8-Day Rongai Route Mountain Climbing Adventure

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

Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport meet Vema tours and safaris staff & transfer to Planet Lodge in Arusha. Later our Kilimanjaro manager together with your guide for Kilimanjaro will meet you at your lodge for detailed briefing & gear checking before leaving you to enjoy lovely lodge’s environment before dinner & overnight.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Airport Planet Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Arusha Airport

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Transfer from Arusha to Rongai gate

The starting point of your Kilimanjaro trekking Rongai Route is at Park Gate of Marangu, then you will have a transport to the Rongai trail ahead (1,950 m). Normally, the transport is of about 3 hours to the Rongai gate. If time allows packed lunch can be taken at Nelemoru. This trial takes you along the cypress plantations and montane forest. You can possibly spot some colobus monkeys.

The path is ending at the 1st Cave camp (2,600 m) and it is gradual allows you to enjoy the surroundings. Porters & cook are moving faster so at the time you reach the camp you will find them waiting and already build up your tents. They might have even prepared popcorn for you and something hot to drink. At the camp you will get hot water to wash then changing clothes you have been trekking with, stay warm. Enjoy the camp environment waiting for dinner time. At night Mountain temperature may drop to a freezing point, be prepared.

Main Destination:

Rongai Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

1st Caves Camp 2600 m – Kikelelwa Cave 3600 m

From the 1st Caves Camp start your day with a light breakfast, then you will arrive at the moorland vegetation type enclosed in heather. This trail will lead you towards the second Cave Camp (3,450 m), the place where you will have lunch. After lunch and some rest you carry on up to the third Cave Campsite (3, 600 m), (Kikelelwa Cave) the alternative name. 6 Days trekking is the best as it gives enough time for acclimatization.

By the time you reach the Kikelelwa Cave porters will have already prepared a tent for you, hot water to wash, coffee or tea with snacks, it is same procedure as per previous day. The camp is surrounded by a bunch of small caves in a valley a bit below saddle. After dinner you will go to sleep get prepared of crazy cold at night.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Kikelelwa Cave 3600 m – Mawenzi Tarn camp

Light breakfast before starting your 3rd day at Kikelelwa cave. Start your hiking day on an easy and moderate slope, you will notice changes on landscape and the pass now is becoming steeper and soon you will reach Mawenzi Tarn Camp at the altitude of 4,330 m. This is a very remarkable campsite as it is in a hollow beneath the sharp peak of Mawenzi which is close to a small lake. Arriving at the camp same procedures will follow as previous days, soon hot lunch will be served followed by some relaxing hours. You can use this afternoon for resting and exploring the areas around the campsite.

You can have some walks to a number of ridges and towers in this area which will possibly offer a stunning view of Kibo. For a great acclimatization and for amazing views of Mawenzi this is the right place. Enjoy the magnificent sunset from you campsite then dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mawenzi Tarn camp 4330 m – Kibo Hut 4700 m

After a light breakfast you will start your today’s program by hiking over a small ridge before having an easy walk on a nice path that is on the northern part of the saddle. With a good weather views around this area is wonderful. The vegetation type that will dominant the today’s walking is an alpine desert furnishing with some hardly grasses and occasionally everlasting flowers. The final part of today’s hike that leads to Kibo hut is steeper. On this day dinner will be served early but before or after dinner your guide will give you a detailed briefing of your final push to the summit. Go to bed early & try to get enough sleep as this is your big night at Kilimanjaro but before bed you should have prepared everything needed for your final ascent. Things needed for your final attempting to the summit are thermal clothing, ski-stick, and thermal flask for water, don’t forget to put in replace your headlamp and batteries.(guide will remind you during briefing).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

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

Embarking on the Rongai Route summit day starts with a wake-up around 23:00 to 23:30. Enjoy biscuits and tea before navigating a challenging, rocky path passing Williams Point at 5,000 m, Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150 m, and Gillman’s Point at 5,681 m on the crater rim.
The ascent to Hans Meyer Cave from Kibo Hut takes nearly two and a half hours, with Gillman’s Point an hour away. The final push to the summit from Gillman’s Point is about 1.5 hours. The snowy section of the climb follows the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. Passing Stella Point at 5,752 m, where routes converge, signals proximity to the summit. Congrats on conquering Africa's roof via the challenging 6-day Rongai route.

At Uhuru Peak, spend minimal time due to the high altitude; capture photos before descending to Kibo Hut at 4,700 m for lunch. The 3-hour journey from Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut at 3,720 m concludes in the afternoon. Enjoy hot water, coffee/tea, and snacks, change, relax, and await dinner.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Horombo Hut 3720 m – Marangu gate 1980 m – Arusha

After heavy breakfast at Horombo hut you are last day at Kilimanjaro will then start. Passing Mandara hut at an altitude of 2,700 on your way down to Marangu gate, here you will have a short break for lunch then proceed down to Marangu gate at (1,980 m)

At Marangu gate you will sign some of your details into a register book and you will be provided with a summit certificate, a green color certificate is for those who reached Gillman’s Point and a gold certificate (Big Diploma) for Uhuru Peak. Celebrations, singing & dancing including farewell & tipping session for the crew can be at Horombo hut in the morning or here when receiving certificate. At the time you reach the gate your driver will have already arrived and waiting to take you back to your Planet Lodge in Arusha possibly for long overdo hot shower before dinner & overnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Airport Planet Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Arusha Airport

Meals & Drinks:

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

Transfer to kilimanjaro airport

After leisurely breakfast & depending on your flight time we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home.

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.