Kilimanjaro Rongai 5g

No pain - no gain!

This life changing event makes me walk tall.

For one who enjoys his own company best and almost always walks alone (in Scotland) this was a great trip - the trekkers, the porters, the guides and the entire arrangement. Well done the AWC. In my 'thank you' speech to the porters I meant what I said - we could not have achieved the climb without them. How many westerners could carry all their food, tents and equipment at that altitude for almost a week and still sing to you at the end?

The summit was achieved by sheer determination (yes I had AMS, but fortunately not too bad). I had done lots of local mountain walking beforehand & was physically fit enough for the week, but nothing prepares you for the altitude - we had some with no effects & some who were unable to attempt the summit (not for want of trying)- so listen and follow all the advice you are given and the guides will do their utmost to safely see you to the summit. There is a lot of information available in books & on the web about this.

I enjoyed the route - up one route and down another with tents (in style). This provided an ever changing vista and a close look at Mawenzi that others will only admire from a distance.

You may not use all the kit on the list, but it will prepare you for whatever the weather delivers. Again, its about safety & giving yourself the best chance. One item I don't think was on the list is herbal sleeping tablets, Available at most chemists/pharmacies. I don't sleep too regular at home & should have thought to take them. I didn't sleep at all in the 42 hours before attempting the summit - it may have been more enjoyable if I had. Can I try again?

P.S. please visit www.justgiving.com/mikefarrance & make a small donation, thanks

excellent choice in every way

I must admit l didn't anticipate anything like what l had experienced. I was both nervous and excited before the climb and especially after watching the comic relief team. If Chris Moyles can do it then so can l!!
I have never attempted anything as challenging as this- both physically and mentally. The 1st 2 days were a piece of cake and thought "what's all the fuss about", but after the 3rd day you soon realise that this was probably not the best idea in the world. The altitude sickness soon kicks in, the taste buds diasppear and you lose the appetite for the delicious food the cook has conjured up. All l survived on was water, fruit and tea.
Having said that, the guides were fantastic they looked after us so well and always provided service with a smile! Without them, especially Joseph, l could not have made it to the summit. He carried my day sack for me, gave me water when l needed it, was extremely patient and gave me a huge hug at the summit and encouraged me all the way.
The staff at African Walking company were excellent and l would definitely recommend their services to anyone as they take pride in their work. The porters are amazing- carrying at least 25kg and running past you with a smile and a "Jambo" it puts us to shame especially as l was struggling carrying even my day sac!!
One thing l must advise people thinking of attempting the Kili and that is -listen to the guides as they are the most experienced and POLE POLE is a must!!

Far less crowded vs the other routes...

If you're ok with tenting, then this route offers several advantages:
1. Quicker, so you spend less time in a tent.
2. Far less traffic.
3. The climb is relatively easy for the first two days.

Downside:
1. Faster climb means more chance of altitude sickness. The guides watch you closely and take every precaution and measure to reduce this.
2. You are tenting the entire time vs other routes that offer the huts.
3. The hike down after summiting is very long and almost as tiring. But all routes have this problem.

I'm glad I took this route. One extra day could have been useful to allow for better acclimatization.

Rongai

I'm still buzzing from this trip and would recommend it to anyone wanting to climb the mountain. It was the hardest thing I've ever done but worth it, and the AWC porters, guides and cook make it that much easier and as pleasant as possible!

Good duration, great food and plenty of it, no issues with water etc. Tents and hired equipment (poles essential, and get the thick sleeping mat - add a thermarest and you'll sleep like a baby) were good quality.

The kit list says gaiters are optional...IMO they are essential, as is a buff/bandana - all to keep the dust out, especially on the scree run back down! 10 hours from Kibo to Uhuru and 2 hours down, the descent was a bit of excitement I hadn't really anticipated!!!

That said, nothing compares to the feeling when you realise that as you sit at the top, you are higher than anyone else on the continent...magic!!!

