreement, which is known as the Terms and Conditions.
FINANCIAL PROTECTION:
Wanderlust Adventures is registered as a travel retailer and wholesaler under the Travel Industry Act, 2002 (Ontario, Canada), under TICO registration number 2679578 and 2743184, accordingly, the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund will provide full or partial reimbursement of monies paid to us for travel services that are not provided due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of Wanderlust Adventures or an end supplier airline or cruise line, where a reimbursement has not otherwise been provided, as long as the claim meets certain requirements set forth in Ontario Regulation 26/05 made under the Travel Industry Act, 2002. For further information please go visit Travel Industry Council of Ontario(TICO).
When you travel with Wanderlust, you become an integral force for change as we address some of the pressing challenges people face around the world. A large part of your tourism dollars help transform the local communities, creating jobs and improving livelihoods. Your presence therefore as travellers becomes a powerful incentive for communities to empower, persevere and thrive in these trying times.
On the economic front, our commitment therefore is to ensure what we earn are distributed in a way that is beneficial to everyone – our customers, ourselves, our employees, local hosts and their communities, service providers and other stakeholders. Thus, achieving social and economic growth for everyone involved in the process.
Here are some of the steps we take to achieve a sizeable part of these goals:
For several years we have identified specific projects where, as an adventure travel provider, we are in an ideal position to actively help some of the less fortunate, whilst also encouraging them to protect the very environments, their people, the nature and wildlife that we so enjoy seeing. Almost all our adventure projects are chosen carefully, with input from the local community, our founder’s visionary ideas, partners and of course our clients.
We do not work with large NGOs and charities and create mega fundraisers. Instead we incorporate site visits that feature specific projects we support. This enables our clients to see in their own eyes what really works and these projects are funded efficiently. Wanderlust’s partners ensure that all get delivered to the projects on the ground.
We encourage you to learn about some of the NGO’s and community partners we actively work with and diverse range of projects these unique organizations undertake.
Fair Trek is a community-based tourism initiative that works with local communities in Luang Prabang, Laos to create authentic travel experiences that leave a positive impact. It bridges the gap between locals and visitors to help residents benefit directly from tourism and to share the real Laos with visitors. The programs introduce you to the diverse cultural mosaic of Laos. Whether it’s learning how to weave a traditional textile or living with a host family in a remote village, your excursion will be interactive and genuine. Today, Fair Trek runs three unique programs in Luang Prabang region. They are, Eco Bungalows, Akha Hill Tribe Experience and the Seven Villages Initiative. Fair Trek continues to develop programs that are community-based tourism initiatives in Luang Prabang and are widely recognized for their impact in the Mekong sub-region. For more information visit: Fair Trek
Wanderlust Trips that support Fair Trek programs: Kingdoms of Indochina
Living Land, is a community enterprise and an entirely organic farm,run by a local Laotian team for the benefit of Lao people. Based in Luang Prabang, Laos, the farm grows organic vegetables, salad greens, herbs and rice and supply to leading restaurants and hotels in Luang Prabang region. The farm employs locals who would not otherwise find employment, people with low educational achievements and ethnic minorities from remote villages. They use all traditional farming styles to preserve the environment by using compost fertilizer, buffaloes for ploughing and ancient husking mortars instead of chemical fertilizers and motorized tractors. The unique feature of the Living Land Farm project is their tourism arm, which promotes two programs titled ” Rice is Life – Rice Farming Experience” that shows visitors how rice is grown, experience the life of a farmer and try their hand at some of the activities. Second program is Farm House Stay program where visitors get the experience of spending a night in a converted rice barn that offers simple but comfortable accommodation and an opportunity to sample some of their local food and home-brewed rice wine. For information visit: Living Land
Wanderlust Trips that support Living Land programs: Kingdoms of Indochina
Inspired by the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Child Haven International is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1985. It assists children and women in developing countries particularly in South Asia, who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing, emotional and moral support. Child Haven has homes in India, Nepal, Tibet and in Bangladesh. These homes accept children who are disabled, parentless or from socially disadvantaged situations – and who are destitute, i.e. do not receive even one good meal a day. Girls and boys are treated equally, and without regard to race, caste, colour, religion or culture. Living is simple and meals are vegetarian. Homes try not to Westernize the children, but rather attempt to raise them according to the highest ideals of their own cultures. It respects the heritage of each child, whether Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, secular or other. Destitute children from birth to six years of age are referred to Child Haven by local social welfare agencies. Child Haven Homes provide full care through high school, and then provide vocational training so that each child can enter the local society as a self-sufficient adult.
