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Kilimanjaro Climb 8 Days Rongai Route

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Duration

6 Days Trek

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Tour Type

Specific Tour

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Group Size

Unlimited

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Languages

English

Overview

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro through the Rongai route used to guarantee you and at some point, still is a quiet trek away from the crowds. The Rongai route is promoted as a remote wilderness experience and for much of the year it still is.

But watch out: over the last years Rongai has acquired a great popularity. If you climb Kilimanjaro using the Rongai route during the main season and your climb starts on the normal group departure day, you may find yourself in the middle of a big population.

For that said, still, Rongai remains much softer than the common Machame/ Marangu paths. It also has numerous advantages that should make it one of your first picks:

  • Rongai is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro, in certain respects easier than Marangu. Rongai has excellent peak success rates.
  • Rongai is the single route that approaches Kilimanjaro starting from the north. You will descend via the Marangu Route on the southern side, so you get to see both sides of the Kilimanjaro mountain.
  • The northern side of Kilimanjaro is a lot drier. You are so unlikely to have gush through mud and drizzle on the first 2 days.

A disadvantage is that to get to the other side of Kilimanjaro you have to drive for a couple of hours, and that costs extra dollars. So, Rongai is more expensive than a 6 days trek on Machame or Marangu. On the first day, you will be trekking through fairly open country instead of the dense rainforest. But you’ll see the rainforest on your way down. Sure enough, you will not miss out anything.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro through the Rongai route used to guarantee you and at some point, still is a quiet trek away from the crowds. The Rongai route is promoted as a remote wilderness experience and for much of the year it still is.

But watch out: over the last years Rongai has acquired a great popularity. If you climb Kilimanjaro using the Rongai route during the main season and your climb starts on the normal group departure day, you may find yourself in the middle of a big population.

For that said, still, Rongai remains much softer than the common Machame/ Marangu paths. It also has numerous advantages that should make it one of your first picks:

  • Rongai is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro, in certain respects easier than Marangu. Rongai has excellent peak success rates.
  • Rongai is the single route that approaches Kilimanjaro starting from the north. You will descend via the Marangu Route on the southern side, so you get to see both sides of the Kilimanjaro mountain.
  • The northern side of Kilimanjaro is a lot drier. You are so unlikely to have gush through mud and drizzle on the first 2 days.

A disadvantage is that to get to the other side of Kilimanjaro you have to drive for a couple of hours, and that costs extra dollars. So, Rongai is more expensive than a 6 days trek on Machame or Marangu. On the first day, you will be trekking through fairly open country instead of the dense rainforest. But you’ll see the rainforest on your way down. Sure enough, you will not miss out anything.

Less

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Arrival
  • Trekking from Nalemuru Gate to Simba Camp
  • Trekking from Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp
  • Trekking from Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut
  • Trekking from Mawenzi Tarn Hut to School Hut Camp
  • Trekking to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo Camp
  • Descent from Horombo Camp to Marangu Gate
  • Departure

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 (Arrival)

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet our representative, and transfer you to the booked Accommodation. The hotel will provide all the necessities for a comfortable stay: comfortable rooms, hot water, and Internet access. In the evening, there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

Day 2 : Trekking from Nalemuru Gate to Simba Camp

Our guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's northern entrance: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Simba Camp (2,625 m). Your trek this day will be moderate and take you through coniferous forest up Kilimanjaro's northern slope. Remember not to hurry and always keep a comfortable pace. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and cook dinner for you.

This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended to abide to the following instructions from this point on:
• Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine
• Drink over 4 litres of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)
• Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip in case of potential allergies.

At night, you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

Elevation Change: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m) – Simba Camp (2,625 m)
Distance: 8 Km
Hiking Time: 2-4 hours
Habitat: Coniferous Forest

Day 3 : Trekking from Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp

Early in the morning after breakfast, the group will depart from Simba Camp to start trekking towards your second-high altitude camp: Kikelelwa Camp (3,630 m) where you can see Kibo Volcano at its finest (barring cloudy weather). This trekking is more physically demanding than the previous one, so once you are in the camp, full rest is recommended.

