Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Standing at 5,895m, Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. This vast, snow-capped and fortunately dormant/extinct volcano is found in the southern hemisphere in northwest Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border.

The uppermost point of the world's highest free-standing mountain is Uhuru peak and your goal is to summit this via the Rongai Route. This is an 11 day round trip from the UK, which includes your travel time.  Our 9 day services start when we pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and finish when we drop you back there for your return flight home.

• 7 days guiding by professional guides.
  
• We'll pick you up and drop you off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
  
• Porter assistance for the entire route.
• Fully catered trek with your own cook!
• All camping equipment provided
• Set open dates or bespoke courses for individuals to larger groups - just ask if the date you want is not listed.
  
• Many years experience providing mountaineering courses.
  
• You need to have a good level of fitness
• Stunning scenery and a different culture - a winning combination!

The Rongai route on Kilimanjaro is one of  relative solitude, less travelled than the Lemosho and Machame Routes.  It approaches the mountain from the north, so has a longer transfer time from your hotel.

We normally run this trip over a  9 day period, with our services starting on a Saturday, however if you would like to do this at any other time then please contact us.

You will meet your guide on the evening of your arrival in Tanzania.  At this time they will go through the planned route and carry out an equipment check to ensure you have everything you need to enable you to enjoy the trip.

A typical day on the trek starts with a wake up call at about 6:30am depending upon what your activity will be for the day. Breakfast at 7:30 - 8:00am followed by trekking start at 8:30am.  You can stop for tea during the morning and probably break for lunch at about Midday. If you need to walk in the afternoon, then you will generally be at your day's destination by about 3:00 - 4:00pm. Evening meal will be served at about 6:00pm before an early bed time. Of course these times are flexible but the rhythm is dictated by daylight and you will need a lot of sleep.

A typical itinerary is as below.

Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members' fitness, weather conditions or for any other reason the guide may deem necessary. This trip involves travel to high altitudes and to areas where a short notice change of itinerary may be necessary.

This trek visits high altitudes! It is imperative you are properly acclimatised not only to have a safe trek, but also an enjoyable one as altitude sickness has the capacity to make you feel very miserable! All along the way you will find warnings about ascending too quickly. If you show signs of altitude sickness, appropriate measures (i.e. descent) must be taken. Inform yourself as much as possible about this issue before you go so that you have an understanding of how it can affect you. Keep your guide informed regarding how you are feeling during the trek.

We have an excellent network of contacts in Tanzania for providing this trip. Your guide will be certified, accredited and  an English speaker. You'll have the backup of a great local team to help you along. The support team includes local Tanzanian registered guides, porters and a cook. The guides we use have many years' experience guiding Mt Kilimanjaro with some having made over 100 ascents!

We adhere to the guidelines laid down by the International Porter Protection Group. This organisation works to improve the working conditions of mountain porters in the tourism industry worldwide. Therefore we do not ask our porters to carry more than 20kg per load (this is advised by the IPPG). We provide adequate clothing per porter for the intended trek and full insurance during their time of employment. Because of these guidelines, we ask you to limit the equipment you ask your porter to carry to a maximum of 15kg. Many 'Westerners' feel uncomfortable seeing a local 'carrying their bags'. There are many reasons why this should not be so. Guiding and portering are recognised professions in Tanzania and often form a vital part of a family's income. Remember - for them this is a job, just as in the UK many individuals work for someone else.

The hotel accommodation is in twin rooms (if you want a single let us know - there is a surcharge) with ensuite bathrooms. The hotel has a pool for you to relax in when not on the mountains or after a long flight and have a refreshing drink!

The accommodation on the trek is in tents. We provide all camping hardware during the trek.

All British nationals require a visa for entry into Tanzania. You need to arrange these prior to departure with the relevant embassy. If you are not a British national then you will also need to contact the embassy to enquire about visa requirements. It is more than likely you will need one.  We recommend you obtain your visa documents prior to travelling.

For medical and inoculations advice contact your GP before you travel. Do this in good time (3 months) as many injections/ treatments must be given a certain time apart.

Climbing the highest peak in Africa requires considerable fitness. The approach days are relatively manageable, but the tough one is the summit day.  The ascent from Kibo to Gillman's point is hard work by anyone's standard and so you will have to be prepared for this. Therefore it is best to arrive in Africa suitably conditioned and, if you have not done so already, then start to get fit.  Visit your local gym or go for a bike ride. If you arrive there suitably conditioned then you will enjoy the trip so much more. You will need to be fit enough for a summit day of 12 – 14hrs.

We recommend that you follow a fitness plan in preparation for your challenge, an example of one will be sent to you when you have confirmed your booking.

Although the fitness plan we will send to you has been devised by a fitness professional, this is only provided as a guide and you should seek professional advice before starting your own fitness regime.

Weather conditions permit us to run this course anytime during July, August and September as well as mid December through until the end of February.

Please note that the listed dates are 'in country' service provision dates and do not include time required for travel to and from this event.  Please see itinerary above and factor in your travel time to/from Tanzania when planning your trip.

We can also run bespoke trips for you on dates of your choosing, based on a mininum number of 2.

2013 season scheduled dates are:

If the date you want is fully booked or not listed please contact us by clicking on the link below - we may still be able to help!

All requested dates are unconfirmed until minimum numbers have been booked.

The cost of this trip is £1,795 per person. To book your space on this trip a deposit of £295 is required upon completing your booking form. The remainder of the balance is then due 10 weeks prior to your departure.

• Professional event organisation.
  
• Qualified mountain guides.
  
• Arrival and departure transport from Kilimanjaro Airport.
• All other in country ground transfers relevant to the course
• Twin rooms in comfortable hotel accommodation with breakfast when not on the mountain. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
  
• Fully catered camping trek
• Cook
• National park fees
• Porter assistance for the duration of the trek.
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders.

2013 prices: £1,795pp

Doing this event for charity? Pay a registration fee (deposit) and confirm with your charity minimum fundraising requirements for the balance. Ask us for details.