Climb 5,895m Mount Kilimanjaro by the unique TK Rongai route, an exclusive route with unparalleled successful summit rates. The traditional Rongai route has its drawbacks, but this variant offers a compelling combination of superb climb high sleep low differential and quiet trails to make it one of our favourites on the mountain.
Small Group 1 week
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TK Rongai is one of several routes up Kilimanjaro, but along with TK Lemosho, it is the route we find ourselves recommending more than any other. It offers phenomenally good summit success rates and a good chance of quiet trails. Climbers benefit from a gentle approach to high camp and the best climb high sleep low differentials on the mountain (a crucial factor in avoiding altitude sickness). Of course, all routes must converge at some point, and TK Rongai climbers either attempt the final ascent from Barafu High Camp or School Huts.
The route chosen depends on the weather, condition of the group and the avoidance of potential crowding and is left to the judgement of your experienced guide. What makes TK Rongai unique (as opposed to the traditional Rongai route in particular) is the phenomenally high summit success rates. Rongai is not possible during the rainy months (April, May, and November) when the conditions of roads make vehicle passage to the start point unsafe. This trek includes airport transfers and a night’s accommodation either end of the trek in Arusha.
Adventurous trekkers can choose the outstanding Excel crater camp option, which includes an extra night after summiting, camping in the crater. It will be cold and the effects of altitude are strong, but the reward is a once in a lifetime experience in a truly alien environment of glaciers, ash-pits and wilderness. Details and photos from crater camp are available here.
The following is an example outline itinerary, the actual route taken for Rongai depends on the prevailing weather, crowds and your guide’s assessment of the group’s progress, all with the intention of delivering the best chances of summitting whilst avoiding crowds.
DAY 1: HOTEL – RONGAI START POINT (1996M) – SIMBA CAMP (2626M)
Breakfast at your hotel is served from 0700. Please ensure that you have packed your bags before breakfast, have signed over your extra luggage that will not be required on the mountain to reception, and have deposited your valuables into the hotel’s safe. Transfer and Registration. You will normally be collected at 0730 from your hotel. In the event that we have to collect climbers from other hotels before collecting you, we may need to amend this to 0800. Should you wish to confirm this in advance please enquire via a text message to +255 78 777 5895. Your driver will transfer you some two hours to Marangu Gate where we complete registration formalities. Climbers should have their passport numbers for their registry entries but are advised to have kept their passports and valuables in the hotel safe (excluding the amount they will budget for tipping their crew). Climbers under 16 years of age, however are required to present their passports to the KINAPA gate staff as proof of their eligibility to climb on a concessionary permit. Failure to do this will result in a cash surcharge being imposed by KINAPA of USD 590 per under-16 climber. From Marangu we transfer to Naro Moru, north east Kilimanjaro, a further 68km and 2 hours 20 minutes on bad roads. Depending on the progress of your transit the guide will designate a suitable location for lunch, usually en route to Naro Moru near to Tarakea. Please note that following any transfer it is customary to tip the driver, $5 - $10 per group is usual. Around 1400 we start trekking from the Rongai Start Point at 1996m, located 600 metres south west of the Naro Moru junction. Today we ascend to Simba Camp at 2626m, a trek of 6.7km. It is usual to arrive in camp shortly before sunset but in the event of road obstacles, recent road damage caused by rains or unforeseen delays, climbers are advised to carry their headtorches in their daysacks.
DAY 2 SIMBA CAMP (2626M) – KIKELEWA CAMP (3279M)
Simba Camp to 3482m for lunch at Second Caves, a distance of 5.8km from Simba. A sheltered 2-3 course lunch seated at a table in a mess tent is the usual daily practice on our climbs, though in good weather we dispense with the mess tent and arrange the table and chairs in the open air. After lunch we trek a further 6.0km to Kikelewa Camp 3679m, for overnight. It is not uncommon to experience a mild headache today though this usually abates within some 2 hours of arriving in camp. Please discuss this with your guide if your headache becomes persistent or intensifies.
