Rongai is one of the Kilimanjaro climbing routes that approaches the mountain from the north, the route gives great view of both sides of the Mountain as you will be descending through the Marangu gate. Apart from the popular Marangu route, Rongai is one of the less crowded routes with very high success chances. Though the rout is less scenic, but it gives the great chance of seeing the Kilimanjaro wildlife such as birds and the colobus monkeys. The route is considered to be a possible and easy route as Marangu as there are no much steeps, just the up and downs with another advantage of it being dry most of the time. Hence the six days climbing will be in the following manner.
Day 1, Moshi to Rongai gate then to the first cave camp
On this day you will have a drive prior after your morning breakfast from the hotel you will be picked by the company driver to the Rongai gate. Here you will finalize the park registration and permit checks with your guide while your porters and the chef and incorporating all the equipments for easy carrying before you start the journey. From there you will start the trekking up to the Cave camp 1.
Accompaniment: Experienced Mountain Guide/Guides, chef/chefs and porters
Walking through: cypress plantation of the montane forest
What to see: Kilimanjaro wildlife such as birds and the colobus
Time and distance: 3 to 4hrs which is a distance of 6.5km
Elevation: 1,800m/5,900ft to 2,600m/8,400ft
Meal plans: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2, First Simba Camp to Second Cave Camp 3480m
The will starts with your breakfast then commence the morning hike which is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave Camp located in the moorland zone where you will be having a superb view of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim. From there you will have a rest for the next day adventure.
Accompaniment: Experienced Mountain Guide/Guides, chef/chefs and porters
What to see: Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim
Time and distance: 3 to 4hrs which is a distance of 5km
Elevation: 3480m/11417ft
Walking through: The moorland zone
Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3, Second Cave Camp to Kikelewa camp
On this day of your adventure you will continues with the ascending up, as the Rongai route does not have many steepness and it being straight and somehow seems to be short.
Accompaniment: Experienced Mountain Guide/Guides, chef/chefs and porters
Walking through: Moorland forest
What to see: Kibo and Mawenzi peak view with the eastern ice field
Time and distance: 3 to 4hrs which is a distance of 9km
Elevation: 3630m/11910ft
Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4, Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi tarn camp
This is the day for the altitude changes adaptations which is an acclimatization day, you will be having a walking in the afternoon and evening before the resting. The day seems to be short but with some steep walking. You will be resting and have an acclimatization walk in the evening.
Walking through: Senecio plants which are the last plant you see before the alpine desert
Accompaniment: Experienced Mountain Guide/Guides, chef/chefs and porters
Time and distance: 3 to 4hrs which is a distance of 6km
What to see: Kibo and Mawenzi peak view
Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Elevation: 4,330m /14,210ft
Day 5, Mawenzi Tarn camp to Kibo camp
This day you will be climbing up on reaching the last camp where you will be staying for your final days up there you will be crossing the lunar landscape of the saddle. At the camp you will be able to have the great view of your final day destination.
Walking through: Small ridges, the alpine desert between the two peaks Kibo & Mawenzi
Accompaniment: Experienced Mountain Guide/Guides, chef/chefs and porters
Time and distance: 4 to 5hrs which is a distance of 9km
What to see: Kibo and Mawenzi peak view
Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Elevation: 4,700m /15,420ft
Day 6: Summit day (ascend for summit and descend down to Kibo then to Horombo)
This is the adventurous part through the Marangu route and is the memorable part as you are about to be certified with the Kilimanjaro climbing certificate. You will be leaving Kibo hut in the midnight of around 2:00Am start the climbing to the summit on steep heavy scree or sometimes snow up to the Gilman’s point which is located on the crater rim. From there you will be ascending to the Uhuru peak and reaching there, you are at the highest point in Africa or you have reached the roof of Africa. You will spend short time and from there you will be descending down through Kibo to the Horombo encampment.
Walking through: The steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point
What to see: the great view at the Uhuru peak
Accompaniments: Mountain Guide/guides during summit and you will be joining the chef and porters at Kibo
Time & Distance: 6 to 8hrs Ascending up/ a hiking of 6km distance and 15km descending to Horombo
Equipments: Headlamps/flashlight, warm layers as it will be very cold before descending
Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft Down to 3700m/12,200ft
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Horombo to Marangu gate and back to Moshi
After the morning breakfast you will continue the descending up passing through the Mandara hut and then continue the descending up to the Marangu gate where you started the adventures and from there you will find the office team waiting for you and you will be picked and drove back to Moshi.
Accompaniments: Experienced Mountain Guide/guides chef/chefs and porters
Time & Distance: 4 to 5hrs descending of 20km distance
Walking through: The moorland and lush forest
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
Meal plan: Breakfast,
- Park fees, camping fees, rescue fees and 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Filtered water throughout the trek
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Both domestic and international Flights
- Tanzania Visa
- Items of a personal nature such as Mountain Climbing equipment
- Tips and gratitude for the mountain crew
- Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport $25 per route
- Pre and after Trek accommodation in Moshi Kilimanjaro