Rongai Route

Day 1:  

Nale Muru Gate (1,950m/6,398ft) to Simba Camp (2,650m/8,694ft)

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken to the Rongai Gate, which is the starting point of the route. You will meet your guides and porters here and complete the necessary registration procedures.

• The trek starts through the rainforest, gradually ascending towards the first campsite, Simba Camp.

• This day's trek is relatively short, approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), taking approximately 3-4 hours, allowing you to acclimatize to the altitude.

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Day 2:        

Simba Camp (2,650m/8,694ft) to Second Cave Camp (3,487m/11,440ft)

• The day starts with an early breakfast, followed by a steady ascent through moorland  vegetation, becoming more sparse and rugged as you gain altitude.

• You will catch some terrific views of Kibo and get your first glimpse of the icefield on the Eastern crater rim.

• You will notice the temperature begins to drop.

• The trek takes about 5-6 hours, covering a distance of approximately 6 kilometers (3.75 miles)

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Day 3:

Second Cave Camp (3,487m/11,440ft) to Kikelewa Camp (3,600m/11,811ft)

• After breakfast and packing, you continue your steady ascent across the Moorland towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. 

• This relatively short hiking day brings you closer to the Easter ice fields, continually drawing your attention to their beauty.

• You'll reach Kikelewa Camp after approximately 2-3 hours of trekking and covering a distance of 6 kilometers (3.75 miles)

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Day 4:

Kikelewa Camp (3,600m/11,811ft) to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330m/14,206ft)

• The forth day involves a steep hike up to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, located beneath the towering Mawenzi peak.

• The vegetation becomes more scarce, and you may experience the effects of altitude as you reach higher elevations.

• After lunch at the camp, you can opt for an acclimatization hike towards Mawenzi Volcano followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

• The day's trek usually takes about 4-6 hours, covering a distance of approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)

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Day 5:      

Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330m/14,206ft) to Kibo Hut (4,700m/15,419ft)

• This day involves a challenging trek across the Saddle, a vast high-altitude desert between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks.

• You will have breathtaking views of the summit as you approach Kibo Hut, the basecamp for the final ascent.

• The trek takes around 5-7 hours, covering a distance of approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles)

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Day 6:    

Kibo Hut (4,700m/15,419ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,341ft) and then descend to Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,205ft)

• Day 5 begins in the early hours of the morning (usually around midnight) to start the summit attempt.

• You will trek up steep scree slopes, passing through Gilman's Point and continuing to the summit, Uhuru Peak.

• After reaching the summit, if conditions allow, you can take a short walk to the nearest glacier before descending back to Kibo Hut for a short rest and then continuing down to Horombo Hut.

• The total trekking time on this day can vary significantly, usually ranging from 10 to 16 hours, depending on individual pace.  Approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) ascent to Uhuru Peak, and 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) descent to Horombo Hut 

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Day 7:    

Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,205ft) to Marangu Gate (1,860m/6,102ft)

• After breakfast , the final day of the trek involves a descent through the rainforest, providing a stark contrast to the high-altitude terrain. You'll reach the Marangu Gate, where you'll receive your summit certificates and bid farewell to Mount Kilimanjaro.

• The day covers approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) taking an estimated 5-7 hours.  

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You now drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner, descent bed and celebrations!!

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