DAY 3 KIKELEWA CAMP (3279M) – MAWENZI CAMP (4303M)
Today we travel only a short distance of 3.7km, and while gaining only 624 metres in altitude from Kikelewa to Mawenzi Tarn at 4303m, nonetheless end the day 320 metres higher than on the corresponding day on the Machame Route.. In the afternoon you are advised to request that your guide leads you on an acclimatisation excursion over the spur to your west from where beautiful views towards Kibo can be had in clear weather.
DAY 4 MAWENZI CAMP (4303M) – MAWENZI (4614M) - THIRD CAVES CAMP (3936M)
This morning we surmount Mawenzi’s north west ridge and move around the north western flanks of Mawenzi, crossing onto the high eastern edge of the Plateau, from where some of the rarest, clearest and most dramatic views of both peaks can be had. If you request your guide to take the higher left hand trail past Mawenzi, you will pass within just 820 linear metres of Mawenzi’s summit (5148m). The highest point on this excursion is 4614m and you will have covered 3.6km in distance to reach this from your start point this morning. From here we descend a distance of 8.0km to the tent site at Third Caves Camp to overnight at 3936m, hereby affording a climb high sleep low differential of exactly 678 metres. Compare this with the 658 metres differential on the Machame Route. If you are tired when ascending from Mawenzi and wish to opt for the lower left hand trail this will still ensure a differential of 561 metres, which is still an excellent compromise. Spending the night this low in a significantly more oxygen-rich environment than last night ensures that the body has sufficient reprieve to be able to make the necessary adaptive changes that it has identified the need for during its exposure to the environmental factors associated with high altitude over the last 24 hours. Tomorrow morning, even though you may feel quite tired you will nonetheless be better prepared for your approach to the high camp, via School Hut and Hans Meyer Cave than you would have been on any other route.
DAY 5 THIRD CAVES CAMP (3936M) – SCHOOL HUT (4722M)
After gently traversing the eastern slopes of Kilimanjaro yesterday, today we start the trek upwards from 3rd Caves Camp (3936m) to School Hut (4722m). Shorter distance than yesterday, but 751m of height gain. Do not underestimate today, and the valuable preparation you have completed prior to arriving here. Distance = 4.9km. Aim to get to sleep as soon as possible as you will be woken at around 2300-0000 to begin your assault. Don’t worry about waking yourself for meals - your staff will wake you for these. You probably won’t feel like eating but please endeavour to do so as you’ll need the energy reserves. You are advised to get all your gear ready for the summit bid before you go to sleep as you may feel disoriented when awoken for the assault.
DAY 6 SCHOOL HUT (4722M) – GILLMAN’S POINT (5708M) – UHURU PEAK (5895M) - HOROMBO (3705m)
Around midnight of Day 5 (your guide will judge the time that is optimal for you based on your pace thus far) quit camp for the assault via Gillman’s Point (5708m) to the summit. Tonight is very difficult - particularly the final 550m - and you’ll need to commit to fight for the summit. You will inevitably feel like giving up and going to sleep. This is normal and can be overcome with perseverance. When resting please ensure you only stand or sit and do not lie down or close your eyes. Please trust your guide; he is very adept at judging whether your condition will allow safe progress or whether you have succumbed to a potentially dangerous condition and to proceed will not be safe. Nausea and headaches are normal and around a quarter of climbers will vomit at or near Gilman’s Point. While very uncomfortable, these are not symptoms that are indicative of being at risk, per se. The onset of cerebral and pulmonary oedema are marked by distinctive early warning symptoms that your guide is capable of identifying. Please maintain regular dialogue with him and frequently update him on how you are feeling. Avoiding loose scree slopes above Kibo Hut, we ascend from School Hut (4722m) via Hans Meyer Cave (5243m) and Gillman’s Point (5708m), to Uhuru Peak (5895m). When you reach Gillman’s Point you will sit and rest. At this point the body often thinks you have finished your uphill fight and will be trying to coerce you into giving up and turning around. While you may genuinely believe that you have already exhausted your reserves in reaching this point, this is actually