Wanderlust’s founder has started supporting Child Haven’s programs 10 years ago and has visited the home in Kathmandu, Nepal with his climbing clients several times and have donated much needed funds. Wanderlust, in keeping with its philosophy of supporting unique grass root level initiatives like Child Haven, continues to promote Child Haven projects among clients who wish to support and combine their adventure pursuits with conscience. In exchange, they are accorded intimate visits to the homes to meet the children and caretakers for a first hand account of the work of Child Haven.
Wanderlust Trips that support Child Haven programs: The Ultimate Everest | Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit
Canadapura (literally means Canada village) in Southern Sri Lanka, is a non-profit project run by Canada-Sri Lanka Life Development Centre and the brainchild of Rev Pannasara, a buddhist monk based in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
The Village was primarily set up to help the needy in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in 2004, which badly damaged Southern Sri Lanka’s coastal fishing and farming communities. A large number of children have become orphans, in most cases both the parents of these poor children fell victim to the tragedy. Although short term relief measures took place in a massive scale, neither the govt nor any NGO’s have had any long term plans to set up institutions not only to look after the orphans and their immediate needs but to provide long term care and basic necessities of life until they reach adulthood.
More than 10 years on, Rev Pannasara’s dream mini village has come to fruition with a village housing more than 200 children, dormitories providing safe shelter, a pre-school for younger children, a health care centre for medical needs and a vocational training centre, run entirely by volunteers from the area with the majority of financial support raised from Ontario-based donors and individuals.
Wanderlust’s Founder, a devout Buddhist himself, has been supporting this project since its inception and encourages his adventure clients visiting Sri Lanka to pay a visit to the village for an in depth immersion into the lives of these children and volunteers.
Wanderlust Trips that support Canadapura project: Sri Lanka, A Land Like No Other
Arusha Children’s Trust is a small educational charity run by British-born Ishbel Brydon, a teacher by profession, who has been living in Tanzania for more than 20 years. The Arusha Children’s Trust is non-religious and non-political. It does not impose or promote western values but presents information that facilitates the development of knowledge to enable young people to make decisions which will improve the future for themselves and their communities.
Managed personally by Ishbel and run by unpaid volunteers, ACT provides educational materials, classroom furniture and sports equipment for the schools in the tribal communities in Arusha, near Mount Kilimanjaro. It builds new classrooms and teachers’ houses and sends teachers on training courses.
ACT has built and furnished a community centre in a Maasai village near Arusha and the local community run a kindergarten for 100 children aged 4 to 6 years. ACT pays the teachers’ salaries and provides the children with porridge every day. The charity sponsors ex street boys of Arusha in full-time secondary education and seeks financial help from donors to ensure they achieve their goals. ACT believes that education is the key to a better future for the children of Tanzania.
All our clients on Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions and wildlife safari adventures, get a chance to visit the ACT projects in Arusha, meet the children, caretakers and get involved.
Wanderlust Trips that support ACT projects: Mt Kilimanjaro – The Grand Traverse | Ultimate Wildlife & Safari Experience
Association for the Conservation of Primate Diversity (ACPD)
Smithsonian Primate Research Station, Sri Lanka
Wanderlust Adventures collaborates with the Association for the Conservation of Primate Diversity (ACPD), under the umbrella of the Smithsonian Institution Primate Biology Program (PBP), based at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. At Polonnaruwa it is known locally as the “Monkey Camp” where they work and study subjects, the monkeys. It has been featured often in documentary films on the Discovery Channel, Disney films and other nature TV programs, as well as in scientific publications. Watch the trailer on the latest Disney movie project on primates in Sri Lanka.
