Charles, our Director, by our safari van.
Tilman Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
IL
Email Doron | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good, professional and reliable
Charles of Tilman Safary id collaborative, reliable and responding.
His team of trekking guides and porters did excellent job.
Same for the Safary guide, William.
Great value for our money!
CH
Email Carlos and Lea | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top carriers but not the best guide
We are a really sporty couple who decided to take the challenge and hike Mount Kenya in 3 days up to Lenana.
The first day everything was perfect we got picked up at the hotel in time and we drove all the way through. We met our team and after lunch we started the hike.
The second day (at 3200ms) we had to wait around 20 mins for the guide to pick us up and start the hike.
During the hike we had not so good experiences as he was stopping by himself and saying keep going I will catch up. We ended up losing him for almost one hour. Meeting him after one hour being angry with us. Since then, the whole experience changed. During the hike I experienced altitude sickness and the recommendation from the guide was to “take a nap and drink water”. This is what I did, but I started to feel worse and worse, almost passing out, we were lucky to talk to a medical guy who was there who recommended us completely the opposite: go outside, small walks, dont lay down, drink a bit of coffee and some breathing techniques. He also said that in this condition is impossible to go to the summit the day after and that we should descend as soon as possible.
That night we talked to our guide and we were surprised about him trying to convince us to go to the summit. After a long talk we told him we are not in condition and that we would love to go back.
The last day we started the descent and we were even more surprised about our guide not talking at all to us, going 300-400 meters in front of us the whole way. Specially knowing that we were not in good conditions. It really gave us a bad feeling, that we were not in good hands and that we were not accomplishing anything.
As a summary I would say the food was super nice and the carriers (special mention to Nelson and Taylor), but the guide has sole room for improvement.
I am pretty sure I was not the first and wont be the last having these problems so I would recommend the guide to be informed on what to do in case something like this happens. And also to try to be a bit closer to us, guiding should not be just walking but also ensuring we are save and that we are having a good experience.
Reply from Tilman Safaris
Posted on Feb 19, 2026Dear Carlos and Lea,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your recent Mount Kenya trek up to Point Lenana. We truly appreciate your honesty.
First of all, we are very sorry that your experience did not meet the standards we strive to offer especially on such an important and physically demanding adventure. You deserved to feel fully supported, safe and well guided at every stage of the climb.
We are glad to hear that the pickup, cordination, food and the support from our porters especially Nelson and Taylor met your expectations. We will certainly pass along your kind words to them.
However, we are genuinely concerned about the guiding experience you described. Losing contact with your guide for nearly an hour, feeling unsupported during altitude sickness and experiencing emotional distance during your descent is not the standard of care we expect from our team.
Your feedback regarding the advice you received is taken very seriously. Proper altitude management and client monitoring are critical, and we will be reviewing this internally with the guide involved to ensure improvements are made immediately to prevent such situations in the future.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the parts of your trek that made you feel uncomfortable or unsupported. Your feedback helps us grow and we are committed to improving where needed.
Wishing you both good health and many more successful adventures ahead.
Email Erika | under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Leonard (our guide) was super knowledgeable about all the nature.
Regardless of a bit of altitude sickness it was a great hike, good company and nice views! Thank you Leonard :)
Email Natasha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable Mt Kenya day hike — Leonard was an incredible guide
I had an incredible experience with Leonard on a day hike on Mt Kenya. From the very first contact, his communication was clear, professional, and reassuring, making the whole process feel easy and well organised. On the day of the hike, everything ran smoothly and on time, and he was knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about the mountain. He set a comfortable pace, shared interesting insights about the landscape and wildlife, and made sure everyone felt safe and supported throughout the hike. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and the experience exceeded my expectations in every way. Excellent service, great value for money, and a guide you can fully trust — I would highly recommend Leonard to anyone visiting Kenya. 🌄✨
Email Brynjar | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Leonard the guide - all good organising it
Day hike from old Moses camp at mt Kenya.
Organised hike through WhatsApp very easy (had his number from my brother). Arranged to pick up leanard at equator in nanyuki. Probably useful to book entry before going to sirimon gate (not good WiFi nor 3/4/5g…..). Remember to include driver (resident) if drive through to old Moses camp.
Leonard took us on a day hike to a nice view point 8 km up from old Moses camp - all good and no issues (except a headache).
Thanks Leonard.
GR
Email Jason & Fenia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable Mount Kenya experience. Tillmans Safaris truly exceptional!
