Rongai Route

Day 0: arrival

After checking in at the airport (JRO) you will meet your driver who will take you to the hotel in Moshi. For the rest of your day, you can do anything you want such as relaxing by the pool or you can explore more of Moshi. Your guide will meet with you in the evening and they will check all of your equipment as well as giving you a briefing about the climb.

Day 1: ascent from Nalemor Gate (1,990m) to Simba Camp (2,625m)

Distance: 7 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive you to Kilimanjaro National Park, to the northwest gate of Nalemor at an altitude of 1,990 meters above sea level. After completing the formalities required for entry, your ascent will begin. In the first stage, you will briefly walk through the rainforest, where you may spot local monkeys or other animals in the lush vegetation. Soon, however, the rainforest at higher altitudes will give way to sparsely forested areas. Approximately three to four hours later, you will arrive at your first camp – Simba Camp.

Day 2: ascent from Simba Camp (2,625m) to Kikelewa Camp (3,630m)

Distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 6-7 hours

After an early breakfast, you will set out on today’s climb and shortly after, the forest landscape around you turns into scrubland. During the journey, you will have a view of Mawenzi Peak (one of the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro) on one side and the Kenyan steppes on the other. You will have lunch at the Second Cave campsite at an altitude of 3,450 meters above sea level. After the lunch break, only a short ascent awaits you to Kikelewa Camp at an altitude of 3,630 meters above sea level. From Kikelewa Camp there are nice views of Mawenzi Peak and the surrounding countryside. You can rest and relax for the rest of the day.

Day 3: ascent from Kikelewa Camp (2,630m) to Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4,310m)

Distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

During the ascent, the vegetation will clearly decrease and rock formations will increase. If you have nice weather, then you will enjoy beautiful views of the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi and the Kenyan savannah. Finally, you will arrive at Mawenzi Tarn Hut at an altitude of 4,310 meters above sea level, where you will experience the real mountain atmosphere.

Day 4: ascent from Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4,310m) to Kibo Hut (4,700m)

Distance: 8 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

After a relatively easy path, you will reach the so-called “saddle” connecting Kibo Peak and Mawenzi Peak. At this height, almost nothing grows except for a few grasses, the landscape changes to an alpine semi-desert and then to a frost desert. Finally, you will arrive at Kibo Hut, where you will have an afternoon and evening rest before the night ascent to the summit.

Day 5: ascent from Kibo Hut (4,700m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) and then the descent to Horombo Hut (3,700m)

Distance: 19 km
Hiking time: 12-13 hours

This is the day where you will climb to climb Uhuru Peak – the highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. We will wake you up before midnight and shortly after you will start the final climb after a small snack. At this hour, the lava ash is frozen and climbing it is a bit easier. A night-time climb awaits you in the freezing weather and at a height where the lack of oxygen is noticeable. Despite its difficulty, there is a good chance that you will climb all the way to the peak with us. At dawn you will reach Gilmans Point at 5,715 meters above sea level, from where the path is not so steep, but still strenuous due to the thinner air and due to this requires a very slow pace. It gets noticeably warmer after dawn. After another 1 to 2 hours, you will reach your destination – Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters above sea level. This is the highest point in Africa. Enjoy the moment and don’t forget to take a memorable summit photo with the iconic sign marking the summit of Kilimanjaro in the background before returning. Our guides will be happy to take your picture.

The descent to Kibo Hut is along the same route in the initial stage. The lava ash, which has probably melted in the meantime, may be slippery. After returning to Kibo Hut, you will have a hot meal, rest for 1-2 hours and continue your descent along the Marangu route to Horombo Hut at an altitude of 3,700 m above sea level. At this altitude, there is noticeably more oxygen, and you can rest better and regenerate after a difficult ascent. After dinner, you can go straight to sleep.

Day 6: descent from Horombo Hut (3,700m) to Marangu Gate (1,860m)

Distance: 19 km
Hiking time: 6–7 hours

On this day, after breakfast, our porters and guides give you the final celebration ceremony and you can hand them your tip during this. After that, you will pack up and we will set off for the final descent to Marangu Gate. Here, further formalities will be taken care of with the park rangers and then you will drive to the Moshi Hotel to collect your belongings and you will spend your last night there.