Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route

Traveler Reviews

• AK

  Asan1.0•October 2017
  Incredibly overpriced for a company that gets 100% prepayment and dont have any insurance or refund if you cancel....
  Incredibly overpriced for a company that gets 100% prepayment and dont have any insurance or refund if you cancel. Had to cancel last minute and got 0 back. Try other companies, like Altezza for example, who has great reviews and only ask for 30% prepayment.Show more
  Traveled in October 2017
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  Kathryn3.0•March 2012
  I had a slightly different experience to most on the holiday- including about 3ft of fresh snow on summit night and...
  I had a slightly different experience to most on the holiday- including about 3ft of fresh snow on summit night and having two companions be stretchered off the mountain! So my view is probably slightly jaded... but still valid! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing a rainbow after our aclimatising walk at Mawenzi; Seeing the sun rise on summit night (sadly not on the summit due to the snow slowing the pace!) What did you think of your group leader? Not a great deal, unfortunately. The assistant guides were all fantastic but our lead guide- and our hotel contact- were both very poor. The lead guide only led us on summit night and was far from encouraging. We'd not even reached Gillman's Point (which we did) when he said that our pace meant it would take to long to go on to Uhuru. Whilst some members of the group were struggling, younger ones werent and we felt there were enough guides to have split us up. Plus, he was setting the pace! Additionally, he wanted money for the very sick people to be stretchered off the mountain. I gave this to him for one of the travellers only to find he then asked her for more money later- disgusting considering how ill she was, that he'd already been paid and that the park fees include evacuation costs (confirmed by exodus on my return). Similarly, the hotel contact essentially abandoned us with two very sick people, having told us they were 'fine'. Our experience appears in the minority. On the plane back, a companion sat with a man who had done the same climb with AWC the night before and his experience sounds a world apart. For example, when we arrived at the gates we were handed our certificates in a brown envelop without our names on on anything; his group had them all laminated and a bit of a presentation ceremony was held for them. Our lead guide seemed more keen to go and have a drink than do that and certainly couldn't be deemed 'encouraging' at all. Both of these matters will be followed up separately with Exodus. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Invest in equipment you can trust! Even though the weather on summit night was horrendous, I knew that I had gear that I totally trusted. I bought a Rab down jacket, as recommended on one of these reviews, and it was fantastic. Similarly, I'd been out walking in torrential rain before I went to test out my waterproofs and knew they'd do a good job.I really feel the cold so found having two sets of merino wool thermals excellent- I was toasty! However, none of this is cheap. If this is your first time, start spreading the cost and buying something each month. The month before I went, I felt I was haemorraghing money as I had so much to buy! But it is an investment and worth every penny when you're on the mountain!Also, have energy tablets. Altitude sickness is not like a mild hangover but more like 'i'm never drinking again' hangover. I couldn't face any food when I got hit so having something you can just swallow to keep the energy levels up would have helped!Finally, be confident. I wish, in hindsight, that we'd challenged our lead guide and made him split the group. As it was, you have to have so much trust in them that you assume they know best. This is bound to be true for most of the time but if they are unwilling to support and encourage you to the top, press for it- you've paid a lot of money to not get to the top due to a negative attitude from your guide! Is there anything else you would like to add? The food was fantastic but make sure you eat as much as you can- force yourself! You'll need the energy for summit day!Try, if you can, to head out a couple of days prior. One member of our group did and started aclimatised and refreshed. We, on the other hand, had our flight cancelled so arrived at 3.30am on the day we were due to start the climb- not an ideal start and an extra $60 for another night (different hotel in Moshi) seemed like a wise investment! Don't worry! I think we were unfortunate with our group; our lead guide seems an exception to the rule rather than a common example and the weather was unusual. These two aside and physically I was totally capable- more so than I thought I would be- and had no problems with the 5 nights camping, lack of showering and toilet facilities! A positive attitude is a must though!Finally, one of the reasons we chose Exodus was because of the charitable aspect. The guides, on the whole, had a good grasp of English which seems to show that this is working.However, as a whole, we were fairly disturbed by their poor clothing- this might be an enthno-centric issues but a poncho for mountain rain seemed fairly slack! As did jeans and trainers and, on summit day, cheap primark-looking sunglasses! This may or may not have anything to do with Exodus but the trip is fairly costly and we did, as a group, wonder if the money was being filtered down to those who needed it. To this end, if you can take stuff you're happy to leave behind, please do.Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Simon5.0•March 2012
  A TRUELY GREAT EXPERIENCED, SHARED WITH A GREAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, WE COULDT HAVE ASKED FOR A...
