Rongai Route

Mount Kilimanjaro

Rongai Route Overview

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The Rongai route on Mount Kilimanjaro is seven days and camping only, this route is regarded as a lower traffic and easier route compared to those on the southern slopes. It’s advantages are a more gradual ascent in terms of terrain which allows for excellent acclimatisation plus we include an additional days acclimatisation so you can enjoy the stunning scenery from Mawenzi camp. The days are shorter and less demanding on the Rongai route.

It takes five days ascending through the forest, onto the heathland and to the summit coming from the NNE side of the mountain and after summiting there are two days of descent and exit through Mweka Gate on day seven. The trip is a great opportunity to see diverse vegetation and wide-eyed views especially from higher camps.

The Rongai Route is a camping trip for an average group size of 8 (we can take up to a maximum of 25 people but this is usually only for organised private groups; most team sizes are 6 – 8 people) using top quality mountain tents, comfortable mattresses, and qualified guides who work with us full time, porters who carry the bags and equipment, and cooks who provide fresh, tasty food every day. The ratio of guide:climber is 1:4.

Adventure Alternative has been running treks / climbs of Kilimanjaro for over two decades, and with our own company in Tanzania, we have a reputation for integrity and safe, successful trips. We run climbs of Kilimanjaro every month and our summit success rate is 95%.

Our staff are professional, qualified and experienced. We look after them excellently and in turn they look after you excellently! Our prices are land based and all inclusive including all park fees – there are no hidden kitties or fees. We do not charge additional fees by season and the price you see is the price you pay. We are a professional and ethical mountaineering company and can ensure you a wonderful and enjoyable climb of Mt Kilimanjaro.

Find out more and book a life-changing Kilimanjaro Trek at Adventure Alternative

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RONGAI ROUTE COST:

£1955.00

Includes

Accommodation in Moshi for 3 nights in the Keys Annexe Hotel (twin, B&B)
Jeep or coach transport to the mountain gate from and to Moshi
Park fees, camping fees and park rescue fees
Park certified guides (ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 depending on team size and company reps)
Porters and cooks, plus equipment and tents for them
All camping equipment including sleeping tents with mattresses
Expedition administrator, translator and Manager
Meals on the mountain - fresh food, 3 meals per day
UK administration and organisation of your trip

Excludes

International airfare to Kilimanjaro Airport
Airport transfers (£10/$15 per person one way)
Tanzanian Visa ($50 for most passports & $100 for USA citizens, purchased on arrival)
Vaccinations and malaria tablets (~£50+)
Personal expenses (£ varies)
Travel insurance (~£30+)
Lunch and dinners in Moshi (~£20+)
Tips (~£80 paid in local Tanzanian Shillings for distribution at exit gate)

How do payments work?

We try to make payments as easy and manageable for you as possible. We ask for a deposit of £250 on booking (which is included in the advertised trip fee). The balance is then due 4 weeks prior to your trip start date. When you book a trip with us you are automatically given an online account on our secure server. You can then sign into your account at anytime to make interim payments or to make one instalment 4 weeks before your trip. It’s totally up to you, you can spread the cost or make one balance payment.

Not all about money

Our prices are competitive and good value, and we offer quality, an excellent service, security and a strong stance on tourism in a developing country. We don’t want to be so expensive to run fewer trips and have our staff idle, but on the other hand we believe that running cheap trips that promote the practise of skimming budgets would result in the porters getting next to nothing, which is something we cannot consider.

Additionally we will only run 7 day trips, since any less is dangerous for a peak just short of 6000 metres (equivalent to Camp 1 on Mount Everest). Current National Park and camping fees are included in our trip fee and are circa USD $150 per person per day, which makes Kilimanjaro an expensive peak to visit. Reducing the number of days may make the price cheaper but the chances of summiting reduce to around 50% and it is potentially dangerous.

We include lots of support staff plus one guide for every two or three climbers (ratios change depending on the number of climbers but our guide to climber ratio is never greater than 1:3). We do not operate kitties and we use a very good hotel in town with which we have built up a strong relationship for the past twenty years.

We have our own license to operate tours on Mount Kilimanjaro and are a member of the local Tanzanian Association of Tour Operators.

Travel insurance

We advise you to take out your insurance as soon as possible to cover potential events that might cause you to cancel your trip.

You need to ensure that you have a policy which covers trekking to 5895m, helicopter rescue and cancellation, but it does not need to cover technical climbing. You should bring with you a copy of your policy and ensure your tent mate knows where you keep it. Many of our clients use Sports Cover Direct.

“Superb Leaders”

“Just thought I would drop you a line to say how fantastic an experience the climb was, we loved every minute of it. As you will know we both achieved the summit with no real ill effects from the altitude and best of all no Diamox. Lipman, Godfrey, Kamanda, Simba and John were superb leaders all in their own styles they have my up most respect.”

Mount Kilimanjaro Fitness and Terrain

This is a trek to climb Kilimanjaro with no technical requirements, but it does offer a mountain experience which includes camping and being outdoors all the time, and walking uphill every day for a week for an average of 5 or 6 hours per day. Any regular hill walker will find climbing Kilimanjaro within his or her capabilities, but also remember that you will be sleeping and eating on the mountain too. The cumulative effect will be tiring and you should mentally prepare for a week of sleeping in a tent and living outdoors.