Wanderlust’s Sri Lanka adventure itineraries include an in depth exploration of this unique conservation project and trip participants get up close and personal with the primates on organized site visits conducted by research scientists.
Wanderlust Trips that support Primate research project: Sri Lanka, A Land Like No Other
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, founded in 1984 by the actors Bill Travers MBE and Virginia McKenna OBE, stars of the iconic film Born Free, and their son, Will Travers OBE, the charity’s President. Born Free takes action worldwide to save lives, stop suffering and protect species in the wild. Born Free never forgets the individual. Its emergency teams rescue vulnerable animals from appalling lives of misery in tiny cages, often barren of any enrichment, and gives them lifetime care in spacious bush sanctuaries.
Elephant Transit Home is located in Udawalawe National Park in Southern Sri Lanka and run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. It rescues orphan elephants and returns them to the wild when they are ready, providing a humane alternative to taking abandoned animals into permanent captivity. Born Free began working in Sri Lanka in 2002 and the charity has provided extensive assistance in the form of buildings, vehicles and equipment and worked with a number of local NGOs on a range of issues, primarily concerned with elephant welfare and conservation.
Wanderlust’s Sri Lanka adventures include visits to the elephant home and supports its conservation efforts through visitor support and donations through local operators.
Wanderlust Trips that support Born Free projects: Sri Lanka, A Land Like No Other
Shri Jaswant Charitable Trust, Deogarh, Rajasthan, India
Established and run by a local Rajasthani aristocratic family who own and manage the Deogarh Mahal, an imposing maharajah palace originally built in 1670, Shri Jaswant Charitable Trust supports remote schools which provides education for children from the age of 6 to 14 in communities identified as below the poverty line by the Indian government. The schools offers equal education opportunities to girls and boys from all castes and socio-economic groups. A substantial part of the tourist dollars palace and the trust earns are expended in rural education; ensuring clean water supplies etc and actively encourage their guests to visit the villages and schools.
Wanderlust’s local partners on this project have recently won the prestigious National Tourism Award in which their work on responsible volunteering was cited. Wanderlust’s Rajasthan desert trek itineraries stay at Deogarh Mahal and spends time providing community support at the village schools managed by the trust.
Wanderlust Trips that support Shri Jaswant Charitable Trust: Thar Desert Camel Expedition
Slerra Tarahumara educational project (STEP) is an exciting program making a difference in the lives of young people living in the greater Sierra Madre mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico, an area better known as the “Copper Canyon”.
Working almost exclusively in remote pueblos and ranchitos, STEP provides scholarships to deserving indigenous and mestizo students, most of whom are female Tarahumara Indians, also known as the Raramuri.
In many cases parents of our students can neither read nor write but they understand that an education is needed for their children to progress – an education that these mostly subsistence-farmer parents are hard-pressed to provide.
Wanderlust’s exclusive Mexico adventure program includes an in depth cultural immersion of the Tarahumara Indians, visiting their townships in the mountains, interact and learn about their culture and lifestyle.
Wanderlust Trips that support STEP programs: Mexico: The Northern Heritage
Wanderlust Adventures supports the programs of World Animal Protection (formerly known as WSPA – World Society for the Protection of Animals) that promote a vision for a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty has ended. By working to support their projects, we protect the world’s animals. Every day, in every country, millions of animals are suffering. And the more people who know about the work of WAP, the more animals we can reach. Animals play a vital role in communities worldwide, and we must move quickly to protect animals affected by disasters, animals farmed for food live in conditions that cause suffering and stress, to protect and save wild animals and to keep wild animals in the wild, where they belong and ending wild animal abuse for entertainment. Every day, wild animals are enduring lifelong misery for tourist entertainment. Seeing wildlife on holiday should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to share with friends. But behind the scenes, animals endure lifelong misery in attractions such as lion parks, elephant riding attractions and tiger venues.(Wanderlust Adventures itineraries worldwide neither offer Elephant back safaris nor include visits to institutions where animals are held in captivity for visitor entertainment).
