Rongai Route

Overview

This has become an increasingly popular route in recent years. The route is located on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro with a variety of spectacular landscapes together with different plants and animal species.

The Rongai Route is scenic with a very high summit success rate. On this route you sleep in tents, the porter will have your tent pitched and waiting for you at the end of each day’s trek. The 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 be able to see Kilimanjaro from many viewpoints.

What makes this route different?

ITINERARY

Day 1

Day 1: Moshi to Rongai gate to Simba Camp

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

You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by our vehicles through many villages and coffee and plantations for 2-3 hour 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 montane forest. You will then start to climb gently but consistently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin as you arrive at Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) with fantastic views over the Kenyan plains.

Day 2: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp

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

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 Peak, to Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley. At the Kikelewa Camp you will settle for your dinner and overnight rest.

Day 3

Day 2

Day 3: Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi tarn hut.

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

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 to the Mawenzi turn hut camp where you will also see the amazing undried Lake. Here you will have lunch and rest then dinner and overnight at this camp.

Day 4: Acclimatisation day.

Those that want, will be able to hike up towards Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatisation hike. The day will be spent at with breakfast, lunch the dinner and then overnight in camp.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn hut to Kibo Huts camp

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

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.

Day 4 & 5

Day 6

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

Wake before 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. We will set off 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. 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 you will arrive at Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak. Here you will spend some time to take photos. Then comes the long descend back to the Kibo Huts for lunch and a rest. Soon after you will continue on down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Dinner and overnight at Horombo camp.

Day 7: Horombo Huts camp to Marangu Gate to Moshi

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

After a long and enjoyable sleep you will be awaked for breakfast and pack up, start descending through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then precede down through lush forest to Marangu park gate. Here you will sign out of the Mt Kilimanjaro Park. After a quick lunch the vehicles will take you to back to the hotel where it is definitely time for a celebration!