8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Trek

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Kilimanjaro International Airport - Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver guide and mountain guide will be there waiting to pick you and transfer to Arusha for overnight. The rest of the day is free. Relax, take a stroll, enjoy the sights and sounds. Get plenty of rest – tomorrow will be huge! Also you can ask the mountain guide to go through your check list for mountain gear you are supposed to bring with you.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Maura Homestay

• Mid-range guest house

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

The Rongai Gate (1950 m) - First Caves camp (2600 meters)

Register at the Marangu park gate, after which you transfer (approximately 2 ½ hours) to the Rongai trail-head. Meet your guide and porters before you begin your hike from the Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, and then climbs gently through a forest. The trail is not at all steep, but is rather a gentle hike through beautiful country. The first night's camp is at First Cave, at about 2,600 meters. There is a toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut. Water can be found just down the trail below First Cave.

Rongai Gate (1950m) - 1st Caves camp (2600m)
Hiking time: 5hrs - Distance: Approximately 8 kms
Habitat: Forest (Montane).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

1st Cave (2600m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600m)

The trail continues up towards Kibo, passing Second Cave (3450m) en-route, and reaching Kikelewa Cave at about 3600 metres. The views start to open up and you begin to feel you're on a really big mountain! Water is in the obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find some. Overnight at 3rd Cave camp (Kikelewa Caves).

1st Cave (2600m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600m)
Hiking time: 6 - 7hrs - Habitat: Moorlands.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Kikelewa Cave (3600) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m)

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.

Kikelewa Cave (3600) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m)
Hiking time: 3 - 4hrs - Habitat: Moorlands.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - Kibo hut (4700m)

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 Camp.

Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - Kibo hut (4700m)
Hiking time: 4 - 5hrs
Habitat: Alpine desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

(Summit Attempt) Kibo hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo hut (3720m)

You will rise around 11:00PM and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. 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.

From Gillman's Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Total exhilaration and satisfaction - you made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend, taking photographs. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner on the mountain

(Summit Attempt) Kibo hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo hut (3720m)

Hiking time: 8h to Uhuru, 6hrs to Horombo

Habitat: Stone scree / ice-cap summit

Distance: Approximately 6 kms ascent, 21 kms descent.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Horombo hut (at 3720m) to Marangu Gate (at 1980m)

After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman's Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!

Horombo hut (at 3720m) to Marangu Gate (at 1980m)
Hiking time: 6hrs - Distance: Approximately 27 kms.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Maura Homestay

• Mid-range guest house

Meals & Drinks:

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

Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport

It’s the final day in Tanzania, so be sure to grab any last minute souvenirs you may want and say one last goodbye to the new friends you made in Tanzania before being transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.

Kwa heri ya kuonana - (Good bye and see you again).

Main Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.