Relief Riders International(RRI) is an award-winning humanitarian-based NGO as well as a for-profit adventure travel company that organizes horseback journeys for interested riders through remote areas in Rajasthan, India while providing humanitarian aid to local people. Since 2004 Relief Riders International and its guests have provided aid to over 18,700 people, including 12,000 children in Rajasthan.
RRI and Wanderlust Adventures share a common vision: to combine an extraordinary adventure travel experience with the opportunity for our travelers to deliver life-changing medical care, educational supplies, and livestock to below poverty level villagers in Rajasthan, India. Both Relief Riders and rural Rajasthani people are transformed by the experience.
RRI treats an average of 2500 people on each desert expedition. This includes treating between 300 and 600 people at each general medical camp, screening and providing general treatment for 575 people at our mobile eye surgery camp, with approximately 100 of those people receiving free eye surgery, and visiting an average of three to six schools, usually reaching 1200 children. It provides an average of 65 families with goats on each expedition.
Wanderlust Trips that support RRI programs: Thar Desert Community Relief Expedition, Rajasthan
The Andean Home Stay Project is an initiative of Peru Treks, a leading trekking outfitter, aimed at helping to educate visitors to Peru about the way of life in the mountain villages. Although most of the inhabitants of this area are poor in material wealth, they are very rich in culture and spirit and are a generous warm people. Although Cusco receives almost a million visitors each year, the principal beneficiaries of income are the owners of hotels, tour companies, restaurants and shops. Very few people from the surrounding countryside are given the opportunity to share the real financial benefits of tourism. The Andean Homestay Project aims to address this problem by giving visitors the opportunity to stay with local Quechua families and learn about their rich culture and traditions as well as bringing direct economic help to the people who really need it. Income received from home stays are made directly to the families. Peru Treks or its associates takes no commissions or payments for its services. The families have been chosen on the basis of financial need rather than the biggest and best houses. Peru Treks frequently donates money and equipment to make home improvements in these homes.
Wanderlust Trips that support Andean Home Stay Project: Essential Peru
Wanderlust’s NGO partner, Neema House Arusha in Tanzania is a rescue center for orphaned, abandoned and at-risk babies. Babies come to Neema when hospitals and police stations call asking for help with babies who have been abandoned or orphaned. Babies have been left on the roadside, on porches, in yards, left alone in houses and even in latrines. At Neema House they have all found love and care. With a staff of forty full time Tanzanians there is twenty-four hour care, seven days a week at Neema. A brainchild of the retired US missionaries Michael and Dorris Fortson, since its inception in 2012, eighty-nine babies have been helped by Neema House, sixteen babies have been adopted and seventeen have been returned to an extended family member. Today, volunteer on-site directors who do not take a salary for their work and over sixty unpaid volunteers from all over the world have come to Neema to hold the babies and their lives have been changed by the experience. Wanderlust’s Kilimanjaro clients visit the home in Arusha during the pre-climb acclimatization days. Visit Neema House for further information.
Wanderlust Trips that support Neema House: Kilimanjaro climbs & Tanzania safaris
The Vietnam Friendship Village Project in Hanoi was initiated in 1988 by late George Mizo, a US Vietnam veteran, and subsequently created in collaboration with Vietnamese and French veterans who shared his desire for peace and reconciliation. In the following years many people from different countries joined, and today an international committee with representatives from the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Vietnam works to finance and manage the Friendship Village.
Wanderlust’s Indochina trips that visit Hanoi always include a day visit to the village to show the good work of volunteers and appreciate the untiring efforts of international donors. Today, the village provides therapy and medical care for over 120 children with a variety of mental and physical conditions including those victims affected with the infamous chemical defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam war, as well as education and vocational training. About 40 adults at a time also receive residential treatment services. Since opening its doors, the village has grown in capacity, as well as providing services to the surrounding community. Learn more about the The Vietnam Friendship Village.
Wanderlust Trips that support The Vietnam Friendship Village: Kingdoms of Indochina
Wanderlust Adventures is fully committed to supporting travel agents. We provide a highly competitive commission structure for most trips (the main exception being our Customized private journeys, which are non-commissionable.), unsurpassed destination knowledge and customer service. We aim to make your job as profitable and enjoyable as possible.
