7 Days Rongai Route

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the hotel in Moshi town. This day you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary trekking gear. If happens that you are missing a gear, it can be rented on this day.

• Driving distance: 55km/ 58miles,
• Driving Time: 1 hour
• Habitat: Cultivated zone
• Hotel: Bed and Breakfast

Rongai Gate (2,364 m) - Simba Camp (2,625 m)

In the morning after breakfast you will meet your crew in Moshi town and be transferred to Mount Kilimanjaro gate (93.8km / 58.3 miles). The climb begins at Rongai Gate through natural forest. You may have a chance to see Colobus monkeys in the tree tops with their white fringed 'capes' and tail. Taking 3 - 4 hours the first camp is on the edge of the moorland zone where the forest begins to thin out at. Overnight Simba

• Trekking Distance: 5km/3miles,
• Trekking time: 3-4 hours
• Elevation: 7756 ft to 8612 ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Simba Camp (2,625 m) - Second Cave / 3,450m

The morning walk is a steady ascent up to Rongai Cave (9,300 ft) with superb views of Kibo and the eastern ice fields on the crater rim. Pushing on to reach Second Cave 11300ft for overnight camp. Overnight 2nd Cave Camp.

• Distance: 5km/3miles,
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours,
• Eleven: 8612 ft to 11300 ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Second Cave 11,300ft/3,450 m - Kikelelwa (11,811 ft / 3,600 m)

We continue trekking though moorland, leaving the main trail for a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, before finally arriving at Kikelewa Cave for the night.

• Distance: 5km/3miles,
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours,
• Eleven: 11300 ft to 11,811 ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Kikelelwa - Mawenzi Turn Hut

After the breakfast, we start a short and steep grassy slope hike to Mawenzi Turn hut camp, with stunning view of wilderness area. The landscape will be changing dramatically as exit the Heath zone to Alpine desert zone. You will overnight at mawenzi turn camp situated at jagged spires of Mawenzi.

• Distance: 5km/3miles,
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours,
• Eleven: 11,811 ft to 14,160 ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Mawenzi Turn Hut - Kibo

We leave our campsite and cross the lunar desert of the ‘saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo After a couple hours trekking, reach this spectacular place, with the summit of Kilimanjaro in the background and our trail to the high camp stretched out before our eyes. Upon reaching our camp the remainder of the day will be spent resting in preparation of the final ascent after a very early night!

• Distance: 8km/5miles,
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours,
• Eleven: 14,160 ft to 15,430 ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Kibo - Uhuru Peak (Summit - 19,341 / 5,896 M) - Horombo Hut (12,205ft / 3,700 M)

Today is “The Big Day” - the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681m) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1.5 - 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 - hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.

• Distance: 6km/4miles and 16km/10miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up & 4-5 hours down
• Eleven:15,430 ft to 19,341 to 12,250 ft.
• Habitat: Arctic and Heath

Horombo Hut - Pass Mandara Hut - Marangu Gate

The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rainforest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.

• Distance: 20km/12miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Eleven: 12,205 ft to 6,046
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Are you looking for Safari tour along with your Kilimanjaro climb?