6 days, 5 nights Rongai Route

Rongai route is one of the easiest routes of mount Kilimanjaro, with a very high success rate of reaching the summit.

This is the only route that starts on the north side of the mountain, just few kilometers south of the Kenyan border. This is also one of the least traveled routes, less crowded because of its remote location  which offers the trekkers  a unique wilderness experience where it is possible to see some wildlife animals like Elephants, antelope, Buffallo etc. Another advantage of this route is that usually the hikers enjoying the clearest view of the mountain throughout the route.

Alos this route descend through Marangu route, so the climbers are enjoying beautiful views of the mountain from different angles. This route also is camping throughout.

After breakfast at the hotel in Arusha/Moshi start a drive to the starting point of Rongai route which is at Nale Moru gate, around 3 hours from Moshi and about 6 hours from Arusha. on the way you will stop at Marangu gate for permits and registration. Then continue all the way to the gate (Nale Moru) to start the hike. The first day is mostly passing through a forest and then later reaching at the edge of Moorland zone with extensive views of Kenyan plain, you will rest, dinner and overnight at Simba camp.

Elevation: 2,364m/7,756ft at Rongai gate to 2,671m/8,763ft at Simba camp

Walking distance: 7kms/4.35miles

Estimate walking time: 3 -4 hours

Habitat: Montane forest

After breakfast, we continue ascending through the moorland terrain and along the way you will see some views of Kibo peak and also see some ice fields on the eastern part of the crater rim, as you approach near the second cave the temperature begins to drop down. Resting, dinner and overnight at Second cave camp.

Elevation: 2,671m/8,763ft at Simba camp to 3,450m/11,319ft at Second cave camp

Walking distance: 8kms/ 5 miles

Estimate walking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast continue ascending, this day you enter into semi desert terrain, later arriving at third cave camp for resting, dinner and overnight there.

Elevation: 3,450m/11,318ft at the Second cave camp to 3800m/12,467ft at third cave camp.

Walking distance: 9kms/5.6miles

Estimate walking time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Semi desert.

After breakfast continue ascending starting in the semi desert zone and later moving into the Alpine Desert to the remaining of the day all the way to Kibo huts. At this point the trail merge with Marangu route which you will use to hike to the summit. You will camp at Kibo huts, and prepare yourself physically and mentally for the final push to the summit.

Elevation: 3,800m/12,467ft to 4,700m/ 15,420ft at Kibo huts

Walking distance: 5kms/ 3 miles

Estimate walking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

Your guide will wake you up between 11pm to 12am for a short preparation for the summit hike, you will be given some hot drinks and some light snacks, you will put few more layers of clothes, hiking boots and head torch and start a hike to the summit, you will be accompanied with the head guide and few Porters. This is the steepest and the toughest part of the trek, most of the climbers feel the altitude sickness at its peak at this stage, with symptoms such as Headache, nausea, Vomiting, dizziness etc  there are some points before the summit which people usually use as resting point such as Williams point (a big rock) marks the 5,000m/16,400ft, The Hans Meyer Cave which lies at 5,150m/16,900ft,  Gimans point at 5,681m/ 18,640ft, Stella Point at 5,685m/ 18,652ft. From Gilmans point you will reach the glaciers landscape of mount Kilimanjaro. Along the way you will be to watch breathtaking views of the unique glaciers of the mountain and all the area below the mountain.

The last point of the hike, the summit, Uhuru point (meaning freedom point) at 5,895m/19,340ft. You can spend some time in the summit, enjoying the feeling of being on the top of Africa, take some pictures, and then start descending all the way down to Kibo huts, get some rest and lunch, and keep on descending to Horombo huts for resting, dinner and overnight.

Elevation: 4,700m/15,420ft at Kibo huts to 5,895m/19,340ft at Uhuru peak to 3,700m/12,140ft at Horombo huts

Walking distance: ascending from Kibo to Uhuru 5.5 km/3.4miles; descending from summit to Horombo 15 km/9.3 miles

Estimate walking time: 6-8 hours up; 5-6 hours down.

Habitat: Alpine desert and glaciers.

This is the last day of the hike, after breakfast you start descending all the way to Marangu gate, along the way you will have a stop for lunch (lunch box). The car will be ready to take you from the gate to the hotel in Moshi or Arusha.

Walking distance: 20km/12.5 miles

Estimate walking time: 4-5 hour