A training programme should include regular hill walking with a small pack of around 10 kgs, or regular visits to the gym for the final two months before departure. Work on strengthening calf and thigh muscles and exercise your cardio-vascular stamina on a step machine or cross trainer, but remember this is a holiday and not a forced march! Don’t approach it as if you are training for a marathon, and remember it can be dangerous to over train.

The secret of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is to go slowly and enjoy the scenery, drink well, eat well and sleep well. A regular, consistent and slow pace will ensure the proper acclimatisation. Statistically the biggest proportion of failure occurs with young, fit males who go too fast and ignore the simple rules. It’s not a race or a competition!

Operate on the principle that if you look after yourself well during the first five days, then the sixth ‘summit day’ will be a big challenge but not dangerous. We cannot condone the people who push themselves beyond the bounds of safety and wear the badge of hardship as a medal of honour, perpetuating the image that getting to the summit has an element of masochism to it! “This is just an example of bad mountaineering”, says Director Gavin Bate, “We want people to be clear-headed on the summit, with the strength to come all the way back down again! Drink lots of liquid, eat every meal and go slowly all the way – this is the mantra that my staff will say to you over and over again”.

Terrain on Mount Kilimanjaro

The terrain on Kilimanjaro varies throughout; in a period of seven days, traversing the mountain over 50 miles, ascending from 2000m to 5895m and back down, you will pass through cultivated farmland, equatorial forest and alpine heath, across a lunar-like volcanic desert and up to a glaciated summit. Climbing Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb and there are no precipitous drops along the way, no rock climbing or specialist equipment needed.

The paths are in good condition and well trodden; some are steeper than others and you will most likely meet people all along the way though the Rongai is a quiet route in terms of traffic. On summit day the path is mostly screed, which can be loose and unrelenting, especially on the descent when your knees will probably suffer.

Experience for Mount Kilimanjaro

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a non-technical trek but it does offer a full mountaineering experience. Experience in hill walking is a benefit but not absolutely necessary, since this is a supported climb. You will have however be outdoors constantly and living in tents so any sort of experience with camping will be useful.

It is not necessary to have any experience of high altitude to climb Kilimanjaro, and there is nowhere in the United Kingdom or Ireland to possibly train for it. The important factor will be to go slowly and allow your metabolism to adapt to the lower air pressure and the thinner air.

Support on Mount Kilimanjaro

The staff will carry your main bag up to a maximum weight of 15 kgs plus all the tents, kitchen equipment, food, fuel, tables and chairs. They will cater for all the group needs, providing excellent meals and putting up the tents. The guides will also brief you daily on the climb.

Castro Capelo is our operations manager in Moshi and Director of Adventure Alternative Tanzania. He organises all the staff, equipment, permits and hotel arrangements. You will have his telephone number, or the staff at the hotel desk can call him for you. He is organiser, translator, problem-solver, advisor and the main link between you and the UK office. He talks to the guides every day on the mountain and can make arrangements while you are up high.

You also have continued support from the main office in Northern Ireland. Should a problem arise of significant proportion then you only need to call us.

Mount Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Kit List

Waterproof day sack of about 30 -40 litres for carrying your daily needs
Duffle bag for your main clothing and equipment (to be carried by porter)
Sleeping bag rated down to -10° Celsius or more if you get cold easily
Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support, and a sole that does not bend too easily. Gore-Tex lined fabric boots are fine but not quite as warm as leather. Gaiters are advised also.
Waterproof windbreaker and trousers, preferably breathable, with a hood and big enough to accommodate several layers beneath
Down jacket or a heavy duty fleece for warmth especially on summit night
Thermal underwear or long johns for summit night
Balaclava or insulated warm hat, insulated gloves or mittens and thermal inner gloves
Sun hat, sun lotion, SPF lip screen and sunglasses
Trekking clothes – trousers and shorts, shirts and T-shirts, jumper or midlayer fleece, underwear and several pairs of hiking socks, trainers or sandals
Water bottle and/or camelback (take a protective cover for the mouthpiece) and water purification tablets (optional, iodine-based is fine)
Head torch with spare batteries
Trekking poles (especially useful for coming down from the summit)
Personal wash kit include a nail brush, moisturising cream, a small towel, tweezers, soap, nail clippers and wet wipes
Variety of waterproof bags – for dirty clothes, sleeping bag and things to keep dry
Personal first aid include aspirin, Nurofen, plasters, Germolene, Immodium, strepsils and prescription medicines for possible gastric problems
Passport, insurance papers, spending money, air tickets, 2 pin (round) plug adaptor, spare batteries for digital cameras, reading books, diary, pen

Rental Items for Mount Kilimanjaro

You can rent sleeping bags directly from us and add them when booking, or by logging into your account at a later date. It’s also possible to hire other equipment in Moshi directly from our staff such as walking poles, torches or anything that you may have forgotten.

Find out more and book a life-changing Kilimanjaro Trek at Adventure Alternative

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