  A TRUELY GREAT EXPERIENCED, SHARED WITH A GREAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, WE COULDT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER CROWDFLIGHTS WERE GREAT AND ACCOMADATION WAS FANTASTIC, JUST WISHED WE HAD AND EXTRA DAY THERE AT THE BEGGINING TO REST AFTER THE LONG FLIGHTS, AND AN EXTRA DAY AT THE END OF THE TREK TO RELAX MORE PRIOR TO THE JOURNEY HOME, FOOD WAS GOOD TOO ALONG What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? UNDOUTABLY THE PORTERS, THEY WERE ALWAYS SMILING EVEN WHEN THE GOING WAS TOUGH, AND A CUP OF COOFEE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND A WELCOME WAKE MADE YOUR MORNINGS,AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS What did you think of your group leader? GREAT GROUP LEADER WHO WAS BACKED BY A GREAT TEAM OF GUIDES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY GREAT PORTERS, THE LEAD GUIDE WAS ALWAYS CLEAR WITH HIS BREIFINGS AND KNOWLEDGE AND VERY HELPFULL AT ALL TIMES, NO JOB WAS TO DIFICULT FOR HIM TO ARRANGE AND HE WAS IN FULL CONTACT WITH THE US CLIENTS AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY ON SUMMIT DAYS WHEN HE WOULD CHECK US ALL OVER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL WAS WELL, TOP BLOKE IN OUR OPINIONS WOULD ASK FOR HIM AGAIN FOR SURE Do you have any advice for potential travellers? THE EVENING BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR KILI HAVE A FULL KIT CHECK BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE MOUNTAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH AND ADAQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR THE TREK, IF YOU DONT YOU SHOULD HIRE, THINGS GET TOUGHER AND COLDER AS YOU GO HIGHER SO GO PREPARED WITH PLENTY OF WATER PROOF GEAR AND WARM GEAR, TOP OF THE LIST A PONCHO, GOOD LIP BALM AND FLIP LOCK POLES WITH SNOW BASKETS FOR SUMMIT DAY, A PEICE OF PARA CORD ABOUT 4 METRS LONG MAKES A GOOD DRYING LINE INSIDE YOUR TENT AND CAN BE USED FOR REPLACMENT BOOT LACES SHOULD YOURS BRAKE.IF YOUR THINKING OF RUNNING UP THIS MOUNTAIN AND WANTING TO BE AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK AT ALL TIMES DONT, REMEMBER YOU ONLY GO AS FAST AS YOUR FORWARD GUIDE, WHICH IS SLOWLY SLOWLY,POLEY POLEY,REMEMBER SOME ONE GOT TO THE TOP MANY MANY YEARS AGO SO YOU AINT GONNA IMPRESS ANYBODY. Is there anything else you would like to add? THE PORTERS AND SOME GUIDES HAD VERY LITTLE MOUNTAIN CLOTHING WHICH CAME AS A SHOCK TO ME WHEN THE YOUR COMPANY INFORMES ME IN THE BROCHURE THAT IT TAKES CARE OF ITS PORTERS ETC.THIS CLEARLY ISNT THE CASE AND EXODUS SHOULD LOOK AT THIS MATTER VERY VERY CLOSELY, IF THE PORTERS CANT MAKE IT THEN WE CANT MAKE IT, AND EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT TO KEEP THEM DRY WARM AND COMFORTABLE JUST LIKE WE HAVE.AT NO TIME DID I SEE EXODUS ON ANY STAFF MEMBER, JUST THE AFRICAN WALKING COMPANY ON SHIRTS ETCTHE TREK WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS FOR SOME OF US BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST TWO DAYS LONGER, HAVING SUFFERED FROM A.M.S BEFORE I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOW ACCLIMATISATION AND I THINK THAT WE WERE VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE LOST MORE CLIENTS FROM ALTITUDE RELATED PROBLEMS DUE TO THE RAPID ACCENT.ALSO THE DIET WAS NOT GREAT AND I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT , TO GET TO THE TOP WE REQUIRE PLENTY OF ENERGY AND I THOUGHT THAT WE WERNT GETTING THIS FROM THE TYPES OF MEALS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, WE HAD PLENTY OF SNACKS TO KEEP US GOING BUT SOME NEVER ,LEAVING THEM WEAKER ESPECIALY FOR THE SUMMIT PUSH , IF EXTRA SNACKS WERE PROVIDED DURING THE DAY THIS WOULD HELPBUT ALL IN ALL IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE THAT I WOULD DO AGAIN, BUT A SLIGHLY LONGER ROUTE FOR SURESAFE TREKINGShow more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Emily5.0•March 2012
  This is a fantastic and unforgettable trip, made a pure delight by the kindness of the guides/porters and the humour...
