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’s trek. There are shared camps with Marangu Route at Kibo Huts and Horombo Huts, but the huts are not used for those using Rongai Route.
| safari type : | Trekking / Climbing |
| You will visit: | Rongai Gate, Simba Camp, Second Cave Camp, Third Cave Camp, Kibo Huts, Uhuru Peak, Horombo Hut |
| Getting Around: | Walking |
| Start/End: | Arusha |
| Minimum Age: | 18+ |
After your long flight, you’ll be pleased to spend your first night in comfort at your hotel, the Planet Lodge in Arusha. You will be picked up by a Gifted Adventures driver, who will be waiting to meet and welcome you and take you to your hotel in Arusha to relax after your flight. Your adventure has begun!
Accommodation: Arusha Coffee Lodge
Meals: Dinner
Drinking Mineral Water only
You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by our vehicles through many villages and coffee and plantations for 2–3-hour drive to Rongai Gate. After signing in and preparing the porters, you will start hiking on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, and then enter into montane forest. The forest begins to thin as you arrive at Simba Camp with fantastic views over the Kenyan plains.
Elevation (m)1950m to 2750m
Distance:9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat:Montane Forest
After an early morning breakfast, you will have a steady ascent to the second cave where you will stop for lunch. Then after lunch you will have a little rest before acclimatization session whereby you will be walking higher then descend back to the same camp for dinner and overnight.
Elevation:2,750 m to 3,200 m
Distance:7 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat:Moorland
Today after your early breakfast you will start your walk to Third Cave Camp where you will have your hot lunch then short rest followed with acclimatization session then after you will be brought back to the same camp for dinner and overnight.
Elevation:3200m to 3900m
Distance:6km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat:Semi Desert
This is your extra day on the mountain, and you will spend two nights at Mawenzi Tarn. You will hike up towards Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatization hike. Then after returning back to the camp for lunch, dinner, and overnight.
Elevation:3900 M to 4695 M
Distance:7km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat:Alpine Desert
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. Leave to the peak at 12; 00AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim 4 and 6 AM. Then after 2 hours of hiking along the Kibo Crater Rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak here you will spend some minutes taking photos and treasuring the moment. After your summit activities done, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue on down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts Camp.
Elevation:4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Distance:4 km up / 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat:Alpine Desert
After a long and enjoyable sleep, you will be awaked for breakfast and pack up, start descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then preceed with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to Marangu park gate.
Elevation:3,690 m to 1,830 m
Distance:18 km
Hiking Time:5-7 hours
Habitat:Alpine Desert
Today is the day that you say goodbye to our team. Congratulations, you just hiked the highest freestanding mountain on planet Earth and the tallest mountain in Africa. You will remember these memories for the rest of your life. Upon waking up today, your guide will be with you until you need leave for Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Meals:Arusha Coffee Lodge
Distance:Breakfast
Drinking Mineral Water only
Kindly call us at +255 753 900 422 if you require any immediate assistance.
Planning for Kilimanjaro Climbing, whether long or short, can seem overwhelming. By the time you got to the Bottom of this Page, You’ll be ready To Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro! Are you going to be the part of it.
Will Enlighten You Through the best of Tanzania's sights
chance to experience the country's rich culture and history.
Looking to start planning an incredible adventure? Plan a truly bespoke experience with our Travel Designers today.
Before you book and pack those bags, check our easy-to-use travel restriction finder for your destination’s COVID-19 regulations and safety requirements.
.png)
We specialize in tailor-making your tour to suit your tastes and budget. We can customize everything from routes to accommodation to optional activities.
Our new policy that outlines how we will continue to keep you safe and healthy on our tours and make you feel even better about choosing to travel.
.png){kind=logo}
.png){kind=logo}
.png){kind=logo}
.png){kind=logo}
