Mount Kilimanjaro, 8 Days Rongai Route

Your international flight will arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, home to the ‘The Roof of Africa’, Mount Kilimanjaro. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, you will be warmly welcomed by one of our experienced drivers and your Mountain Guide who will escort you to your reserved hotel in Arusha Town.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

• Mid-range hotel located in or near Arusha

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Climbing time: 4 hours

Distance: Approximately 6.7 km

Environment: Forest (Montane)

Depart from Arusha town to the Marangu park gate for registration. From Marangu park gate we travel to Naro Moru, northeast Kilimanjaro, a further 68km and approximately 2 ½ hours on bad roads to the Rongai start point (1996m). Meet your guide and porters before you begin your hike from the Nale Moru village.

The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering the pine forest and then climbs gently through a forest. The trail is not at all steep, but is rather a gentle hike through a beautiful countryside. The first night’s camp is at Simba Camp (2 626m). The camp facilities include a public toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Simba Camp (Kilimanjaro)

• Budget located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Climbing time: 6 – 7 hours

Distance: Approximately 11.8 km

Environment: Moorlands

We hike from Simba camp up towards Kibo till 3 482m for lunch at First Caves, a distance of 5.8km. After lunch, we continued trekking until reaching Kikelewa Camp at about 3679 meters. The views start to open up and you begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water can be found in an obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill to find a pool or two. Enjoy dinner and overnight at Kikelewa camp.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kikilewa Camp

• In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Climbing time: 3 hours

Distance: Approximately 3.7 km

Environment: Moorlands

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatizing and exploring the area.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Climbing time: 5 hours

Distance: Approximately 9 km

Environment: Alpine desert

After breakfast, we head west and continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo taking 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. Overnight at Kibo hut.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Climbing time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo

Distance: Approximately 5.4km ascent and 15 km descent

Environment: Stone scree / ice-cap summit

You will rise around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot.

The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the kilimanjaro shuffle and move slowly from Gilman’s Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Climbing time: 6 hours

Distance: Approximately 19.7 km

Environment: Moorland & Montane Forest

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3 – hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates.

Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1-hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village, you will be served a delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Arusha for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in a nice hotel.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Zawadi House Lodge

• Mid-range hotel located in or near Arusha

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, depending on the flight time, your driver will transfer you to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.

Main Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included