  This is a fantastic and unforgettable trip, made a pure delight by the kindness of the guides/porters and the humour of my fellow travellers. It is tough but that is what makes it feel like such an achievement. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It's difficult to pick one moment. Personally, I loved the summit climb. I was lucky that I didn't really feel any ill effects from altitude on that day and I knew from around 5,000m that I was going to make it. The guides are the most inspirational aspect of the trip. You have to walk at your own speed and they will support each individual. I had to go ahead of my sister but you KNOW your loved ones will be looked after so you can concentrate on your own journey. It may sound selfish but you will only have enough grit to get yourself up and being able to utterly trust your guides makes that decision easy.  What did you think of your group leader? Passian was our guide and I trusted him completely. That said, ALL the guides were lovely. Diglan, Christopher, Richard, Ronald and Nelson were our team, and they were all great to chat to. They will solve literally any problem you have, with bags, poles, sunglasses... They were always there to hold things, help with things - and let them! They are much better at this than us so be gracious and appreciative. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? There is lots to think about but mostly, as everyone says, listen to your guides and take things slowly. I was surprised that the walk/altitude is hard RIGHT from the start. Definitely take some snacks. We had isotonic sachets for the summit night which were great as you don't really feel like eating. Remember sunscreen - particularly on your hands! I would also say don't panic if you start feeling the ill-effects of altitude. Most of us felt terrible at some point but most of us made it up. Just discuss everything with the guides. I felt very nauseous at Mawenzi Tarn (4,330m) but after drinking ANOTHER 1 litre of water and a rest I felt better. I was offered Diamox and I took it because I didn't want that nausea to come back and I never looked back!  Is there anything else you would like to add? Everyone says this but enjoy every step and every day. Be prepared, the weather changed every five minutes when we were there which drives you crazy. I wish I'd taken a great compact camera rather than a big one that stayed in my bag. I am stealing photos off other people! Go for it. Don't stress about fitness as it's nothing like running round the park. The only thing that stops people is altitude and that seemed indiscriminate. If you have any space in your bag, please please take some extra thermals/waterproofs/walking kit to donate to the porters. It snowed while we were there and many of them were totally unprotected from the elements. That is my one regret because you couldn't do it without them. Enjoy!Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Jeffery5.0•February 2012
  This was a wonderful experience - tough as it comes, but so well supported by the experienced guides that we could...
  This was a wonderful experience - tough as it comes, but so well supported by the experienced guides that we could hardly fail to succeed. Cannot believe how well organised and planned the whole trip was, from the excellent food through to the expert advice of the guides. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the summit was obviously a key moment in the trip as the thought of this was what sustained us through the long, dark and arduous final ascent.  Seeing the sunrise an hour or two earlier at Gillman's point was spectacular.  Asked about the most inspirational part of the journey, I immediately think of the local team - the guides and porters, for whom nothing was too much trouble, and for whom the ascent seemd the easiesyt and most natural thing in the world.  Their fitness and good humour was certainly an inspiration to me! What did you think of your group leader? Abraham was outstanding.  He was knowledgable, experienced had advice on every aspect of the trip, helped prepare us for thoroughly for each stage, and when necessary was prepared to take every step necessary to help us succeed.  He offered to carry my backpack when the going got tough, and when I couldn't take another step without a lengthy rest, he was on hand to coax me onwards.  He organised everything thoroughly and the whole trip was as smooth as clockwork as a result. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take the extra day, if available, to acclimatise.  Take the Diamox.  Go slowly - remember it's not a race!  Drink as much water as possible.  Trust the guides' local knowledge.  On the final ascent, concentrate on not bumping into the guy in front!  I took my ipod, saved the battery for that last climb, and it was invaluable. Take lots of photos (and videos if you can) because the memory fades fast!   Is there anything else you would like to add? All of the support team were great - from the group leader, the assistant guides, the cook (especially!) and the porters.  The only lemish was the fact that the tip guide we were given did not account for our extra acclimatisation day, so that when we thought we were giving tips at the top of the recommended range, they turned out to be somewhat less than that.Show more
  Traveled in January 2012
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  Robert4.0•February 2012
  This trip is a perfect way to maximise your chances of getting to the summit of Kilimanjaro. What was the most...
  This trip is a perfect way to maximise your chances of getting to the summit of Kilimanjaro. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Obviously getting to the summit, but also knowing that the work put in on the previous days had made it all possible. What did you think of your group leader? Joshua had taken up a famous baseball player on his last trip so we felt quite chuffed he was doing us 'normal' people! He was there for you and was the reason I got to the top. His experience meant that we were in good hands and he was also very approachable and you could have a good chat to him about pretty much most things. Overall though he had your best interests at heart which was what counted. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You really don't need diamox if you follow the advice and structure of the trip. Just set off at the guide's pace, eat the food even if you don't feel like it and drink lots although not too much or you'll flush out all your salts! The summit night is hard because you have walked to the base in the morning, then you do the summit up and down, then walk to the next camp in the afternoon, with no sleep. It's fine though, just go at your pace, don't dress too warmly, if I did it again I'd have 3 layers on the bottom and 5 on top. Down jackets are not necessary if you layer correctly. Hire one of the sleeping mats as it doesn't count towards your allowance that the porters carry and it gives you a good nights sleep. Also there were a lot and I mean a lot of people whose luggage was mysteriously disappearing at the airport and then reappearing a couple of days later. In the meantime you had to hire all the gear that was missing and it's not cheap, some of the hire costs are higher then buying the kit in the UK! 2 out of the 3 people on my trip had their kit go missing. 10 out of 11 on another. It's an issue that needs addressing as the last thing you need is all your expensive kit going walkabouts when you're about to take on such a challenge. Is there anything else you would like to add? Enjoy the trip as well as the challenge, it's unusual as you have to do all the walking to get to the actual day when I expect most of us are used to driving to the base of most things! The altitude really didn't affect any of us except for small headaches which paracetamol sorted out. The reason was we followed the guide's advice and each day walked high and camped low. It's a great challenge and from what I could see this trip from Exodus is one of the best both in terms of value and for success in getting there.Show more
  Traveled in January 2012
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  Sean5.0•January 2012
  My friend climbed the Rongai Route with Exodus and had only good things to say and highly recommeded the trip to me....
  My friend climbed the Rongai Route with Exodus and had only good things to say and highly recommeded the trip to me. All I can say is that the trip with Exodus was everything I had hoped for, a brilliant experience! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the highest point of Africa What did you think of your group leader? Tosha from the African Walking Company was calm, patient and pleasant and was a pleasure to have as our leader.   Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Although we all want to get to the summit of Kilimanjaro, take the time to enjoy the journey getting there.Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Stuart5.0•January 2012
  This was a fabulous trip, not exactly a holiday, more a lifetime experience. If you
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Niki5.0•January 2012
  This special trip also gave us the chance to get to know the locals and our porters for the trip by joining their...
  This special trip also gave us the chance to get to know the locals and our porters for the trip by joining their english classes for a couple of mornings. By the time we were on the adventure we had already go to niow the fabulsous group of people that would be supporting us on trek. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Kili is defnitiely not for the faint hearted and whilst not too demanding physically (the more prep you do, the easier on the body it is) However, the slow plod up the mountain in the dark is tough mentally. But worth it when the sun comes up and you can see the crater and all that is around you. Awesome. What did you think of your group leader? John the trip leader was excellent, always cheerful and daily checks on the physical and mental health of the group. Florence was also excellent, a little calmer, but alwys on the look out to see how members of the group were doing, and I believe he has just had a well earnt promotion. All of the porters and assistant guides were adorable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Train hard, listen to the guides and enjoy the journey. Laugh you way through any moments of discomfort. Is there anything else you would like to add? A really great set-up, one of the best Exodus trips I have been on so far. I would highly recommend this enjoyable challenge.Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  George5.0•January 2012
  Not a thing I did not like - but as this was my 4th trip that's hardly surprising. This time - no anxiety - no stress...
  Not a thing I did not like - but as this was my 4th trip that's hardly surprising. This time - no anxiety - no stress - just trying hard to make myself a part of the mountain. It does work - believe me. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I deliberately opted not to do the summit climb in favour of spending time at Kibo. Walking part way up whilst others were coming down - time to take in the view - realising that even at 17,000 feet my pulse was normal and waking up to see Mawenzi, the camp and the main route up covered in snow - my first snow on the mountain on my 4th trip. Let's not forget either the ascent to Kibo from the Saddle - walking an hour in horizontal sleet without a care in the world and not the slightest inclination to hurry - so un-me. Finally the guides - maybe because it was my 4th trip and I am 60 they seemed to treat me as a bit special (or possibly mad!!) What did you think of your group leader? Highly competant Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I have seen people die on the mountain, fit strong mountaineers descending looking like old men, people who made it easily to the top unable to remember anything about summit day and I have also seen a lady of 70 reaching the summit carring her guides rucksack. After 4 trips I have learned the truth - you rush (fight) the mountain at your peril. Go slower than you want to - the mountain will wait. Stop when told to. Talk less that you want to. Become a part of the mountain and you will make it. Is there anything else you would like to add? I loved the place, the people and every moment of every trip. This has got to be the second best place in the whole world to visit. (The best? - try an extended stay in Bolivia) Show more
  Traveled in December 2011