Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via Rongai Route

The Rongai route begins its ascent of Kilimanjaro from the northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya . Experienced guides consider the Rongai route to be both easier and more scenic than the Marangu Trail. Summit attempts begin in the pre-dawn hours, with climbers usually reaching Gillman’s Point at sunrise. For those who feel strong enough, an approximately three hour round trip hike will take you from Gillman’s Point to Uhuru Peak which is 5895 m.a.s.l

Day 1 Rongai route 7 days – Rongai Gate (1950m) – Simba Camp (2600m).

  • Hiking Time: 3 – 4 Hours.
  • Distance: About 8 Km.
  • Habitat: Montana forest

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.

Day 2 Rongai route 7 days – 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 Rongai route 7 days – 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 Rongai route 7 days – 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 Rongai route 7 days – 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 Rongai route 7 days – 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 Rongai route 7 days – 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 or Moshi where your trekking tour ends with sweet memories.

END

DAY 1:- RONGAI CAMP

Altitude : 6,396′ to 8,530′; Hiking time: 3 hours.

Register at the Marangu park gate and transfer by Land Rover (approximately two and a half hours) to the Rongai trailhead. Meet your climbing staff and begin hiking from the village of Nale Moru . The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, and then climbs gently through a forest sheltering a variety of wildlife, including the Colobus monkey. Dinner and overnight at the campsite which is on the edge of the moorland zone with expansive views of the Kenyan plains.

DAY 2:- KIKELEWA CAVES

Kikelewa Caves Altitude: 8,530′ to 11,320′; Hiking time: 6-7 hours .

Challenging ascent to the Second Cave where you will relax and take lunch with superb views of Kibo and the ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch proceed towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, where we camp in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves for the dinner and overnight.

DAY 3:- MAWENZI TARN

Altitude: 11,320′ to 14,210′; Hiking time: 3-4 hours.

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before we reach our next camp at Mawenzi Tarn spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatizing and exploring the area. Dinner and Overnight at Kikelewa Caves .

DAY4:- KIBO CAMPSITE

Altitude: 14,210′ to 15,580′; Hiking time: 4-5 hours.

We cross the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Campsite. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent.Dinner and Overnight at Kibo Campsite.

DY 5 FINAL ASCENT-HOROMBO CAMPA

Altitude : 15,580′ to 18,650′ (Gillman’s Point) to 19,340′ summit; then down to 12,200′; Hiking time: 12-16 hours.

Begin the final, steepest and most difficult part of the ascent at 1:00am . Hike slowly on a switchback trail through loose volcanic screen to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point. Rest for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. For those who feel strong enough, continue 2 hrs roundtrip to Uhuru Peak passing close to spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs in the summit area. Descend to Kibo for lunch and a rest then continue down the Marangu route to Horombo Hut. Dinner and Overnight at Horombo Hut.

DAY 6:-DESCENT TO MARANGU

Altitude: 12,200′ to 6,250′; Hiking time: 5-6 hours.

Descend steadily through the moorland, past Mandara Hut and through a lush rain forest to Marangu park gate where a waiting car is there ready to transfer you back to Moshi.

END

Our Mt Kilimanjaro Rates Includes the following:

  • All Tanzania VAT and Taxes.
  • All airport transfers.
  • Hotel accommodations for 2 nights in Tanzania with bed and breakfast.
  • Transfer from the hotel to the mountain and back.
  • All meals and water on the mountain.
  • All Kilimanjaro National Park fees, camping fees, hut fees and climbing permits.
  • Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees
  • Emergency oxygen.
  • First aid kit.
  • Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, trustee porters and cook
  • Salaries for mountain crew as per guidelines set by the Park
  • Camping equipment such as tents, camp chairs, tables and e.t.c.
  • Comfortable Sleeping mattress
  •  Water for washing up daily
  • Porter to carry your duffel bag.
  • Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt
  • Pulse oxymeter to check oxygen level and heart beat while on the mountain.
  • Portable Chemical Toilet

Excluded:

  • Flights and airport taxes (visa)
  • Items of a personal nature.
  • Tips for the trekking team.
  • Health requirements (Yellow Fever compulsory if travelling to Tanzania recommended)
  • Highly recommended travel and medical insurance.
  • Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania.
  • Meals & drinks not specified and snacks
  • Sleeping bag