Overview
Among all the routes to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Rongai route is the remote and unspoiled one. It distinguishes itself from other routes since you will be hiking on the trails with less or no crowds at all. While the other routes access the Kilimanjaro from the west, the Rongai route approach this highest peak in Africa from the north near the Tanzania-Kenya border to the south. You will ascend from the remote trailhead in the north and descend through the Marangu route. You can hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro and descend in 7 days with an additional day for acclimatization.
Itinerary
Start a journey from anywhere in the world and touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport and meet our English-speaking guide. After greetings, our driver will take you through the 40 km distance from KIA to your lodge in Moshi. Upon arriving at your lodge, you will take a shower to relax your body, and after that, our guide will come to give a comprehensive brief about your climb. Have dinner and sleep well preparing for your first day of hike.
After breakfast, we drive to Marangu Gate to register with the park officials. After registration at Marangu Gate, we will drive a further 70 kilometers to the Rongai trailhead. The hike will begin at Nale Moru village through maize and potato fields into the rainforest. You will spend 4-5 hours hiking through the gradual incline until you hit the Simba Camp, where you will eat a hot dinner, hot shower, and first sleep on the mountain.
• Elevation: 6398ft-9300ft
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest
After breakfast, we will begin our hike through a trail leading to Kibo. On this day, you will be walking up the slopes while enjoying the scenic views of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We will hike on a trail and finally hit the Second Cave Camp. Here you will relax and eat lunch. After lunch, we continue our hike in the southeast towards the jagged peak of Mawenzi. As we walk through the moorland, you will see some iconic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and how big it is. Once you reach Kikelewa Camp, you will be provided with hot washing water, a hot dinner, and a sleep overnight.
• Elevation: 9300ft – 11,811ft
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking time: 7-8 hours
• Habitat: Heath
On this day, you will have a short hike of almost 4 to 5 km. After breakfast, you will hike up the steep trail gaining about 600m through the moorland vegetation until you reach Mawenzi Tarn Hut.
• Elevation: 11,811ft – 14,160ft
• Distance: 5 km
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
This day is special for acclimatization in preparation for the summit attempt. You will hike from Mawenzi Tarn to Mawenzi Ridge, then back to Mawenzi Tarn. You will enjoy the views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks at different angles while walking on the ridge. You will return to Mawenzi Tarn Hut for dinner and overnight.
• Elevation gain: 14,160ft – 14,400ft
• Elevation loss: 14,400ft – 14,160ft
• Distance: 4 km
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, you will continue hiking westwards, crossing the ridge, then you will drop down the slope. You will then walk along the Saddle’s northern edge and finally, you will be at our final destination for this day, Kibo Hut. Your chef will prepare an early dinner and hot washing water to relax your body for the summit hike, which will begin at midnight.
• Elevation: 14,160ft – 15,430ft
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
The hike will begin shortly after a hot breakfast and snacks at around 00:30 a.m. You need to do it with all your energy and brain because this is the most challenging part of the hike. Your success at the summit depends on your endurance in hiking this part. To make it successful, you will have some short breaks as you ascend before dawn. After reaching Gilman’s Point (18,600ft), you will enjoy the stunning views of sunrise. A few minutes ahead, you step on Uhuru Peak (19,341ft), the highest peak in Africa.
After spending several moments enduring the views of this snow-capped peak, you will begin a descent. You will stop at Kibo Camp for lunch before proceeding to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight.
• Elevation: 15,430ft to 19,341ft to 12,205ft
• Distance: 6 km ascent & 16 km descent
• Hiking time: 6-8 hours ascent & 4-5 hours descent
• Habitat: Arctic (ascent) & Heath (descent)
On this last day of the hike, you will walk downhill through the rainforest until you reach the Marangu Gate. There you will be awarded your summit certificates and driven back to your lodge in Arusha.
• Elevation: 12,205ft – 6,046ft
• Distance: 20 km
• Hiking time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest
Route Description | High Or Low /Luxury Or Budget | Each Of 2 Pax | Each Of 4 Pax | Each Of 6 Pax |
7 Days Rongai Route | $2183 | $2070 | $1800 |
The Cost Includes
- 2 shared airport transfers - 1 on arrival and 1 on departure
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- 3 Season mountain tents
- -29 0C Extreme Limit Sleeping Bags
- Double layered sleeping mats
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Tree donation in support of our environmental conservation projects
- Pre & Post Trek accommodations
- Supplemental summit Oxygen & Pulse Oximeter
- 1 portable flush toilet with a toilet tent for group sizes of 5 and above.
- Complementary group transportation into Moshi town for shopping on the last day
The Cost Excludes
- Visa
- Tips to mountain crew – Recommended a minimum $150 per client
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- Tanzanian mountain doctor
- Single Supplement Request from client
- Travel Insurance (Recommended – Travel insurance with medical cover of 6,000m and above)
- GPS Trackers
EXTRAS (to be arranged upon request)
- Spending a night in the crater – $200 per person
- Western breach approach without a night at the crater camp – $200 extra per person
- Tanzanian mountain doctor – $300 per group per day
- Extra supplemental oxygen – $120 per oxygen kit (with 2 cylinders)
- Extra weight of clients’ luggage – $6 per extra kg
- Extra porter on the mountain (this is if a client requests) – $15 per porter per day
- Extra day on the Mountain $ 300
- Mountain re-supply of delayed baggage/ any other forgotten items: $100 per porter
- Extra airport transfer – $100 per vehicle one way
- Last minute cancellation of client (within 3 days of the tour) – $300 cancellation fee per client
WEIGHT AND PORTERS
Clients are required to have a maximum of 15kg in their duffel bags. Due to the large increase in operational costs as a result of excess weight of clients’ luggage, we’ve had to resort to the following measures:
- Extra weight of clients’ luggage – $6 per extra kg
- Extra porter on the mountain (this is if a client requests) – $15 per porter per day