All travel agents must be valid registered businesses within the jurisdictions of the respective Canadian provinces and US states they operate to qualify for commissions. Our Guidelines for Travel Agents Booking Wanderlust Trips is available. Please contact us to receive a copy.
We want to help fellow travelers to get up to date and precise travel information when planning an adventure vacation. Some of the selected links available in this page can be useful for your travel planning. Including searching for maps, visa requirements or weather forecasts, our compiled list will help answer your pre-trip questions.
Canada – http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories
USA – http://travel.state.gov
www.visa.com/atms
www.mastercard.us/cardholder-services/atm-locator
https://www.liveoutthere.com (Wanderlust Adventures Official Gear Partner)
www.mec.ca
http://europebound.com/store/
https://www.luggageforward.com/
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/
http://travel.gc.ca/travelling
Interactive foreign language site
www.mobal.com/international-cell-phones/
www.voltagevalet.com/elec_guide.html
www.worldtourismdirectory.com/
www.passportsandvisas.com
www.g3visas.com
www.zvs.com
You’ll be climbing the highest peak in Africa—therefore, the food that fuels you should be an essential ingredient to your summit success. What is important for your meals on the climb? First, the menus we create for all climbs are specially prepared to provide a balanced high calorie diet consisting of fresh fruit, vegetables, plenty of complex carbohydrates and protein and the right kind of fats to help you sustain your increased levels of body fatigue and exertion. Our selection of food items are also easy for the body to digest at high altitude and that deliver the right nutrition and energy required to counter the rigors of climbing. Expect three good meals a day, plus tasty trail snacks providing simple sugars to boost energy to keep you going.
We cater to a wide variety of special dietary requirements from vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free to celiac to raw food diets.
We always buy local….. we primarily use fresh organic ingredients in preparing all our meals on the mountain produced by the local farmers on the slopes of Mount Meru. Our cooks undergo rigorous training and conduct ongoing workshops to review menus. Our clients are always surprised by the sheer variety of tasty dishes they get on the mountain. The cooks are particularly vigilant in their hygiene practices to avoid contracting stomach bugs which is common among climbers due to poor hygienic conditions practiced by most budget operators.
At camp in the morning, we will wake you up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, coffee or tea and offer a full hot breakfast in the dining tent. Our sample breakfast include; tea/coffee, sliced fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, porridge, homemade granola, toast, honey, and jam.
Unlike most other outfitters who provide cold lunch boxes to be eaten on the way side of the trail, we set up a mobile mess tent along the trail midway through the day’s hike to serve delicious hot lunches, sheltered from the wind and chill on the trail.
Our dinners are a specialty, the main meal and get-together time. Cooks have prepared your dinner by the time you end the day’s hike. Dinner menu usually consist of: Tomato ginger soup with baked bread, fresh tilapia with chips, peas with butter and mint, avocado tomato salad, apple pie and cream. At higher altitudes, we eat more starch based food that is easier to digest, including pasta with garlic bread, spaghetti bolognese, cauliflower, carrots, brownies, and fruit cake.
Mountain guides and porters – An indispensable element of your trek
They are an integral part of an every climb we run. Without the hard work of local guides, porters, cooks, camp helpers, your trek wouldn’t be possible! This is also the single most expensive item for an outfitter, and justifiably so, as it is essential to take good care of this indispensable team!
For example, a group of 10 climbers, we typically have a crew of approximately 55 people. Why do we need this many crew members to support our Kili climbs? Not only do they carry all of the group gear (tents, food, safety equipment, climbers’ personal gear, etc.), they are the backbone of all the operations that create an unforgettable journey.
Wanderlust’s operation in Tanzania is a member of Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which establishes and monitors porter ethics to improve porter treatment industry-wide and International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) Partnership for Responsible Travel, which recognizes climbing companies with fair treatment practices.
Unfortunately, poor treatment of porters is an epidemic on the mountain and constant debate for discussion. Porters are regularly exploited by scrupulous, unprofessional and budget climbing outfits.
Here’re some of the key elements how Wanderlust treats its team of porters in the mountain.
