TOUR OVERVIEW
FROM EXPERTS
Tour overview:
The Rongai Route is the only trail that starts from the Northern, or Kenyan side of Mt. Kilimanjaro Because of its remote location the route offers trekkers a relatively un spoilt wilderness experience where it is possible to see large wildlife like antelope, elephant and buffalo. The North-East side of the mountain gets significantly less moisture than the southern slopes which means that trekkers are less likely to encounter rain. Trekkers are also more likely to get clear, unclouded views of the mountain. The Rongai Route is flatter than the other Mt. Kilimanjaro routes. Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and follows the same path taken by Marangu trekkers which passes Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. Due to its remote setting the Rongai Route receives the least traffic of all the routes on Kilimanjaro.The Rongai Route descends via the Marangu trail.
ITINERARY
ARRIVE IN TANZANIA
- You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi 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. Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi town
PRICE AND PACKAGES
People in Group | Standard Package |
1-2 | 1850$ |
3-5 | 1800$ |
6-8 | 1750$ |
9+ | 1700$ |
People in Group | Standard Package |
1-2 | 2100$ |
3-5 | 2000$ |
6-8 | 1850$ |
9+ | 1700$ |
DAY BY DAY ITinerary
6 DAYS RONGAI ROUTE
Day 1: Rongai Gate (1950m) to First Caves Camp (2600m)
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400m) and driven to the Marangu Gate (1980m). At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then be transferred by vehicle to the Rongai trailhead, which is 2.5 hours away from the Managu Gate. The trail begins in the tall cornfields then leads into the pine forest. This trail has a gradual ascent and allows hikers to enjoy their surroundings. About halfway up the trail you will have a lunch break and you will reach the 1st Caves Camp (2600m) in the late afternoon or early evening. The porters and chef, who move very fast up the mountain, will reach camp before you and set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival. After washing up, a hot dinner will be served. For overnight, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
- Hiking time: 5 hours
- Distance: Approximately 8 kilometers
- Habitat: Montane Forest
Day 2: Machame Camp (2980m) to Shira Camp (3840m)
Following a hot breakfast, hikers will continue their ascent to Kikelewa Cave (3600m). The trail passes Second Cave (3450m) and this is a good spot to take a lunch break. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.
- Hiking time: 6-7 hours
- Habitat: Moorlands
Day 3: Kilelewa Cave (3600m) to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m)
On this day, hikers will enjoy a short, yet steep trail to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m). In the moorland, you will spot exotic plants, including giant lobelia and groundsel. At camp, hikers will enjoy spectacular views and allow their bodies to acclimate. Hot dinner and washing water will be prepared for hikers as they enjoy the magnificent sunset.
- Hiking time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Moorlands
- Meals: Breakfast,, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m) to kibo Hut (4700m)
After breakfast, hikers will continue ascending east for a half-day hike to Kibo Hut. Kibo is located in the “Saddle,” which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo in an alpine desert. There is no water at this camp, but hikers can buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!
- Hiking time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Kibo hut (4700 Meters) to Uhuru peak (5895 Meters) then Horombo hut (3720 Meters)
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The trail is rocky up to Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). You continue your ascent to Gillman’s point (5681m). Reaching this section is an impressive achievement as the trail is steep, rocky, and at high altitude. Gillman’s is located on the crater rim. From this point, you will usually experience a snow covered trail until you reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Kibo Hut takes about 3 hours.
At Kibo Hut, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Horombo Hut (3720m). You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at the hut after a strenuous day.
- Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru and 6 hours to Horombo
- Habitat: Stone scree / ice-cap summit
- Distance: Approximately 6 kilometers ascent and 21 kilometers descent
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Horombo hut to Marangu get (1870 Meters Approx trekking time 6-8 hours)
Wake, as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through the lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you back to Moshi, where it is definitely time for celebration! Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania. If you will stay in Moshi town the Accommodation will be at the same hotel.
- Hiking time: 6 hours
- Distance: Approximately 27 kilometers
- Meals: Breakfast
7 DAYS RONGAI ROUTE
Day 1: Rongai gate (1950m) to Simba Camp (2600m)
Pick up from your hotel drive for two hours and half 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 samba camp.
- Hiking Time: 3 – 4 Hours.
- Distance: About 8 Km.
- Habitat: Montana forest
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 2: Simba Camp to Second Cave
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.
- Hiking Time 2 – 3hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 3: Second Tarn Cave (2600m) to Kikelewa Cave (3600m)
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).
- Hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours.
- Habitat: Moorlands.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 4: Kikelewa Cave (3600m) to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m)
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.
- Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours.
- Habitat: Moorlands.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)
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.
- Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours.
- Habitat: Alpine desert.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 6: Kibo Hut (4700m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m)
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 made it. 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 your 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.
- 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.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 7: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Marangu Gate (1980m)
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 made it. 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 your 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.
- 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.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
- the climb cost excludes