Rongai Route

This is a great route to take. It's not very busy so you feel often like you are the only group on the walk (you will meet up with other groups at the campsites, but the groups seem to org so that you all leave at dif times so you are separate for the day).

Also, great that you get to walk up the north side, rongai route and then walk down the Marangu route. This is great because the terrain is so different. It is very dry on the north side and felt like we were walking on the moon from the 3rd day onwards, and the maragu route is a lot more green with beautiful rainforrest from about halfway down.

The food is great with it all prepared for you with variety every day from fish to chicken and always each night a great homemade soup as well mmmm No problems with water or illness either. The guides and porters are also great and will always do anything to help you when you need. Our head guide was excellent, we trusted his judgement 100%.

The first 4 days are pretty easy with only one day being 7 hours of walking the rest are 4 or 5 hours of REALLY slow walking so you acclimatise. As its pretty easy its lovely to enjoy the walk and admire the clouds that your above from day 2!! The campsites are AMAZING!! Campsite for nights 2 and 3 are just spectacular... easily the best campsites I have ever stayed at! You are above the clouds which is beautiful at sunrise and sunset and makes looking at the stars just surreal.

Now when people say that climbing Kili is the hardest thing they have ever done, they are not talking about the whole climb up. As I said befoe the first 4 days are pretty easy. It's the last summit night climb that is pretty darn tough. You leave at midnight and walk in the freezing cold almost so slow you feel like your walking back but its still taking more energy then you would every expect! You cant rest for long coz you'll freeze so you have to just keep plodding on. Sunrise is amazing (not coz you appreciate the beauty, but coz you are glad to get some warm). They estimate it shoudl take you 8-9 hours to get to the summit.. our group took 11! So it is a tough long gruelling day. Its all mental not really physical (unless you get altidue sickness).

But once you get to the top it is all worth it. Absolutely amazing and like nothing you will have ever experienced before. its like desert with glaciers on it!

We had a great fun group which makes the experience as good as it gets.

Highly recommended. Easily the highlight of my 7 week trip to Tanzania!

just do it

I have just completed my 6 day/5 night walk up the Rongai route and down marangu route of kilimajaro. At the time I thought what am I doing and now i have been back just a few short days i can honestly say that although it was the hardest thing I have done it was also the best thing so if you are fully prepared for the hard work to train and the feeling of satisfaction you get when you reach the top then go for it.

The african walking company were great from porters and cook to guides. They got our group of 8 up the moutain on the final summit attempt and without them all it would not have been possible. The facilities provided from tents, to campsite to even the toilet facilities were all provided efficently and always with a smile.

The african walking company have a good record of getting people up the mountain safely and I can see why.

If you fancy the challenge then this is a great trip to choose

ronga route

This trip is the absolute business. If you are even thinking about maybe doing it, just do it.
Don't underestimate how much work it is but with all the support from staff and the members of your team it can easily be done with a bit of will power.
Up until the last day I personally did not find it that hard, although others in the group were suffering a bit, one person actually had a fever the night before we started but he still made it.
The last day however is extremly hard, basically 7 hours straight of panting and hard work. It is all worth it though as the sun comes up and your looking down on it and you have a panorama spread at your feet.
It is the hardest physical thing I have ever done but I am even thinking of doing it again because it was so much fun.

The food is excellent and the guides are friendly and supportive. The posters are also friendly and helpful. They are also th strongest group of human beings I have ever met running past carrying 25kgs up hill at extreme alttitude and still smiling (most of the time)

For all the talk of the toilet being horrible its actually quite nice, doesn't smell and is a lot better than glastonbury toilets.
I could not recommend this trip more highly.

Rongai : JUN09

First, we climbed the Kilimanjaro on the Rongai route (five night trip in a group of 12 people). The mountain was tough, but we made it. The guides and porters of African Walking Company were all very reliable. Thanks to them, we made it to the top and came back save. We were an extraordinary good group and had a lot of fun together.