Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route 6 Days & 5 Nights

Rongai Route, Kilimanjaro

Duration

6 Days

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

Unlimited

Languages

English

Overview

Rongai route begins in the northern side of Kilimanjaro Mountain, 45km from Moshi town or 69km from Arusha. This is one of Kilimanjaro easiest routes, and it has become an increasingly popular route in recent years. This route is located on the northern side of Mt. Kilimanjaro with a variety of spectacular landscapes together with different plants and animal’s species. The typical duration for this trip is 6 days. However, you can also add an acclimatization day and make it 7-day climb. The Rongai Route is more scenic than the Marangu route and easier than other camping routes 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 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 for the summit climb. The descend follows the Marangu Route on the mountain’s southeast side, so you will be able to Kilimanjaro from many points. There are two versions of this trek- a direct 6-day itinerary and a 7-day itinerary that takes a longer route. You can choose to attempt the summit via Mawezi Tarn Hut or via School Hut which is also referred to as the Outward Bound Hut. The former is longer and more popular. Prior acclimatization is suggested in order to attempt the latter successfully.

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Itinerary

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Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet our company representative (Guide or Driver), and transfer to Masailand Safari Lodge. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cosy rooms, hot water, and Internet access. In the evening, there will be a briefing with our Kilimanjaro mountain guides, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

Hiking time: 5 hours

Distance: Approximately 8 kilometres

Habitat: Montane Forest

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400m) and driven to the Marangu Gate (1980m). At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then be transferred by vehicle to the Rongai trailhead, which is 2.5 hours away from the Managu Gate. The trail begins in the tall cornfields then leads into the pine forest. This trail has a gradual ascent and allows hikers to enjoy their surroundings. About halfway up the trail, you will have a lunch break and you will reach the 1st Caves Camp (2600m) in the late afternoon or early evening. The porters and chef, who move very fast up the mountain, will reach camp before you and set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival. After washing up, a hot dinner will be served. For overnight, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!

Hiking time: 6-7 hours

Habitat: Moorlands

Following a hot breakfast, hikers will continue their ascent to Kikelewa Cave (3600m). The trail passes Second Cave (3450m) and this is a good spot to take a lunch break. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Moorlands

On this day, hikers will enjoy a short, yet steep trail to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m). In the moorland, you will spot exotic plants, including giant lobelia and groundsel. At camp, hikers will enjoy spectacular views and allow their bodies to acclimate. Hot dinner and washing water will be prepared for hikers as they enjoy the magnificent sunset.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, hikers will continue ascending east for a half-day hike to Kibo Hut. Kibo is located in the “Saddle,” which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo in an alpine desert. There is no water at this camp, but hikers can buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!

Kibo Hut (4700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo Hut (3720m)

Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru and 6 hours to Horombo

Habitat: Stone scree / ice-cap summit

Distance: Approximately 6 kilometres ascent and 21 kilometres descent

Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The trail is rocky up to Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). You continue your ascent to Gillman’s point (5681m). Reaching this section is an impressive achievement as the trail is steep, rocky, and at high altitude. Gillman’s is located on the crater rim. From this point, you will usually experience a snow-covered trail until you reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Kibo Hut takes about 3 hours.

At Kibo Hut, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Horombo Hut (3720m). You will have dinner, wash, and rest soundly at the hut after a strenuous day.

Hiking time: 6 hours

Distance: Approximately 27 kilometres

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for 6 hours back to Marangu Gate (1980m). The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Gillman’s Point (5681m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

Our packages include departure day services. Enjoy breakfast and a morning sightseeing in the city or join us for one of our Safari Adventures. If you are returning home our driver will bring you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to catch your flight home.

Included/Excluded

All Park Fees, including the 18% VAT
Airport transfers
Transport to and from the hotel and the trailhead/gate,
Tents on the mountain.
All meals while you are on the mountain (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Salaries for guides, cooks and porters
Oxygen
Portable Chemical Toilet
Hotel accommodation in Arusha the night before and the night after the climb (Bed and breakfast)

Airfare to Tanzania
Tips for guides, porters and other staff
Sleeping bags, sleeping pads and other personal gears,
Lunch or dinners at the hotel in Arusha,
Soft drinks, beer and items of a personal nature
Laundry,
Visas,
Travel Insurance and Medical Insurance

Tour's Location

Rongai Route, Kilimanjaro

FAQs

You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack - It will be carried by our porters.

No worries about that - this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” - which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude.

There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.

Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding.

If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or hut.

Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.

For Rongai route, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down and carried- along with everything else- by our porters.

There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.

For each trek on the Mountain, a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and have the ability to prepare different kinds of dishes.

You shouldn't worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.

The tours are scheduled to start in Arusha, departing on Daily basis. However, circumstances like clients’ arrival time, activities to be done and the client’s preference could affect the program. Our company is flexible for such arrangements and adjustments. Normally the program starts around 7:30 AM

The tours are scheduled to End in Arusha. However, our travel specialists will need to know your specific drop-off point prior to the hike to get aligned with the program.

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