Rongai Route – 7 Days

Summary

The Rongai Route is a 7-day trek that starts on the north side of Mount Kilimanjaro, just south of the Kenyan border. It is one of the least traveled routes, making it a great choice for those who prefer a more remote hike¹. Here’s a brief overview of the itinerary.

Itinerary Day Description

Day 1: Arrival, Tour Briefing and Resting

• You will be met at the Kilimanjaro International Airport of by our Driver/Guide and our representative
• We will take you to your booked hotel in Moshi depending on your arrival time
• Our Kilimanjaro Expert will come to meet you and to provide you with a briefing on your climb
• Have dinner and overnight stay at that hotel in Moshi

Day 2: Hike up through the Rongai Forest approx 2625m

• In the morning we pick you from your hotel in Moshi and drive to the town of Nalemoru on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro and the trailhead five miles outside of town
• From the Park entrance you start the climb passing through pine forest and a short stretch of mountainous rainforest until we reach the heather and moorlands
• It is about a 4-5 hour walk to Sekimba camp at approx 2625m but we advise people to go very slowly
• The forest teems with bird life and colobus and other monkeys may be seen
• We should arrive late afternoon so the rest of the day will be used to relax and recheck your equipment

Day 3: First camp to Kikelewa Moorland (3630m)

• Continue through the forest (on this side is no such forest belt), eventually encountering the moorlands just below a large lava overhang known as Second Cave
• Here we have lunch, then traverse the open moorlands toward the spectacular peak of Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro’s second major peak rising
• Our second camp is at Kikelewa, (relative) shortly before reaching the saddle that connects Mawenzi to Kibo and Uhuru peaks. (5-6 hours hiking.)
• Overnight at a campsite

Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn Hut

• Rising early you climb steadily to craggy jugged peaks of Mawenzi
• One of the volcanic peaks camp beneath Mawenzi at approx 4,300m
• Some climbers take an alternative route away from Mawenzi and camp on the north side of the saddle (Mawenzi Tarn Hut is in the north)
• Overnight at a campsite

Day 5: Outward Bound Hut (School Hut or preferably Kibo Hut)

• Trek to the Outward Bound Hut (School Hut or preferably Kibo Hut) at 4,715m between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi
• Mountain vistas are fabulous as we emerge onto the saddle between glacier-covered Kibo and rock-crowned Mawenzi (these mountain views alone are worth the effort of the trek!)
• We’ll arrive by lunchtime, and have the afternoon to organize and rest up for the summit attempt
• We’ll turn in early (since we’ll be arising before midnight).
• Overnight at a campsite

Day 6: Kibo camp to Gilman’s point to Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut

• This is the hardest day of the climb and an early start before midnight or one, where it is dark cold and where you use your head torch for the first few hours
• You will pass (rest and have coffee at) Hans Meyers cave after about 3 hours climbing
• Depending on weather conditions the temperature can be as low as -25 c
• At dawn you should reach Gilman’s point and usually see a spectacular sunrise as you stand above the clouds
• From here if you have enough energy left a further 1 and a half hours walk before you are standing on the highest part of the African continent- Uhuru Peak
• A quick photo session and then you descend down to Kibo and then on to Horombo at 3700m (11-12 hours hiking.)
• Overnight at a campsite in Horombo Hut

Day 7: Horombo to Park Gate then to Moshi

• Descending across the moorland and into the forest to Mandara hut, where a meal is served, a walk of about 3 or 4 hours and the last stretch of 2 hours through the rain forest to Marangu Gate
• After bidding our farewells to our guide and porters, we’ll take you to Moshi for dinner and overnight stay

—- End of service — *** routing subject to changes if necessary——