Why climb with a KPAP partner company?
Majority of Kilimanjaro operators are not members of KPAP. Non-members do not follow or abide by the protocols of KPAP. Although most claim to care about porter welfare, some of the largest adventure companies are the biggest culprits of porter abuse. They force porters to carry more than the stated KPAP weight limits. They feed porters poorly and often they get only once a day. They sleep in dining tents. They pay their staff half of what we pay or some of the respected outfitters pay. Our advice, only climb with certified KPAP partner companies.
On each and every Wanderlust climb, there is a KPAP represented porter staffed among our crew. We allow this voluntarily so that everything we do is constantly evaluated – porter loads, meals, shelters, wages, even tipping distribution. We welcome this scrutiny, from the top down and do not tolerate any deviance, by anyone, from our welfare guidelines.
After each climb, we encourage trip members to donate clothing and equipment to the porters that will otherwise go unused. If you are interested in donating items, your Trip Leader will help you with this process for equitable distribution.
Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest mountain that can be scaled by a non-mountaineer with no technical climbing skills. However, the summit of Kilimanjaro, at 19,341 feet (5895 metres), is considered extreme high altitude and it is one of the most challenging adventure undertakings you will ever do. Go with complacency and under prepared, it can cost you dearly! Read an article written by our CEO for Examiner.com
As you climb the mountain, the air becomes less compressed and contains fewer molecules of oxygen per breath. At 9,000 feet, there is 75% of the air pressure there is at sea level. At the summit of Kilimanjaro, it is only at 50%. Acute Mountain Sickness (also called AMS or Altitude Mountain Sickness) is the name given to the physiological and symptomatic reactions of the body caused by rapid ascent to high altitude.
Every year, approximately 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain, and approximately 10 deaths are reported. The main cause for such fatalities is AMS. Everyone climbing Kilimanjaro should be familiar with the symptoms of altitude sickness. And everyone climbing Kilimanjaro should choose an operator that has the proper safety systems and proper acclimatization in itineraries are in place.
Some of the early symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and generally feeling bad. All climbers will likely experience mild early symptoms of Altitude Sickness. But given time (during which you are recommended to not overexert), your body adjusts to the decrease in oxygen by producing more oxygen-carrying red blood cells (hemoglobin) while your kidneys excrete the imbalance of alkali in your blood built up by the increased breathing rate. This process requires time and patience. It is vital to ascend to higher altitude slowly so your body has the time to acclimatize properly.
The two more life-threatening complications of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE, water accumulation in the lungs) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE, water accumulation in the brain). In both cases, immediate descent to lower altitude is mandatory.
The young and physically fit often assume that they need to worry less about Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), but there is no correlation between age, physical fitness and successful acclimatization. Pole pole. Swahili for “slowly” is the #1 key to proper acclimatization for everyone.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a rigorous adventure. Although it is a non-technical mountain walk, it reaches high altitudes. All high altitude traverses in the mountains involve inherent dangers, which can never be totally controlled.
With that in mind, providing adequate precautions and ensuring your safety in the mountain is our team’s sole concern. One of the integral aspects to our high success rates on Kilimanjaro climbs is our diligence in implementing effective protocols for the health and safety of every climber – from the food they consume to the medical support they receive.
Our Trip Leaders from Canada and local mountain guides are the most experienced on the mountain. All our leaders are Certified First Responders (WFR) and undergo extensive training beyond the normal standards of WFR to provide our climbers with the safest possible trek up Kilimanjaro. Every year our guides go through Wilderness First Aid (WFA) training in Arusha, Tanzania.
This certification and ongoing training is mandatory for all of our Kilimanjaro guides. The WFR course is well known internationally and is often regarded as the world standard in outdoor medical care.
Each of our local mountain leaders have climbed Kili over one hundred times. They know the mountain as a second home and are incredible resources of knowledge and expertise on how to prepare for each day, safety precautions, and keeping climbers healthy in the hike toward the summit. They will monitor each climber’s health and wellness throughout the ascent and are trained to detect early signs of altitude sickness as well as in the protocols for high-altitude emergency evacuation.
