The Rongai Route is one of the least traveled and quieter routes. It is the only route starting on the north side of the mountain, just south of the Kenyan border. The ascent and descent are on opposite sides, so you can see Mount Kilimanjaro from different viewpoints. Although the route is not as scenic as the western routes, it offers a true remote wilderness experience with the chance to see buffaloes, antelopes and elephants. The Rongai Route has a lower change of summit success than Lemosho and Machame but higher than the Marangu route. This climb up Kilimanjaro is more expensive as you need extra transport to reach the other side of the mountain.

7 - DAY KILIMANJARO CLIMB VIA RONGAI ROUTE

Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in

Arusha town. You will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an

equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can

be rented on this day. Overnight Mt Meru Hotel (Bed and breakfast)

Day 1: Rongai Gate (1950m) – Simba Camp (2600m).

Hiking Time: 3 – 4 Hours.

Distance: About 8 Km.

Habitat: Montana forest

Pick up from your hotel and drive to Marangu park gate for formalities registration after that

transfer to the Rongai trailhead in about 3hours. Meet your guide and porters before you begin

your hike from the Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before

entering pine forest, and then climbs gently through a forest. The trail is not at all steep, but is

rather a gentle hike through beautiful country. The first night’s camp is at Simba camp, at about

2,600 meters. There is a toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut. Water can be

found just down the trail below simba camp.

Day 2: Simba Camp –Second Cave

Hiking Time 2 – 3hours

Habitat: Moorland

Late Breakfast, enjoy the morning at Simba camp proceed with the hiking very slowly

acclimatize your body until you reach Second cave (3450M ) for hot lunch. Afternoon relax at

second cave with dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Second Tarn Cave (2600m) – Kikelewa Cave (3600m).

Hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours.

Habitat: Moorlands.

After breakfast then continues up towards Kibo, reaching Kikelwa Cave at about 3600 metres.

The views start to open up and you begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water is in

the obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find

some. Overnight at 3rd Cave camp (Kikelewa Caves).

Day 4: Kikelewa Cave (3600) – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m).

Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours.

Habitat: Moorlands.

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The

vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn spectacularly

situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatizing and

exploring the area.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m) – Kibo Hut (4700m).

Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours.

Habitat: Alpine desert.

Continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo

taking 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation

for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. Overnight at Kibo Camp.

Day 6:Summit Attempt, Kibo Hut (4700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo Hut (3720m).

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru

6 hours to descend to Horombo.

Distance: 6 km’s ascent – 21 km’s descent.

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.

You will wake up around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night.

This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to

the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s

point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone

scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. Probably the most demanding section of the

entire route. From Gillman’s Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru

peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Total exhilaration and satisfaction – you madeit.

Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend, taking photographs,

before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut for a short rest ten after you descent to Horombo

hut (3 hours) where you will overnight. The descent to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast

compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around almost 14 hours.

Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and well-earned sleep.

Day 7: Horombo Hut (3720m) – Marangu Gate (1980m).

Hiking Time: 6 hours.

Distance: About 27 Km.

After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the

Marangu gate. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where

successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s

Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m)

receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Arusha for overnight at Mt Meru hotel

(breakfast&lunch)

Departure Day: Arusha – Kilimanjaro airport

Final transfer to Kilimanjaro airport in time to catch your flight back home.

PRICE QUOTE

US $2540 per person

Price include

 Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents:

 Accommodation in Arusha on arrival.

 Airport transfers

 Professional, experienced, mountain guides:

 All Park fees

 Rescue fees

 All meals while on the Mountain

 Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees

 Quality Mess tents with table and chairs

 Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food

 Clean, purified drinking water

 Crisis management and safety procedures

 Fair and ethical treatment of porters

Price excludes

 Tanzania Visa

 Gratuity

 Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)

 Meals not listed above

 Optional Tours