7 Days Rongai Route Mount Kilimanjaro Climb

• Hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours
• Distance: About 8 km
• Habitat: Montana forest

Pick up from your hotel for the drive of 2.5 hours to Marangu park gate for formalities and registration. After that transfer to the Rongai trailhead in about 3 hours. Meet your guide and porters before you begin your hike from the Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, and then climbs gently through a forest. The trail is not at all steep, but is rather a gentle hike through beautiful country. The first night’s camp is at Simba Camp, at about 2,600 meters. There is a toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut. Water can be found just down the trail below Simba Camp.

• Hiking Time 2 – 3 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Late breakfast, enjoy the morning at Simba Camp then proceed with the hiking, very slowly acclimatize your body until you reach Second Cave (3450M) for a hot lunch. Afternoon relaxing at Second Cave then dinner and overnight.

• Hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours
• Habitat: Moorlands

After breakfast continue up towards Kibo, reaching Kikelewa Cave at about 3600 meters. The views start to open up and you begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water is in the obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find some. Overnight at Third Cave Camp (Kikelewa Caves).

• Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
• Habitat: Moorlands

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatizing and exploring the area.

• Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo taking 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. Overnight at Kibo Camp.

• Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru
• 6 hours to descend to Horombo
• Distance: 6 km’s ascent – 21 km’s descent
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will wake up around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. Probably the most demanding section of the entire route. From Gillman’s Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Total exhilaration and satisfaction – you made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend, taking photographs, before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut for a short rest ten after your descent to Horombo hut (3 hours) where you will overnight. The descent to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around almost 14 hours, later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and well-earned sleep.

• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Distance: About 27 km

After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Moshi where your trekking tour ends with sweet memories.