From the very first exchange, we felt completely at ease. Communication with Charles, the director of Tillman Safaris, was excellent from start to finish — thoughtful, clear, and reassuring. He consistently made us feel that everything was under control and carefully planned. And that feeling proved absolutely right. From our pickup in Nairobi to the very last moments of the trek, everything was flawlessly organized and ran smoothly.
Tillmans Safaris is the ideal company for people who genuinely love the mountains — those who care about the experience itself, not just reaching a summit. What also mattered deeply to us is that this is a truly ethical company. The guides and porters are treated with real respect and fairness, and this is not just something said — it’s something you feel every day on the mountain. For us, that made the experience all the more meaningful.
The equipment provided was excellent: very warm sleeping bags, a solid tent that easily withstood a full night of rain, and high-quality walking poles. Everything felt reliable and well chosen, allowing us to focus fully on the beauty of the climb.
And then there is the team, who turned a great trek into an unforgettable one.
Leonard, our lead guide, was simply outstanding. He is kind, calm, deeply knowledgeable, and always smiling. He has that rare ability to make you feel both safe and inspired at the same time. His pacing was perfect, and thanks to his experience and attentiveness, altitude issues were minimal and we summited comfortably. He genuinely went above and beyond every single day.
Taylor, the chef, amazed us daily with generous, hearty, and delicious meals — far better than we ever expected on a mountain. On top of that, he was a joy to be around: warm, friendly, and always positive.
Nelson, Alan, and Jacob, our porters, were wonderful people and fantastic companions on the trail. Strong, kind, and full of good humor, they made the long days lighter and more joyful. By the end of the trek, it truly felt like we were climbing with friends — and we are proud to now call them exactly that.
A heartfelt recommendation: book the full 5-day trek from Chogoria to Sirimon. It makes a real difference for acclimatization, and the Chogoria Bandas, where you spend the first night, are absolutely magnificent — one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever slept in the mountains.
Without hesitation, this was the best trekking and climbing experience we’ve ever had. If you want an authentic, ethical, and deeply rewarding Mount Kenya experience, Tillman Safaris is the company to choose.
We also booked a 3-day safari in Samburu with Tillman, which was equally wonderful. Samburu turned out to be the perfect park to visit at that time of year, Sopa Lodge was excellent, and we saw an incredible number of animals — including a truly magnificent leopard. Our driver was also fantastic.
We are deeply grateful to the entire Tillmans team. If Mount Kenya is on your mind and you want an experience that is beautifully organized, genuinely human, and unforgettable, book with Tillmans Safaris. You will be in the very best hands.
Email Philip and Kuria Hybrids | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellence service, knowdge and dedicated staffff
My Son and I had all we need for oir Mt Kenya Hike. The Guide was knowledgeable and supportive . The 5 support were freindly
DE
Email Lukas | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent organization, communication and support during the trip
Our experience with Tilman Safaris was wonderful – even before our arrival, Charles answered all our questions promptly. We were accompanied to Point Linnea on Mount Kenya by a team of five very friendly gentlemen, and the food was plentiful and delicious. Everything was well-prepared, and the welcome with hot drinks was very pleasant and helped us warm up after a rain shower. Even when last-minute changes were necessary, a good solution was found with great dedication. Highly recommended!
CZ
Email Veronika | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice hike, great weather, amazing food
I was surprised how big our team was and also our food was more than great. No problem at all with vegetarians. Our guide knew a lot about flowers and animals and was helpful. They lent us warm sleeping bags, so we weren't cold even at the highest altitudes. That was great, and our tent was waterproof and the mattresses were comfortable. I recommend bringing headache medicine with you because of the altitude.
But I would love to get more detailed list of things to carry with me. For example water filter would be nice to have because rivers and lakes as a water source are not safe enough for me. Also guide should have first aid kid with him not in the office and also weather forecast I think is important to check every day in mountains. Last but not least, I think that every company should carry a shovel for toilet needs. At every campsite, people go "in the bushes," and all campsites look accordingly. This is even the case around the lake from which drinking water is then taken. I think this needs to be changed.
CH
Email Oliver | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!
“I couldn’t recommend them more! Everything—from communication to logistics—was incredibly smooth. Our trek on Mt. Kenya was fantastic. The whole team was warm, friendly, and great company. They shared lots of interesting information about the local flora and fauna, and the meals were both delicious and abundant. Even when I struggled with altitude sickness, they were exceptionally supportive and attentive. I’d absolutely book with them again!