7 Days Rongai Route

Contact Info

Duration : 7 Days
Tour Type: Hiking
Group Size : No size Limit

Overview

The Rongai Route is the only route on the north-eastern part of the mountain. This route is gaining in popularity, because it is the second easiest after Marangu and it has amazing wilderness conditions. The Rongai Route is recommended for climbers who want to avoid the huge numbers of climbers on other routes. This route can be started from the Tanzanian or the Kenyan side of the mountain and can be achieved in 6 days. The Rongai Route is only used to climb up the mountain and at the final stage it joins up with the Marangu Route, which is also the ascending route. This route has lots of caves, which are partly also used as overnight accommodations.

Price Includes:
- Private Transportation to
  and from your selected
  Route
- Airport pick up
- Certified, experienced, English speaking
  mountain guides
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain
  sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
- All Kilimanjaro National Park Fees
- Government Climbing Taxes
- Camping fees (part of park fees)
- Climbing permits
- All hot Meals prepared by
  our cook while on Mountain
- Guides, Porters and Cook Salaries
- Fair and ethical treatment of Porters
- Enough porters to carry
  your luggage
- Personal Summit Certificate
  signed by the National
  Park and your Guide
Price Excludes
- Personal items and toiletries
- Accommodation before
  & After trek
- Personal trekking equipment
  such as sleepings bags,
  hiking boots, clothes,
  etc (available for renting)
- Tips for guides, porters and cook
- International airfares and
  departure taxes
- All items of person nature
  such as telephone call,
  fax, email etc
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Visa and International flight
  tickets fees.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Moshi to Rongai Gate to Simba Camp

You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by our vehicles through many villages and coffee plantations for 2-3 hours drive to Rongai Gate (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing in and preparing the porters, you will start hiking on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, and then enter into montane forest. You will then start to climb gently but consistently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to become thinner as you arrive at Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) with fantastic views over the Kenyan plains.

Elevation(m): 1,387/915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

Day 2: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp

After an early breakfast you will have a steady ascent to the second cave where you will stop for lunch. You leave the direct trail at this point and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path toward Mawenzi side peak to Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley. At the Kikelewa Camp you will settle for your dinner and overnight rest.

Elevation: 2,750 m to 3,600 m
Distance: 17 km
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Day 3: Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi turn hut

After breakfast you will face a short, steep climb up grassy slopes; rewarded by superb all-round views, immersed in the vast surrounding wilderness. Soon after you leave the vegetation behind and arrive at the Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated in a spectacular cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi Peak. After this hike, you will reach the Mawenzi turn hut camp where you will also see the amazing undried Lake with no inlet as well as outlet here you will have lunch and rest, dinner and overnight at this camp.

Elevation: 3,600m to 4,330m
Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert

Day 4: Acclimatization day (6 day itinerary skips this day)

This is your extra day on the mountain, and you will spend two nights at Mawenzi Tarn. You will hike up towards Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatization hike. Then after return back to the camp for lunch, dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn hut to Kibo Huts camp

After an early breakfast you will cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Kibo peak and Mawenzi peak to Kibo Huts at the bottom of Kibo’s crater wall. You should spend the remainder of the day resting and preparing for your summit climb.

Elevation: 4,330 m to 4,695 m
Distance: 8km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6: Summit Day! Kibo Huts camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts camp

Wake up at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12; 00AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 6 AM. At this point, you will have views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 2 hours of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak here you will spend some times for taking photo’s but it will depend on how you feel. After your summit activities done, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue going down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Have dinner and overnight at Horombo camp.

Elevation: 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Day 7: Horombo Huts camp to Marangu Gate to Moshi

After a long and enjoyable sleep you will be awaken for breakfast and pack up, start descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then proceed with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to Marangu Gate. Here you will sign out, then a vehicle will take you back to the hotel where it is definitely time for certificate presentation and celebration!

Elevation: 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387 m
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours