Kilimanjaro Climb - Rongai Route: Tanzania

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 136 reviews.

James Niblett

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written September 2012
I look back on this wonderful holiday with a great sense of achievement and some pride. I consider myself a fairly fit 58 year old but overall this was the hardest physical challenge I have attempted.A friendly team of guides and porters who looked after us so well.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The highlight has to be the day we climbed to the summit on Killy. It was a long exhausting day starting at midnight and finishing some 15 hours later.
Ours was a small group of 7, mostly in their early 30's apart from my wife and I in our late 50's and it was great that we all bonded so well and encouraged each other to keep going when it got tough.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our guide was called Naiman and in his quiet, confident manner we felt that he was using his experience to look after our well being and make sure that we had the best chance of getting to the top of both Meru and Killy.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Follow the advice of the guides - they do know best!
Try to eat at all meal times, even if you don't feel like it and drink lots of fluids.
Do tell the guides if you are not feeling well, don't keep it to yourself. They will be able to advise you based on their extensive experience of altitude.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Tens of thousands of people climb Killy every year but it is not to be underestimated and we found that the climb up Meru was a very good way of acclimatising.
Not having been so far south in Africa before, this trip was a real eye opener. The country is beautiful and the people friendly.
The African Walking Company is the local partner for Exodus and they offered good advice on tipping of guides, cook and porters, which avoided any embarrassment.
Nick Jarrold

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written August 2012
An awesome, amazing once in a lifetime trip that will stay with me for a very long time.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It's difficult to pick one moment that was inspirational, there was reaching the summit, walking above the clouds and seeing for miles upon miles, but I think for me it was the determination and hard work of the group that I was lucky enough to be with that really inspired me. The never say die attitude, the laughs, and the the determination and stubbornness that we were going to get to the top.
What did you think of your group leader?
Abraham, our group leader, made the trip fun, was always there to provide practical advice and for a laugh and a smile, made it all the more worthwhile having a leader like that.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Whilst it sounds a cliche, but enjoy it. Sure there are going to be times when it's not so easy, but appreciate the times that are good and that altitude isn't affecting you to appreciate where you are and how lucky you are.
Don't forget to put on suncream, as even in the 'winter' months it can still be warm.
To enjoy the time that you're spending with your fellow travellers, whether you know them before the start of the holiday or not.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a truly fantastic experience, and the more and more I look back on it since I've returned home the more and more lucky and proud I feel, both of the group and myself.
Yeah it is physically and mentally challenging, surely the most demanding thing I've ever done, but I certainly wouldn't change it as it was such an amazing experience that'll provide you with so many memories.
As Nike say, Just do it.
Andrew Kyle

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written August 2012
The trip was very well organised, with a great group (of staff and holiday makers), great food and stunning location. I always felt confident that the staff had the expertise to ensure a safe trip and they helped make it a very memorable trip.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The sunrise at Gilman's Point was incredible given that it was my birthday and followed 7 hours of the toughest walking I ever expect to do.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was very good on the mountain, with regular information updates and always willing to answer any questions raised by the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If it always something you've wanted to do, book it! Make sure you drink lots of water though!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The flights out with Ethiopian Airlines were very cramped and uncomfortable in what appeared to be quite old planes. Addis Ababa airport was also not the easiest to negotiate and so I would recommend that the Nairobi route is the one preferred where possible.
Nicola Birt

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written August 2012
An amazing trip - we really enjoyed this holiday. We felt very well looked after by the team on the mountain and the organisation was good throughout. The Rongai route had lovely views -very varied.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Without a doubt the final climb to Gilmans and then the summit was the highlight. It was a tough evening but the sense of achievement at the top was amazing.We got on well as a group so it was brilliant that we all reached the top
What did you think of your group leader?
The head guide Henry was excellent we had detailed breifings and good advice throughout the trip.
Also his team of guides were very good. They took execellent care of us particularly on summit night.
In addition the porters were incredible - our porter met us half way down Kibo to help us with our day pack, and the food on the mountain was of a really high standard and there was plenty of it!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
* Summit night was cold so be prepared
* Take earplugs to help sleep in camp
* We took diamox and would recommend taking it
* Walking poles are on the kit list as optional but would def recommend taking them
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a great trip and we have felt on a high since completing our challenge
Adam Jolley

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written July 2012
An amazing trip on a pretty epic mountain. Good people, good food, good organisation and good views!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the sunrise every morning from above the clouds was fantastic. Climbing out of the tent at night in freezing temperatures to go to the toliet was not so great.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was experienced (he had been a guide on the mountain for more than 12 years), friendly, calm, funny and helped the trip run smoothly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Most people in our group found the walking most days to be relatively easy and we were lucky with the weather as it didn't rain once. However, don't let the fact this walk is so accessible deceive you as you ascend fairly rapidly and people in our group were starting to feel the effects of altitude by the second and third day - me included. Others were completely fine however. Listen to your guides advice, who will also be on hand to offer medicine, but ultimately it is your decision on whether you continue. If you've never been to altitude before and you have the time and money I would probably recommend opting for a longer 7 day route. On a completely separate note, the food is fantastic and there's plenty of it so don't worry about going hungry on this trip!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I wish I had time to enjoy a safari too! Will hopefully go back one day.
Harjinder Pal Singh

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written July 2012
I wish I had made this trek when I was younger but never theless it was a remarkable and awesome experience. The group I travelled with were all a great bunch of people, fully supportive of each other and without whom the trip would not have been the same.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
To wake up in the morning, and on opening the tent flap to find a panorama of clouds beneath you, like a white sea underneath a changing sky, as the sun rose slowly from behind the clouds.
What did you think of your group leader?
He did a fantastic job, and deserves every single dollar that he is paid; and much more. His constant vigilance and encouragement made it possible to stretch oneself to the limit without incurring any risk.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Preparation is the key to the sucess in reaching the summit, and to have a thoroughly enjoyable time. Make sure you have all the kit as per the list.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The food was surprisingly lot better then I expected, and it is humbling to see so many people working so hard for their living, just to ensure that we had a fantastic time. All the porters, guides and kitchen staff deserve medals.
Martyn Miller

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Written July 2012
Exodus provided a trip of a lifetime and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to friends. They made the process easy and stress free before travelling then ensured we all had a great time whilst on our trip.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Too many to mention.
Arriving at our hotel on the first night after experiencing some of the roads.
Reaching the summit.
On return to the hotel afterwards hearing that a couple became engaged!
Staying in the tented villages after seeing all the 'big 5' on safari.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was fantastic! He (Meke) was patient with the slower members of the group but allowed the quicker members to go on with a guide. On summit day, we all started out together until the gradient became more pronounced before he split the group up. Meke made time for all the individuals in the group and whilst on the walk and whilst in camp. He also delivered a breifing each evening after dinner keeping us all informed and he did this with good humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It was a pain getting the tourist visa at Kilimanjaro airport. If you have an opportunity to do this before it would help. Also, make sure you do get the vaccination for yellow fever as it was only recommended but it was required on entry at the airport.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We completed our trip with a safari. I though Kilimanjaro was an amazing experience but I was blown away by the whole tour. We visited a different national park for each of the three days with a very knowledgable guide and stayeed at amazing tented camps - more like a hotel than a camp!