very unlikely to be so. Remember that you are only 187 vertical metres short of the summit (via Stella Point), the journey from here is much less steep, and you have plenty of time for further pauses. If you do feel the need to give up at Gillman’s Point please proceed towards the summit for just two minutes before making your final decision. In most cases this act of re-establishing momentum is enough to persuade the mind and body to co-operate with your intentions and you will ordinarily find hidden reserves for a final push, reserves that you were not aware you still had. On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. The brain does not function very intelligently at this altitude so please remember to take many photographs in all directions or you will probably regret not having done so at a later stage. From the summit you will turn around and descend to Stella Point. From Stella we now follow the ridge line along to Gilman’s Point, and descend using the Rongai’s normal ascent route. There is clear logic is descending a loose scree slope; it is far easier on the knees and as the ground collapses underfoot if you take short quick strides it’s easy to maintain momentum. We do short bursts and take regular rests, pausing to photograph the Saddle beneath us and Kenya to our left. At Kibo Huts we have a short refreshment break before continuing to Horombo 3705m where we overnight again. Distances on summit day: School Hut to Summit via Gillman’s Point: 5.4km Summit to Gillman’s Point: 2.0km Gillman’s Point to Kibo Huts: 3.4km Kibo Huts to Horombo: 9.6km Total summit day’s distance: 20.4km
DAY 7 HOROMBO (3705M) – MARANGU GATE (1860M)
This morning we descend from Horombo to Marangu Gate 1860m via Mandara Huts 2715m. The day’s distance is 19.7km along very well maintained trails. (Horombo to Mandara is 11.6km and Mandara to Marangu Gate is 8.1km). This is the standard Rongai descent route and the Marangu ascent and descent route. At Marangu Gate it is customary for climbers to tip their support staff. Ordinarily tips are collected by one of the climbers and the total amount is handed to the chief guide who himself decides how the amount should be divided amongst the rest of the crew according to a customary scale that is determined by the responsibilities and experience of each staff member. All our chief guides are thoroughly honest and fair in this regard and it is not necessary for climbers to hand out individual envelopes to each porter, cook and assistant guide, unless they specifically wish to do so. Climbers nowadays tend to tip their support crew 10-15% of what they have paid for their climb. Arriving at Marangu Gate at around 1300-1600 climbers are collected and transferred 2 hours back to their hotels in Arusha. We punctuate the return to Arusha with a stop in Moshi to have lunch at the restaurant that we believe makes the best cheeseburgers in the area. Climbing for a week tends to promote such appetites, but if you are not partial to burgers other options will be available to you at this restaurant. Please be aware that while food and soft drinks are included in this meal, climbers are required to pay for their own alcoholic beverages, if they choose to have these. It is usual for only the lead guide, or sometimes the assistant guides also, to join in with this meal, but the rest of the support team will usually wait until they have been reunited with their families before taking their next meal. Having finished lunch and completed the transfer, it is usual to return to your hotel sometime between 1400 and 1700, depending on what time you began this morning and how quickly you descended. Note that if you are required to fly out of Kilimanjaro International Airport the same day as you have descended, on an evening flight, this is possible, but you’ll need to have arranged earlier timings for today with your guide.
This trek includes airport transfers to and from Kilimanjaro Airport (KJO).
It is not possible to fly direct from London to Kilimanjaro (KJO). KLM is the only major international airline to fly directly into Kilimanjaro. Flights are from Amsterdam which has connections from most major International Airports (including Heathrow). This would always be our first recommendation availability allowing.
The next best option is usually to fly Kenya Airways to Nairobi and then on to Kilimanjaro (the second leg by Kenya Airways subsidiary Precision Air on a small prop plane). British Airways and Ethiopia Airlines also offer this route.
