8-Day Rongai Route
Overview
The Rongai route begins on the northern side of the mountain and is the least travelled route. It is a long drive to the starting point, but you are rewarded by fantastic views and the likelihood that you will be the only climbers around. If you take this route up the mountain you are obliged to descend via the Marangu Route that is the most popular and well-used route.
Tour Highlights:
The Rongai Route is the only route that approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the northern side, near the border with Kenya. Known for its remote atmosphere and gradual ascent, this route offers trekkers a quieter and more peaceful journey to Africa’s highest peak.
- Untouched Wilderness
The Rongai Route begins through the remote northern slopes of Kilimanjaro, offering climbers the chance to experience unspoiled wilderness. Trekkers pass through diverse landscapes including dense forests, open moorlands, and alpine desert terrain, with opportunities to spot unique flora, wildlife, and colourful birdlife along the way.
- Mawenzi Tarn
One of the most beautiful highlights of the route is Mawenzi Tarn, a stunning alpine lake located beneath the dramatic peaks of Mawenzi Peak. This peaceful setting offers breathtaking scenery and is a perfect place for acclimatization while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding mountain landscape.
- Northern Approach
Unlike other popular Kilimanjaro routes, the Rongai Route follows a remote northern approach, making it one of the least crowded routes on the mountain. This allows climbers to enjoy a quieter trekking experience with spectacular views and a stronger connection to nature.
- Kibo Crater Camp
Before the summit attempt, trekkers spend the night near Kibo Hut, located beneath the towering slopes of Kibo Peak. This camp provides the final resting point before the midnight ascent toward the summit.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Moshi
Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft): When clients arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport or Dar es Salaam International Airport, you will be met at the airport by our representatives and transferred to the hotel or clients preferred residential home for Overnight. You can start your trek any day, any month of the year!
Day 2: Moshi to Rongai Gate
After breakfast around 7:00am at the Lodge / Hotel, you will be transferred Rongai Gate (Its approximately 3 – 4hrs drive from moshi to Rongai Gate).
🥗Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 3: Rongai Gate to Second Cave
The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the ‘Second Cave’ (3,450 m.), its 5Kms walking, with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim.
🥗Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 4: Horombo to Kibo Huts
Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to Kibo Huts (4,695 m/15,400 ft) 10 km, 6-8 hours Alpine Desert:
You will wake up at around 06:30am and get prepared for breakfast and at around 07:00am you will have a breakfast as usual, but if you wake early you can get some great photos of the sunrise. The first part of the day’s hike climbs through the dwindling heath land that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. When you stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours. Be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness. There is no running water at the Kibo Huts. On this day you will have very few hours of sleep, and your night will be very short. You will have a long walk from Horombo to Kibo Hut and after evening meals at around 06:30pm, you will have a short rest and sleep for 3hrs from 07:30pm, as you will need to wake up at 10:30pm and start getting your summit gears ready. The start to climb to summit will be at around 11:30pm. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 05:00am to o6:00 am.
🥗Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 5: Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak
Summit Day! The hike from Kibo Huts (4,695 m/ 15,400 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) 4 km up, 14 km down 10-15 hours Alpine Desert:
You will be already walking more than half way to summit. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Sun Rise can be seen at around 05:30am. Another 1 hr to 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 07:00am. You are now at Africa’s highest point! And you would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. After your summit stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and re-cross the saddle to the Horombo Huts. The descend from Summit to Kibo hut can take approximately 1 to 2 hrs and descend from Kibo hut to Horombo can take 3 to 4 hrs and when you arrive at Horombo Hut you will get your last and happy supper on the mountain. After Dinner and get some well-deserved sleep, Overnight at Horombo Hut.
You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
🥗Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 6: Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate
Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 18 km, 5-7 hours:
As this will be your last day on the mountain, you will need to wake up as usual at around 06:30am, pack, and then you will get your breakfast at 07:00am and start descend at around 07:45am from Horombo, through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 02:00pm or 03:00 PM. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here at the Gate, as most of them are living at the home and their villages are just nearby so they will not need to back to Moshi Town with the group and then return back to the mountain in Marangu villages where they stay with their families. A vehicle will take you back to the hotel or similar lodging in Moshi or Arusha, where it is definitely time for celebration!
🥗Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 7: Departure
Moshi / Arusha: Depart for safari to Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire or other Parks in Southern part of Tanzania like Selous /Nyerere Park and other historic attractions like Bagamoyo, Kilwa ruins and Zanzibar. A trip to Zanzibar beaches is a good way to recuperate. We can arrange as many for reasonably priced trips around East Africa.
INCLUDED
- √ One night at the Hotel before starting the climb.
- √ One night with dinner at the hotel after finishing the climb.
- √ Entry Fees at the Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park.
- √ Rescue Fees, Guides, Porters and Cooks Fees.
- √ Mountain Staff/Crew salaries and allowances.
- √ All meals on the mountain, Breakfast, Lunch, evening refreshments and dinner.
- √ Drinking water will be provided during the climb.
- √ Oxygen cylinder, Ox-meters and Special daily check-up care while on the mountain.
- √ Mountain Gears, Sleeping Tents, Dinning Tents, sleeping form mattress are provided.
- √ Pick up and drop off to and from hotel to starting point for climbing the mountain.
- √ Pick up transfer after descending from mountain and transfer back to Hotel.
- √ Government Taxes, Office Agent fees, Operational costs.
- √ Airports pick up and drop off transfers.
EXCLUDED
- Χ Gratuities / Tips, Extra service Laundry.
- Χ Other personal care like massage (Can be offered as special Service after Kilimanjaro Climb)
- Χ Alcohol, International flights tickets, but can be booked on request.
- Χ Domestic flight tickets i.e, Flight to Zanzibar, Mafia Island, or to Parks like Serengeti, Selous, Ruaha and Gombe within Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda or to Amboseli Park in Kenya (Can be booked on requests)
- Χ Medical services in case of sickness or you will need to get Insurance cover from your country.
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