7 days Kilimanjaro Rongai Route hiking adventure, Rongai Route begins on the northern side of Mountain Kilimanjaro, 45 km from Moshi town or 69 km from Arusha town, is one of Mountain 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 animal species. The typical duration for this trip is 6 days. However, you can also add an acclimatization day and make it 7 days of climbing or hiking. The Rongai Route is more scenic than the Marangu Route and easier than another 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 day’s trek. This route starts on the north side of the mountain just south of the Kenyan border and is one of the least travelled routes.
The route merges with the Marangu Route for the summit climb. The descent follows the Marangu Route on the mountain’s southeast side, so you will be able to see Kilimanjaro from many viewpoints. 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.
Day of arrival: You will be Picked up from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi town at the hotel where you will overnight. (BB)
Detailed itinerary for 7 days Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Climbing
Day 1: Moshi to Rongai gate to Simba Camp
Elevation: 1387/915 m to 1950 m to 2750 m, Distance: 9 km, Hiking Time: 4 hours, Habitat: Montana Forest. You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by our vehicles through many villages and coffee and plantations for a 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 fields of maize and potatoes and then enter into Montana forest. You will then start to climb gently but consistently through an 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: 2750 m to 3600 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 side peak to Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley. At the Kikelewa Camp, you will settle for your dinner and overnight rest.
Day 3: Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi turn hut
Elevation: 3600 m to 4330 m, 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 the Mawenzi turn hut camp where you will also see the amazing undried Lake with no inlet as well as an outlet here you will have lunch and rest then dinner and overnight at this camp.
Day 4: Acclimatization day (6 days 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 returning back to the camp for lunch dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn hut to Kibo Huts camp
Elevation: 4330 m to 4695 m, Distance: 8 km, 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 6: Summit Day! Kibo Huts camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts camp
Elevation: 4695 m to 5895 m to 3690 m, Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down, Hiking Time: 10-15 hours, Habitat: Alpine Desert. Wake 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; 00 AM, switch back 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 snow takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak here you will spend some time taking photos, but will depend on how you feel. After your summit activities are done, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue on down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Have dinner and overnight at Horombo camp.
Day 7: Horombo Huts camp to Marangu Gate to Moshi
Elevation: 3690 m to 1830 m to 1387 m, Distance: 18 km, Descending Time: 5-7 hours. After a long and enjoyable sleep, you will be awaked for breakfast and pack up, starting to descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then proceed with your triumphant recessional down through the lush forest to Marangu park gate. Here you will sign out then a vehicle will take you back to the hotel where it is definitely time for the certificate presentation and celebration!
Day of departure: Transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
7 days Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Climbing / Hiking Includes
- Park fees
- Camping fees
- Rescue fees
- Mattress
- 18% VAT on tour fees and services
- Transportation to and from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- 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)
- Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro Airport
- Accommodation before and after tour Kilimanjaro crane/ Key’s Lodge (BB)
However, 7 days Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Climbing excludes
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Visa and passport fees
- Tips to mountain crew
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- A doctor for the group
- Alcoholic beverages
- A portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra ($100 per toilet + toilet tent)