7 Day Kilimanjaro Rongai climb

Duration7 days

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

This non-technical Kilimanjaro camping route is the only one to start from the Northern side of the mountain. Rongai approaches the main Kilimanjaro (Kibo) cone from the Northeast which usually is drier (helping avoid rainfall) and descends via the Marangu route on the Southeast. Though we consider this less physically demanding than other routes (no scrambling sections as you get on the southern circuit routes), short treks do not offer acclimatization opportunities and the easier walk may catch up with you at the higher altitudes, however more days spent on the Mountain increase your chance to summit.

What's included

Four season tent(sharing for even numbered + 1 single for odd numbers), chairs, tables, dining tent
1 x transfer from park gates to a Moshi based lodge per group
Twice daily health checks with guides and a high-grade medical oximeter
Boiled drinking water on trek (from 1st camp onwards)
Hand washing station and small personal wash basin at campsites
1 x approx. 100Ltr rubberized hold all bag / packsack
Trained, certified, and experienced English-speaking Mountain guide/s at KINAPA minimum ratios
Lunch
Shared public toilet facilities at campsites
Dinner
Pre-climb briefing / equipment check with the guide / tour consultant in Moshi
Breakfast
Luggage storage while on trek
Specialist tent crew to service and set-up campsites
All taxes and VAT applicable
1 Emergency oxygen cylinder per 5 passengers and first aid kit
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project monitoring on Kilimanjaro treks for fair treatment standards
All National Park conservation, park entry, camping and rescue fees as applicable
1 x luggage porter carrying luggage of 15kg per person of personal luggage
All meals on the mountain and eating utensils, cutlery, bowls, cups etc
Basic 1” foam sleeping mattress per person
Crew transportation to remote gates (Lemosho / Londrossi / Rongai / Umbwe)
1 x transfer from a Moshi based lodge to park gates per group
Trained and experienced personal mountain cook and waiter

Tips / gratuities
Beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol etc.
International flights
Insurance
Visas
Items of a personal nature
Water on first day of trek
Metal & hard plastic water bottles, etc. (note: soft plastics are not permitted on the mountain)
Extra Single tents ($20 per extra tent, per day)
Comfort upgrades such as portable toilet($45 per day, Max 5 pax), foldable bed($20 per bed, per day)
Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation membership
Extra guides or extra luggage porters($35 per guide, per day, $20 per luggage porter, per day)
Personal mountain equipment such as sleeping bags, walking poles, etc.(Please request a guideline)

What to expect

Day 1: Moshi town to Rongai gate to Simba (First Cave) Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro
5h · Admission ticket included

You will be transferred by road from Moshi town (09:00am) to Rongai gate. After registration you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest thins out quickly on this remote and drier side of the mountain and you reach your camp on the edge of the forest and heather zone near the caves.

Day 2: Simba (First Cave) Camp to Second Cave Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro
5h

Today’s hike takes you further up towards the Kibo cone and into the lower alpine heather & moorland zone through a more barren landscape than the day before and heading towards the second group of caves near the Second cave camp where you will stop for the night. You may venture further up for acclimatization and views of the Kibo cone and Eastern Icefields on the crater rim or rest for the next day.

Day 3: Second Cave Camp to Kikelelwa Cave Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro
5h

Today’s hike takes you further through the heather & moorland zone diverting towards the third peak of Kilimanjaro (Mawenzi) on the south easy of the massif and one that is rarely climbed. The landscape changes from the morning and you stop near the Kikelelwa caves for your nights camp.

Day 4: Kikelelwa Cave Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro
7h

Today’s hike is a short and steep one through a grassy slope and into the alpine desert. You continue your movement south-east towards the Mawenzi cone where the landscape dramatically changes. Your camp for tonight is inside of the Mawenzi ridge and near the tarn lake. You can also optionally venture out further with your guide for acclimatization walks.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp to School Hut Camp (or alternatively Kibo Camp)

Mount Kilimanjaro
5h

Your hike today takes you back towards the Kibo cone steadily climbing up and over the edges of the alpine desert journeying through the ‘saddle’ between the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. The environment becomes more barren and air thinner as you ascend to your base camp where you will rest for the summit journey starting tonight.

Day 6: School Hut Camp to Gilman’s point to Uhuru peak to Horombo Hut Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro
18h

In the early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in a zig-zag pattern towards Gilman’s Point (5681m or 18640ft) which is your first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains to take you past Stella point (the first stop on the rim for those summiting from Barafu camp / the Southern circuit) and further around till Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. You usually don’t spend that long at the peak due to the extreme altitude and will descend back down to the base camp for your breakfast / brunch. After your gear is packed up you continue the descent through the alpine desert, heather and moorland where you stop for the night.

Day 7: Horombo Hut Camp to Marangu gate

Mount Kilimanjaro
7h

Your final day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southeastern rain forest zone until Marangu gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Marangu gate and it’s a perfect opportunity to say goodbye and a great location to hand your optional tip to the crew as a token of your appreciation.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Our guide will visit your pre climb lodge the day before your trek to do a briefing and coordinate the start time the next day. You can make your own way to our headquarters near Moshi town and you will see our company board on the street with a black and green gate to enter our office.

End point

Our guide will visit your pre climb lodge the day before your trek to do a briefing and coordinate the start time the next day. You can make your own way to our headquarters near Moshi town and you will see our company board on the street with a black and green gate to enter our office.

Pickup details

Your guide will visit your base lodge / pre climb lodge the day before your trek to do a briefing and coordinate the start time the next day. The next morning you should see your guide and our vehicle at your lodge reception or in the parking area. If you cannot see our driver / guide you can ask the reception of your lodge to get in touch.

Additional information

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Not recommended for travelers with lung problems or other known altitude related medical conditions

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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