7-Day adventure

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Tanzania

Hiking Kilimanjaro Summits

Trip highlights

TOUR FEATURES

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Overview

At Hiking Kilimanjaro. With over 15 years of experience, we have successfully guided more than 12,000 climbers to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Our use of top-quality equipment and expert guides has helped us maintain a 95% success rate across all routes we operate. If you’re looking for a specialist operator with an excellent safety record, you’re in the right place. The Rongai Route is one of the least frequented official routes on Kilimanjaro. The benefit of this is fewer climbers, offering a more peaceful trek. However, it’s important to note that acclimatization is more challenging, as the “walk high, sleep low” strategy cannot be easily applied here. Starting at the Rongai Gate, this route passes through diverse climate zones, each providing unique scenery and experiences. Its remote location offers an unspoiled wilderness experience, with opportunities to spot large wildlife such as antelope, elephants, and buffalo. By day two, as you approach Kikelewa Caves, the views expand, revealing the vast Amboseli Plains of Kenya. The route then ascends to Kilimanjaro’s second summit, Mawenzi, before crossing the Saddle—a stark, barren plain that connects Mawenzi and Kibo. Following the summit, you’ll descend via the Marangu Route, giving you the chance to experience Kilimanjaro from both sides. Thanks to its position in Kilimanjaro’s rain shadow, the Rongai Route is an excellent option for attempting the climb during the rainy season.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will meet our HK (HIKING KILIMANJARO) representative and then proceed to transfer to the hotel. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. Later or tomorrow morning, you will have a short briefing with your expert tour leader about your expedition. We will also review your equipment needed for your adventure to ensure that everything is set for your journey to Kilimanjaro.

Day 1

Arrival

Day 2

Rongai trailhead to First Cave Camp

ransfer from your hotel to Marangu Gate for registration and then a further transfer to the Rongai trailhead (approx. 2½ hours). Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent through the village of Nale Moru. The small winding path crosses maize fields before climbing gently through a pine forest until we reach First Cave Camp at 2,600m altitude.

Day 1

Day 3

First Cave Camp to Kikelewa Camp

The trail continues up towards Kibo, passing Second Cave (3450m) en-route, and reaching Kikelewa Caves at 3600m. From here the views start to open up and you will see for yourself how huge a mountain Kilimanjaro really is. We camp here overnight.

Day 1

Day 4

Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb all-round views and a tangible sense of wilderness. We leave the vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn (4330 m), spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatisation.

Day 1

Day 5

Acclimatisation at Mawenzi Tarn

We will spend a full day at and around Mawenzi Tarn as part of the acclimatisation process. There will be plenty to do, with several paths leading up the ridges and towers of Mawenzi, and our crew will help arrange short excursions to explore the area.

Day 1

Day 6

Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Camp

We cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Campsite (4750m) at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent tomorrow.

Day 1

Day 7

Kibo Camp to summit to Horombo Hut

You will be woken around 23:30 and after some tea and biscuits we will start our ascent. This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). We then zigzag up to Gilman’s Point (5681m) on the crater rim. This section is very steep with much stone scree and is the most demanding section of the route. From Gilman’s Point we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long we can spend taking photographs before we descend back to Kibo Campsite and then Horomobo Hut where we will stay overnight. Later in the evening we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 1

Day 8

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

After breakfast we continue our descent, passing Mandara Hut, down to the Marangu Gate. Transfer to your hotel for a well-earned shower and celebration.

Day 1

Day 9

Departure

After a much needed nights rest, we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you in the morning for your onward journey.

Day 1

Kilimanjaro Training-program

PRICE START

from $4,155

Head to the top of a real mountain summit for a real sense of achievement
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