The cheapest available fares from the UK vary throughout the year from £590 - £800
For those short of time it is possible to arrive on the KLM flight landing 2045 in Kilimanjaro and start your trek the very next day, you can then depart on an evening flight on the last day of your trek (with a day room in a hotel convenient for the airport to freshen up)
The following are therefore our all-inclusive package prices. These cover the following:
- Pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to your hotel in Arusha
- A night’s accommodation both before and after your climb*
- All climb costs, salaries, food, fees, etc (excluding tips)
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Arusha hotel again
- Transfers back to Kilimanjaro Airport for your return flights
*Accommodation is on B&B basis in our standard range hotels, ie either at the Outpost Lodge, Arusha Naaz Hotel, or Le Jacaranda. If you wish to upgrade to either a mid-range or luxury option a surcharge is payable.
Significant additional cost considerations are as follows:
- Flights or overland transfers to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha town if approaching from Nairobi
- Visas
- Tips to the mountain staff (guideline aprox $200-$250 per person for the whole crew)
- Meals other than breakfast while in Arusha
additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
- Hotel upgrade costs if you decide to request an alternative hotel to the standard
- Items considered to be non-essential, such as alcohol, beverages, cigarettes, snacks, etc
Although there are no black-out dates on Kilimanjaro, Lemosho and Rongai are not possible during the rainy season as the roads to the access points become impassable, suring these months (April, May and November) please consider Machame or Marangu routes.
*****December – March is typically dry, with clear skies (great views) but colder with a higher chance of snow on the mountain. The 2 weeks around Christmas and New Year can be the busiest of the year on Kilimanjaro.
** April – May Not possible. Please consider Machame or Marangu routes
**** June – October is dry but the months of July and August tend to be busy (coinciding with the Western school holidays). June is a great month to trek, whilst October is similarly quiet it can suffer from low lying cloud cover (which effects your views of the scenery around Kilimanjaro).
** November Not possible.
TK Rongai is a great option for anyone wanting to maximise their chances of reaching the summit and minimise their chances of encountering crowing on the trail. The physical demands are no greater or lesser than any of the other routes on the mountain.
TK Rongai is primarily a camping route, so if you prefer the comforts of sleeping in huts then Marangu may be a better choice. It is also worth noting that not everybody is after mountain wilderness and some would relish the opportunity to meet trekkers from all nations of the earth. Marangu and Machame both experience far more trekkers than Rongai and the epic human drama of scores of groups dragging themselves up an essentially inhospitable mountain can be fascinating.
The usual rules that apply to Kilimanjaro apply similarly to RK Rongai. See our advice on health requirements for Kilimanjaro.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
Our customers agree - a conversation with an expert makes for a better trip. Call us now or request a call back out of hours.
Call 855 686 7694 9am and 6pm GMT Monday to Friday
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Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!
Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.
Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!
All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.
Thanks you once again!
Hardeep S
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 15 April 2024
I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.
Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.
El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.
Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.
So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last
Juhae C
reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek
on 01 March 2024
Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”
Lars B
reviewing Best of South Africa for Families
on 01 March 2024
Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!
Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.
Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!
All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.
Thanks you once again!
Hardeep S
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 15 April 2024
I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.
Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.
El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.
Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.
So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last
Juhae C
reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek
on 01 March 2024
Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”
Lars B
reviewing Best of South Africa for Families
on 01 March 2024
We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.
Claudia L
reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday
on 11 January 2024
We had a brilliant trip!
An amazing experience for parents, children and grandparents alike.