Elevation Change: Simba Camp (2,625 m) – Kikelelwa Camp (3,630 m)
Distance: 10 Km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Day 4 : Trekking from Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of trekking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated at the foot of Mawenzi Volcano, Kilimanjaro's second summit. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and a two-hour rest, after which there will be an acclimatization hike towards Mawenzi Volcano with a 200-meter gain in altitude, followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, where you will have dinner in the evening.

Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp:
Elevation Change: Kikelelwa Camp (3,630 m) – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310 m)
Distance: 6 Km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization
Elevation Change: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310 m) – Destination point towards Mawenzi Volcano (4,310 m)
Distance: 2 Km
Hiking Time: 1-2 hours

Day 5 : Trekking from Mawenzi Tarn Hut to School Hut Camp

This day, you will trek towards School Hut Camp (4,715 m). The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semi-desert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro's summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend to have enough resting time, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).

Elevation Change: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310 m)- School Hut Camp (4,715 m)
Distance: 9 Km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Day 6 : Trekking to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo Camp

Night departure from School Hut Camp (4,715 m) and the start of your trekking to Kilimanjaro's summit: Uhuru peak (5,895 m). The trekking will be moderate from a physical standpoint, but the altitude presents a much more serious problem. For the entire length of the trekking each pair of climbers will be accompanied by their own guide, who will be monitoring your stamina and mental resolve. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Kibo Camp and after a two-hour rest continue your descent to Horombo Camp (3,720 m).

Note: Don't forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including all broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.

Elevation Change: School Hut Camp (4,715 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Horombo Camp (3,720 m)
Distance: 21 km
Hiking Time: 12–14 hours

Day 7 : Descent from Horombo Camp to Marangu Gate

You will be offered a warm breakfast in the morning, after which we will head for the Kilimanjaro National Park's exit: Marangu Gate (1,860 m). After your descent, the whole group will gather to congratulate you, and then you will have the chance to share your opinions on the trip in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates (in our office) and provide you a transfer back to the hotel.

Elevation Change: Horombo Camp (3,720 m) – Marangu Camp (1,860 m)
Distance: 18 Km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Day 8 (Departure)

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Included/Excluded

  • 2 Nights’ accommodation in Moshi is or Arusha included
  • All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
  • Professional, experienced, mountain guides
  • Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
  • Quality, waterproof, four seasons private mountain sleeping tents
  • Sleeping Mattress
  • All meals while on the mountain
  • Quality mess tents with table and chairs
  • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  • Clean purified drinking water
  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • Kilimanjaro National Park Entrance fees
  • All Government taxes and levies including 18% VAT.
  • Community Development Fund
  • Conservation Fund
  • Flights
  • Tips to mountain crew
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Laundry Services
  • Entry visa for Tanzania
  • Personal trekking equipment such as sleeping bags, hiking boots, clothes etc. (available for renting)

Tour's Location

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FAQs

How much weight of equipment will I carry?
You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack - It will be carried by our porters.
What if I am slower than the other trekkers?
No worries about that - this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” - which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude.

There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.
What if I cannot make it to the top?
Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding.

If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or Hut.

Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
What is the accommodation like during trekking?
On the Marangu Route, there are simple basic Huts. The first 2 Huts sleep four people each and the last Hut is a dome-style with bunk beds.

On all the other routes, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down and carried- along with everything else- by our porters.

There are public toilets set up at every campsite, but portable toilets are available upon request at the cost of $ 100 per group for the whole tour. Hot water is provided for each person every morning but No showers during trek

There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.
What is the food like on the mountain?
For each trek on the Mount a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and have the ability to prepare different kinds of dishes. Please see a sample page for Dietary Menu.
What if I get sick up the mountain?
You shouldn't worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.
When and where does the tour start?
The tours are scheduled to start in Moshi, departing on Daily basis. However, circumstances like clients’ arrival time, activities to be done and client’s preference could affect the program. Our company is flexible for such arrangements and adjustments. Normally the program starts around 7:30 AM
When and where does the tour End?
The tours are scheduled to End in Moshi. You may also wish to be dropped outside Moshi at an extra cost depending on the place of drop off. However, our travel specialists will need to know your specific drop-off point prior to the hike to get aligned with the program
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