7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route
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Tour Overview
This is one of Kilimanjaro’s easiest routes, and it has become an increasingly popular route in recent years. This route is located on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro with a variety of spectacular landscapes together with different plants and animals species. The typical duration for this trip is 6 days. However, you can also add an acclimatization day and make it 7 day climb.
The Rongai Route is more scenic than the Marangu Route and easier than other camping route in climbing Kilimanjaro and the success rate on the Rongai Route is very high. Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Rongai Route you sleep in tents, the porter will have your tent pitched and waiting for you at the end of each days trek. This route starts on the north side of the mountain just south of the Kenyan border and is one of the least traveled routes. The route merges with the Marangu Route for the summit climb. The descend follows the Marangu Route on the mountain’s southeast side, so you will able see Kilimanjaro from many view points. There are two versions of this trek – a direct 6-day itinerary, and a 7-day itinerary that takes a longer route. The 6-day itinerary is described down below and the longer variation is described in the extra day’s section.
Highlights
- Extra day for acclimatisation
- High summit success rate (over 75%)
- Classic Adventure! Hiking & Camping
- More quiet route for the most adventurous experience
- The descending follows the Marangu Gate
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | Arusha Town |
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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
End of services
GROUP SIZE | PRICE PER PERSON |
1 person | $1,860 |
2-4 people | $ 1,750 |
5-9 people | $ 1,600 |
10+ people | $ 1,500 |
