Kilimanjaro - Rongai Route

A fantastic itinery. We were met at Kilimanjaro Airport by our guides and some of the porters. From that point on we were kept informed of everything that was happening and we were extremely well looked after. Our guides Abraham, Amos and Felix were of the highest standard, very friendly and had every intention that we would enjoy our trek and would not fail in getting to the top. The night of the final summit takes much mental as well as physical strength. Our guides ensured that we did not falter in our quest to complete our challenge. As a group we were kept well fed by Mao (Mr Delicious) and his staff. I would recommend this route as well as the Tanzanian Company (Tropical Trails) to anyone thinking of challenging themselves to reach the summit.

Well done Adventure Travel for chosing such an excellent Company to be your representatives in Tanzania.

Extremely efficient. Made sure that everyone of his guides,porters and chef knew their tasks. As he is responsible for the efficiency, safety and enjoyment of the whole trek and everything went so smoothly he cannot be faulted. 

The highlight has to be the fellow travellers I shared the experience with. The views from some of our campsites have been totally breath taking.

[Least enjoyed] It was hard to get to sleep at night with the noise from the porters.  Even our lead guide, William, looked tired most days and had to ask us for pain killers.  On summit night, William suggested the slowest member of our team was put to the front and a pace will be set even the slowest person can follow.  Unfortunately the pace was still too quick, and often the slowest member had to stop to catch her breath whilst William walked on unknowingly.  Part way through the summit climb, it was too cold to keep stopping.  Our group was split into 3 or 4 teams by our own request.  Each arrived at the summit separately. I would have liked us to arrive at the summit together separately.   Eventually, the slowest team member had to give up, William decended with her.  Is it usual for the lead guide to decend with the first unsuccessful climber and not greet the successful climbers when they arrived back at camp?

Is our lead guide supposed to be interacting with us only at the end of breakfast and dinner to brief us for the day's itinerary?  At the end of the trip, our team donated items of equipment and clothing.  The distribution of the items was decided by William, is this the usual practice?  It didn't feel like a fair distribution.  Some of the donated items wasn't handed out.  William gave us a sheet of paper with over 50 names of all our porters and guides.  In our group photo I counted a total of 36 We were told 4 porters had already left to set up the next camp.  We tipped every name on the sheet but we are suspicious the actual number of porters and guides is same as the number in the sheet.    Some of the porters and guides were very helpful, Adronis, John (the guide), John (the porter), Justin, Necole and many others. However, we all agreed that William was unsuitable as the lead guide, he lacked leadership and commitment.

some of the campsites have a lot of litter

Lack social interaction with climbers. Looked tired most of the time. Didn't set very good pace on summit night. Wasn't there to lead us to summit. Didn't greet us at camp site on decend. Unfair distribution of donated items.  Kept most of the good items to himself.

Mr C - Travelled in July 2012

***** Comment from The Adventure Company*****

We were surprised by these comments about the guide William. He has guided this trip many times before and knows that the pace of the walking needs to be tailored to the slowest member of the group, and that on summit night due to the difference paces, the group will need to be split. In particular the comments about the number of porters seen on tour and the number tipped, and William keeping donated items for himself are a concern. Over the first half of this year, William’s feedback score has been one of the highest of any tour leaders. Our expectations have been reiterated to William. We will be monitoring his feedback very closely and if he receives similar comments in future, we will have to review whether he keeps working for us.

Making the summit. Meeting some fabulous people

[Least enjoyed] The whole group as always on these trip being made to feel uneasy on the last few days of the trip about tipping,  surely companies like yours should be able to come to some agreement with the tour providers to alleviate this by including or even adding standard tipping to the holiday cost. It’s not as though the tipping is discretionary as we are handed a sheet upon arrival stating tipping levels & requirements.

The Capricorn Hotel used for the first night was very poor and not even 1 star. -Tents were good, quite satifactory!! -Karama Lodge used for the last night was excellent just a shame it wasnt used for the first night as the Capricorn was poor!

Mr S - Travelled in August 2012

Getting to the summit of Kilimanjaro

[Least enjoyed] a 10 mile walk on the afternoon of summit night after a 2 hr rest

This booking was advertised as a full moon summit and was booked for this reason only, upon arrival in tanzania it was apparent that this was not likely to happen ( unless we sat around for another week at least. This was mentioned within the group and it would seem that this was confirmed as a mistake by the adventure company to some travellers. i discussed this with amy on many occasions as the main reason i wanted this departure and am very disapointed that this information was not passed on to me.

Mr S - Travelled in May 2012

Comment from The Adventure Company:

We have been unable to find any mention on any advertising that this was a Full Moon departure. Neither can we find any mention of this on any calls or emails with the customer. 

Fantastic trip and I reached the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro as intended.

I don't think the itinerary stresses enough just how difficult this last few days at high altitude really are, especially the summit night - stating it is merely 'strenuous' does not reflect the true nature of the physical demand it places on you.  I consider myself to be very fit as were most of the others in the group and everyone though it to be very difficult.

The information for sleeping bags in nowhere near adequate; ratings of 3/4 season is not suitable,  you need a 4 season that will cope with low temperature and it should also specify the temperature ranges you are likely to encounter as not all 4 seasons bags go to a low enough range.  We experienced down to -16degC on some nights.  Equipment list specified a warm mid-layer of fleece or down to go with your jacket.  You need fleece AND at least a down vest/body warmer and preferably a down jacket (as the guide advised on the summit night).  Had I not checked with another traveller before going I would not have packed my down vest and would have been without an essential clothing item on summit night; the temperature was -18degC on that night and again the itinerary should reflect this.

Mr T - Travelled in May 2012