If you want a spectacular experience with expert guides whose key focus is your safety and your smile - all the way to the summit, then Tusker's your sure bet.

There are many Kilimanjaro climbing companies, and there are big differences. If all you want is the cheapest price, then you should book with a volume-based outfit. Most of them do not operate their own climbs. They subcontract from a local hotel or tour operator and mark up the trip.

At high altitude many problems can occur, including death. Most companies provide their guides with absolutely no high altitude medical training whatsoever. We feel that climbing companies have a responsibility to safeguard the health of their clients. We also feel that it is irresponsible to subcontract safety measures to local hotels and operators, especially when most of these outfits don't even have any safety measures.

Since his first climb in 1977, Eddie Frank has been innovating ways to climb Kilimanjaro safely. Our summit success rate is 98%. The overall success rate of all climbers on Kilimanjaro is just 40%. Eddie has succeeded in building Tusker's 18 guides into the finest medically qualified team on the mountain.

Our climber-to-guide ratio is 5-to-1. And with smaller groups our climber-to-guide ratio is 2-to-1. This makes your climb much safer and much more enjoyable.

All other companies allocate one head guide no matter what size the group may be.

Eddie Frank has designed an intensive 8-day course that trains and certifies the Tusker guides as High Altitude First Responders. The course is given solely to Tusker guides, and each of them must pass this course annually as a precondition for their ongoing employment. Each guide is certified as a HAFR (High Altitude First Responder). This is the only medical certification course specifically designed for guides on Kilimanjaro.

Read more about your safety on Kilimanjaro

Eddie believes that the only way a company can stay on top is to stay in touch. Too many adventure company owners have turned into corporate execs. They have lost touch with what got them there in the first place - boots on the ground.

Eddie and his well-worn boots lead five charity fundraising climbs each year. By leading these trips, Eddie stays in touch with our clients, our guides and the community where we climb. Only by continuing to lead climbs, can Eddie keep informed on local conditions and continue to innovate our great trips.