6 Days – Kilimanjaro Climbing - Rongai Route
6 Days / 5 Nights Days
Moshi or Arusha, Tanzania (hotel pickup) → Marangu Gate, then hotel in Moshi or Arusha
Climbing
Difficult
From
USD $2,282
per person
Why Choose This Safari?
The Rongai route is the only route that climbs Mount Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border, and it is one of the quietest ways to the top. Its gentle gradient makes the first days comfortable, and it offers spectacular views. The trail starts at Nale Moru Village and crosses maize fields and pine forest on easy paths. Higher up, the views open out across a remote wilderness beneath the jagged spires of Mawenzi, where you camp beside Mawenzi Tarn. The summit night takes you to Gilman’s Point and Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, and you descend on the Marangu route, so you see two different sides of the mountain.
Safari Highlights
- US$ 2,000 per person sharing
- Extra days on the Mountain: US $ 335 per person per day
- Minimum 2 Pax
- Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements. You can add with Wildlife Safari, Beach Holidays etc...
Destinations to Travel
Marangu Gate · Nale Moru Village (Rongai trailhead) · First Cave · Second Cave · Kikelewa Caves · Mawenzi Tarn · Kibo Hut · Hans Meyer Cave · Gilman’s Point · Uhuru Peak (Mount Kilimanjaro) · Horombo Hut
Itinerary
Day 1 — Nale Moru Village to First Cave
After breakfast you meet your climbing team of guides and porters and drive to Marangu Gate (1,860 m) to complete the park permit formalities. A further transfer of about two hours takes you around the mountain to the Rongai trailhead at Nale Moru Village, close to the Kenyan border. The small, winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, then climbs gently through beautiful country. The first camp is at First Cave, at about 2,600 metres. There is a toilet and a wooden table with benches, and your crew sets up camp for the night.
Trek: About 1,950 m to 2,600 m · 3 to 4 hours · farmland and forest
Day 2 — First Cave to Kikelewa Caves
The trail continues up towards Kibo, passing Second Cave (3,450 m) and reaching Kikelewa Caves at about 3,600 metres. The views start to open up, and you begin to feel you are on a really big mountain. Water is found in the stream below the caves. You spend the night at the Kikelewa Caves camp.
Trek: 2,600 m to 3,600 m · 6 to 7 hours · moorland
Day 3 — Kikelewa Caves to Mawenzi Tarn
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes gives superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation ends shortly before you reach the camp at Mawenzi Tarn, spectacularly set beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. You spend the afternoon acclimatising and exploring the area, and the night at Mawenzi Tarn.
Trek: 3,600 m to 4,330 m · 3 to 4 hours · moorland to alpine desert
Day 4 — Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut
You continue on the east side of Kibo, crossing the lunar landscape of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Hut. The rest of the day is spent resting and eating well in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight.
Trek: 4,330 m to 4,700 m · 4 to 5 hours · alpine desert
Day 5 — Summit to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo Hut
You rise at around 11:30 pm and, after tea and biscuits, set off into the night. The first section is a rocky path to Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 m), a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gilman’s Point (5,681 m) on the crater rim. This steep section of loose scree is the most demanding part of the route and needs great physical and mental effort, so take the “Kili shuffle” and move slowly. From Gilman’s Point there is normally snow all the way to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, and the reward is total exhilaration: you made it.
The weather on the summit decides how long you can stay for photographs before the three-hour descent to Kibo Hut. After a short rest you gather your gear and walk down to Horombo Hut in about three hours, which feels surprisingly fast compared with the climb. With around 14 hours of walking, this is a very tough day. In the evening you enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Soft drinks and beer are sold at the camp office, at your own cost.
Trek: Up 4,700 m to 5,895 m · Down to 3,720 m · about 14 hours in total · alpine desert and snow
Day 6 — Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
After breakfast at 7:00 am you set off with a box lunch and walk down through moorland and rainforest to Marangu Gate, where you collect your summit certificate. You are then transferred to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
Trek: 3,720 m to 1,860 m · about 20 km · 5 to 6 hours · moorland and forest
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Transport to and from mountain gates.
- All parks entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- Rescue fees.
- Guide and porters fees.
- Guide and porters salaries.
- All accommodations on the mountain based on three meals a day.
- Cook and all kitchen utensils.
Rate Excludes
- International and domestic flights (we can arrange on request)
- Accommodation on the first night upon your arrival before climb and on the last day after climb (book with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Tips, drinks and all items of personal nature
- Hard and soft drinks and tips
- Sleeping bags but we can provide for hire on request.
- All Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
Best Time to Go
This trek can be taken all year round. In general, the dry seasons from about January to March and June to October are the most popular times to climb Kilimanjaro. Because the northern side of the mountain is drier, the Rongai route is also a good choice in the wetter months from about April to May and November to December, when the southern routes get more rain and cloud. Conditions on the day affect the summit push, so our team can advise on the best dates for your trek.
Pricing
From USD $2,282 per person
| Option | Price | Pax |
|---|---|---|
| US$ 2,282 per person sharing | Minimum 2 Pax | |
| Extra days on the Mountain: US $ 335 per person per day | Minimum 2 Pax |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the trek start and end, and how long does it last?
You start with a drive from your hotel to Marangu Gate for the park formalities, then a transfer of about two hours to the Rongai trailhead at Nale Moru Village. The trek ends with a walk down to Marangu Gate and a transfer to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha. It lasts six days and five nights on the mountain.
Where do we sleep on the mountain?
You camp in tents at First Cave, Kikelewa Caves and Mawenzi Tarn, then stay at Kibo Hut before the summit and at Horombo Hut on the way down. First Cave has a toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut.
Is the Rongai route easier than other routes?
The Rongai route has gentle paths in the first days and is one of the less steep routes. The summit night is very demanding, though, so please ask our team about fitness and altitude preparation before you book.
Will we see many other trekkers?
Rongai is one of the quieter routes on Kilimanjaro, starting on the northern side near the Kenyan border, so you see far fewer people than on the busier southern routes.
Are the meals included?
Yes. Your crew prepares all meals on the mountain, from breakfast on Day 1 to the box lunch on Day 6, with tea and biscuits before the summit push.