We are already planning a trip to Vietnam next year
Kate B
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks
on 10 January 2024
Dear Lisa. On behalf of the three generations of the Rowland family. Thank you, so much, for organising our wonderful holiday to Botswana and the Victoria Falls. The trip of a lifetime. The week mobile camping in the bush, with our guide Nandos and his crew was a fantastic adventure. How they manage to cook such wonderful food on an open fire is amazing. The sites were constantly visited by monkeys and once by elephants. We were even lucky enough to see two packs of wild dogs, once with a kill. Waterberry Lodge on the Zambezi River is a wonderfully tranquil place. Ideal to relax after the adventures of our safari and visiting Victoria Falls. Very many thanks once again
Godfrey R
reviewing Private Mobile Family Safari in Botswana
on 25 September 2023
We had a great time - even with the flight between Governors and the coast being two flights and a car! We also experienced a power cut At Nairobi airport on the way home so 2+ hours late taking off. Governors. Wonderful people and dealt with the flight delay very well - taking us back and letting us know that we could stay there if the flight was delayed overnight. The game drives were excellent and our guide (Erick) obviously very experienced and managed to find all the key animals - no rhino in that part of the Masai Mara but everything else in abundance - never seen so many herbivores (many many elephants as well as all the others) as well as two prides of lions. Could not have asked for more. The ‘tent’ was excellent and comfortable and well serviced. The only ‘complaint’ would be that the food - especially dinner - could be improved (I think we got a bit bored of soup as a starter for every meal bar one) and the main courses were not at the same level as Kinondo Kwetu and while all were explained there was no choice offered. The breakfasts were just what was needed after an early game drive. Kinondo Kwetu. What a great location and the welcome when we arrived at just gone 11.00pm was better than you could have ever thought possible - they we’re disappointed that we did not at that time want the full dinner experience! The rooms we’re comfortable. The food was excellent but again no choice was offered - other than for allergy reasons (which we do not have). May be some choice would be nice. Having said that the food we did have was excellent as were the wines (albeit a short list!) and other drinks. There were (as you know) lots of facilities/sports options - but we spent our time relaxing which was exactly what we needed and there were lots of places to do that. Overall. We would go back to both places - perhaps a few more nights at Kinondo Kwetu next time but 3 nights at Governors was perfect for us. Thank you for organising and recommending both places. That you and your colleague for trying to find out about the plane (flat tyre) but communication by the flight company left a lot to be desired (Governors were furious that they were not told and had taken us to the airstrip). Phil
Philip R
reviewing Masai Mara Safari & Kenya Beach
on 01 September 2023
It was certainly a holiday of a lifetime for us and we loved every minute!! The standard and location of each accommodation was excellent, as was the variety of each different accommodation type. Our schedule was perfect and we managed to achieve everything on our to-do task list. Your documents were also really helpful, as were the driving directions. We all thank you for making this such a wonderful holiday. Happy to leave a review publicly if you point me the right way. Best Steve
Stephen H
reviewing Classic Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari
on 01 September 2023
Hi Lisa, Thanks for your email! It was amazing thank you! We had the best time, everything ran smoothly (aside from a break-down due to faulty clutch on day 1 of the tour, but our guide / driver sorted that and we were back on track by that evening). Saw all the things we wanted to see, even a mum and cub cheetah. Our boys have had such a different holiday and a fab taste of the world! Thank you so much for organising this for us. We’d definitely recommend our guide/driver (Tuhafeni) and assistant (Frans) again. Nicola
Nicola T
reviewing Highlights of Namibia - Family Group Tour
on 18 August 2023
We had a fantastic time. Thank you for all your help, advice and guidance in organising our holiday. As this was not our first booking with Tourdust we were confident that all our transfers would work perfectly and they did - everything ran so smoothly! The riad in Marrakesh was stunning - a truly beautiful oasis of calm in such a busy, bustling city. As you can imagine, we were very grateful for the air conditioning in our room as outside was so hot! I was nervous about walking through the souks at night, but as they were well lit we felt perfectly safe and found our confidence grew in navigating the journey home each time we ventured out. When we arrived at our lodge in the Atlas Mountains we were blown away by the scenery. The views were amazing and the beautiful lodge gardens were the perfect place to sit and relax before taking a dip in the pool. Our day trek was truly amazing - no small thanks to our guide Rashid, who was so helpful and knowledgable. The lunch in the traditional Berber village was delicious and we were were made to feel so welcome. The home owner showed us how to make bread and then cooked it for us in her traditional clay oven. This was a memory we will never forget as we stood surrounded by her chickens and goats watching her use her bare hands to prepare the fire! Our night in the desert was breathtaking. The camel ride at sunset was so incredible and the quad biking the next morning was brilliant fun. I am so glad we added in these extras as they really made the experience! We finally made it to our hotel at the coast, where the surf lessons were a hit and the hotel was a great place to relax and read! Thank you again for all your help. We would definitely recommend Tourdust to all our friends and family. Tanya
Tanya G
reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Family Holiday
on 18 August 2023
Hello Lisa. We came back from our trip two weeks ago now so I am sending this email much later than I wanted to. Nevertheless, what I wanted to say was thank you very much for helping us organise an amazing trip. Our days in Mafia Island to celebrate my 50th birthday were exactly what I wanted them to be: a fantastic time with the family doing activities that we all love and enjoy in a relaxing, unusual, beautiful place full of sun, surrounded by water, wildlife and friendly people. We swam with whale sharks, did a lot of snorkeling, had two picnics on a beautiful sand bank, watched the sunset over the sea, did a bird watching excursion and tried scuba diving.