Every time we take our clients up the mountain, be it one solo climber or a group of 50 or more, Wanderlust’s local team is always equipped with the following health and safety equipment at their disposal:
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Arusha Children’s Trust is a small educational charity run by British-born Ishbel Brydon, a teacher by profession, who has been living in Tanzania for more than 20 years. The Arusha Children’s Trust is non-religious and non-political. It does not impose or promote western values but presents information that facilitates the development of knowledge to enable young people to make decisions which will improve the future for themselves and their communities.
Managed personally by Ishbel and run by unpaid volunteers, ACT provides educational materials, classroom furniture and sports equipment for the schools in the tribal communities in Arusha, near Mount Kilimanjaro. It builds new classrooms and teachers’ houses and sends teachers on training courses.
ACT has built and furnished a community centre in a Maasai village near Arusha and the local community run a kindergarten for 100 children aged 4 to 6 years. ACT pays the teachers’ salaries and provides the children with porridge every day. The charity sponsors ex street boys of Arusha in full-time secondary education and seeks financial help from donors to ensure they achieve their goals. ACT believes that education is the key to a better future for the children of Tanzania.
All our clients on Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions and wildlife safari adventures, get a chance to visit the ACT projects in Arusha, meet the children, caretakers and get involved.
Wanderlust Trips that support ACT projects: Mt Kilimanjaro – The Grand Traverse | Ultimate Wildlife & Safari Experience
Our Canadian non-profit partner, Mom2Mom Africa was a project undertaken by Alison Fraser (Founder and Director) to raise awareness in her local community about the challenges that young women face in Tanzania to receiving a quality education. Alison was inspired by stories from a good friend, Jessica Hogendoorn, living and teaching in Tanzania at the time. She decided to hold a small backyard fundraiser with friends and family to help send a young woman (Wanderlust’s Tanzania Director Rob Chekwaze’s sister), who befriended Jessica, back to school. The fundraiser was a financial success. However, what really inspired Alison was the response from those who attended the event. People were inspired and wanted to do more. Subsequent fundraisers saw greater attendance and the response to the project was overwhelming.
Alison subsequently decided to launch Mom2Mom Africa as a Canadian not-for-profit organization and involve others in supporting Mom2Mom Africa. What started several years ago as a project to send a young woman in Tanzania back to school is now an organization that funds the educational needs of more than 74 boys and girls, supports the education of CHETI School teachers and inspires global awareness in all involved.
Wanderlust Adventures travelers are provided with the high standard of comforts in our Kili mountain camps, considering the climb is a serious undertaking in high altitude under different weather conditions. On all our Kili climbing expeditions, We use sturdy 3-person Mountain Hardwear Trango tents, which we offer just for two people each, to give more room and enough living space for two people. Sumptuous Meals are served in a large dining tent. Breakfast is hot cereal, toast, eggs on request, lunch is picnic style, always with hot soup for hydration, salad, sandwich fixings, and hot dishes such as quiche or pizza if we are in camp. Dinner is hot soup, salad, pasta, and stews or fish. Snacks and drinks are always available at camp. The staff brings tea or coffee and a bowl of washing water to your tent to get you started in the morning, and each camp has separate men’s and women’s toilet tents, both with seats.
Nestled on the lower slopes of majestic Mt Meru, the legendary Ilboru Safari Lodge has been welcoming mountain climbers and safari travellers to northern Tanzania for decades. Ideally located between the northern safari circuit and Mt Kilimanjaro, this beautiful swahili sanctuary is set on a five acre plot , tucked away beneath ancient trees on the outskirts of Arusha town.
There are thirty-eight rooms in which to accommodate guests. Apart from the 4 rooms that are in the main building, close to the pool and other facilities, each with a balcony overlooking the garden, rest of the rooms are double cottages situated throughout the lushly landscaped grounds.
F&B team works passionately to create a seasonally adapted menu featuring fresh produce from the surrounding farms nearby Mt Meru. The lodge restaurant is a favourite with locals as well as guests and serves three meals daily. Additionally there is a poolside menu and a full bar service including fine wines.
