- Aga Khan Road, NSSF Building
- safari@tanzaniapurenatureandtravel.com
- 10+ Years Of Experience
7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route
5 Star Rated
Best Local Tour Operator
Best Local Tour Operator
7 Days
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro Int. Airport
$ 1,920/ Person
The Rongai route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border. Though gaining popularity amongst climbers, Rongai has low traffic. It is the preferred route for those looking for an alternative to the crowded Marangu route, for those who would like a more remote hike, and for those who are climbing during the rainy season
The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, and seven days are recommended. Although the scenery is not as varied as the western routes, Rongai makes up for this by passing through true wilderness areas for days before joining the Marangu route at Kibo camp. This route descends down the Marangu route. Rongai is a moderately difficult route and is highly recommended, especially for those with less backpacking experience.
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.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
This morning we will drive to the village of Nale Moru for the starting point of the Rongai route. The first stage of the trek is through farmland and pine forests. You may have chance to see the beautiful Colobus monkeys or if you’re lucky enough, elephants or buffalos en route. Our first camp will be the Simba Camp located at the edge of the moorland zone at 2625m.
Distance covered: 8km / 5mi
Approx. time taken: 4 – 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
The morning hike is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave Camp located in the moorland zone with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim.
Distance covered: 5km / 3.1mi
Approx. time taken: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Include
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.
Distance covered: 8km / 5mi
Approx. time taken: 4 – 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast we head west and 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 hut.
Distance covered: 8km / 5mi
Approx. time taken: 5 – 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
You will rise around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night, and 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. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly. From Gillmans 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 will be able to spend, taking photographs, before the 3 hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short rest at Kibo hot, you gather all your gear you left behind for the ascent and head down to Horombo hut (3 hours) for your overnight. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours, so be prepared for a very tough day. Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner (with soft drinks and beer for sale at the camp office) on the mountain and a well-earned sleep, filled with memories and stirring emotions.
Approx. time taken: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo
Distance: Approxim 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely.
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 Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner descent bed and celebrations!!
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 29 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
Meals: Breakfast Included
Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro offers adventurers a unique immersion into the awe-inspiring landscape of Africa’s tallest mountain. As trekkers ascend through diverse ecosystems, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts, camping sites become sanctuaries amidst the rugged terrain. Beneath star-studded skies, tents are pitched on designated platforms, providing respite and a sense of camaraderie among fellow climbers.
Each evening, as the sun dips below the horizon, campfires flicker, illuminating tales of the day’s journey and anticipation for the challenges ahead. With each night spent under the vast canopy of Kilimanjaro, campers forge unforgettable memories amid nature’s grandeur, making the ascent not just a physical feat, but a deeply enriching adventure of the spirit.
You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack – It will be carried by our porters.
No worries about that – this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” – which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude. There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.
Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding. If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or Hut. Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
On the Marangu Route, there are simple basic Huts. The first 2 Huts sleep four people each and the last Hut is a dome-style with bunk beds. On all the other routes, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules to keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down, and carried- along with everything else- by our porters. There are public toilets set up at every campsite, but portable toilets are available upon request at the cost of $ 100 per group for the whole tour. Hot water is provided for each person every morning but No showers during the trek There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.
For each trek on the Mount a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and can prepare different kinds of dishes. Please see a sample page for Dietary Menu.
You shouldn’t worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.
Arrange your trip in advance – book this amazing tour now!
We have been receiving reviews from our served clients, and Tanzania Pure Nature And Travel is rated 5/5 by customers. This honor is given to us by customers because we always remain committed to all our customers to do whatever is needed by them to make their safari fully satisfied.
Our itinerary ideas can be as tailored as you’d like around your particular interests. These selected suggestions will give you some inspiration, but treat them just as a starting point because for your own trip will be created uniquely for you.
We targets the up market travelers, Budget and special interest groups such as students, the physically impaired (People with disabilities), corporate clients and the budget traveler (backpackers).
Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved to Tanzania Pure Nature and Travel | Crafted By Technoclick Tz