All merit to you because Pole Pole in Mafia Island was your recommendation. I never heard of Mafia Island before and didn't consider Tanzania to start with. It was an amazing place to stay: friendly, relaxed, beautiful, comfortable, with great food and fantastic service. Thanks not only for finding the place but also for your patience as we prepared the trip and I explored options and decided what I wanted. All went incredibly well (places, transfers, flights) and we had a very memorable time together that we will all remember forever - as we still do the safari trip to South Africa you organised for us 5 years ago.
I cannot wait to plan another trip! I am already thinking about where and when. Hopefully no pandemic will get in the way this time. And I will come to you as my favourite travel agent.
I copy in this message the Tourdust office because I want them to know how good you are and how much I appreciated the different trips you organised for us (including the trip to India for my parents that was cancelled due to Covid). I cannot thank you enough :o)
Kind regards, Carol
Carolina O
reviewing Relaxed Bush & Beach Family Holiday in Tanzania
on 25 November 2022
It was FANTASTIC! Beautifully organised, everything worked like clockwork. We agreed that we had the best support team ever (and we have experience) - all delightful, very professional and nothing was too much bother.
It clearly couldn't have been a better route, such a wonderful mix of landscapes. And plenty of acclimatisation time. Nonetheless, I was glad of my summit oxygen.
Kit excellent. Double good mattresses made for most comfortable trek camping ever. Tents v good. Mess tent pretty windproof, which was vital for enjoyment. Best camp loo ever!
My favourite day was Shira Cathedral. Amazing.
William M
reviewing Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
on 15 April 2020
All the accommodation was great especially having the family rooms, I think our favourite place was the maramboi tented camp - everything about it was spot on, the location and service was excellent!
The only negative feedback I could give was the amount of time spent in the jeep, I hadn’t quite realised how much travel there was! But it’s a minor point, Haji our guide was excellent and constantly pointed out things of interest along the way.
Sam S
reviewing Tanzania Extended Northern Circuit
on 24 September 2018
Both our guides were fine, did a good job, walked at a good pace for our group. Kept a close eye on us on the last night and helped me keep going even when not feeling well. Only thing i would say is that they weren't overly friendly. Felt a bit like they spoke to us enough to sort of do their job and make conversation but sort of expected that they might be a bit more friendly and enthusiastic. Might have been due to the fact we were two girls though? Didn't really stop us enjoying it, just would have been nice! 4/5
Considering your on a mountain the food was good and there was a lot of it. Though this became a bit of a problem as we felt so much pressure to eat it, not once did we finish all the food that was provided, and felt bad about the waste. Perhaps the cook needs to be more open to changing the portions of food he cooks depending on how much people eat! 4/5
All the information from tourdust through booking was excellent. We had plenty of information to help decide the route and to prepare for the climb. Though we were advised to take water purifying tablets, but actually they already purified the water. And walking poles were an optional extra however we were advised they were essential on arrival and had to rent some. 5/5
Emily D
reviewing Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
on 11 December 2012
Our guide, Frederick was excellent and very knowledgeable, definitely a 5. The meals were great and the quantity of food slightly overwhelming on occasion! The service and effort put into presentation far exceeded out expectations
James I
reviewing Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
on 04 August 2012
Our itineraries are carefully designed by our experienced travel designers based on years of experience and customer feedback. For a custom itinerary tailored to you, please enquire giving as much detail as possible on your brief.
