OUR TREKKING TOURS:
There is a version of Kilimanjaro that most climbers never see. The Rongai Route approaches from the north, close to the Tanzanian border with Kenya, through wilderness that feels genuinely remote and sees far fewer boots than the southern approaches. The landscape here is unhurried and unspoiled, and the route has been gaining a well-deserved following among climbers who want the summit without sacrificing the journey.
Kilimanjaro is not simply a mountain to be ticked off. The climb from base to peak is a passage through entirely distinct climate zones, each with its own character: open grassy slopes giving way to lush rainforest, then heath and moorland dominated by giant heathers, then the stark near-lunar terrain of the alpine desert, and finally the glaciated summit, ancient ice sitting improbably close to the equator. Few walks on earth cover that range of worlds in a single ascent.
The Rongai is scenic and technically straightforward, though the walking itself is strenuous and altitude demands respect. The descent follows the Marangu Route, which means you see two sides of the mountain in a single trip. An additional acclimatisation day can be added and is worth serious consideration. As with every Kilimanjaro route, proper preparation is what separates a successful summit from a difficult retreat. All accommodation on the mountain is in tents.
The starting point at Rombo Gate requires a longer transfer from Arusha than other routes, and transportation costs reflect that. For many climbers, the trade-off is more than worthwhile.
Our Trekking Tips, Trekking FAQ and Equipment and Preparation pages cover everything you need to prepare for the climb. For questions or a quick price quotation, please get in touch.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Arusha – Rombo Gate – First Cave (7km, 3-4 hour walk, 700m/2296ft ascent)
An early departure from Arusha for the transfer to Rombo Gate on the northern side of the mountain, where the trek begins. The first day moves through open grassy slopes with the mountain revealing itself gradually ahead of you. Picnic lunch on the trail, with camp set at First Cave for overnight. Overnight: First Cave
DAY 2: First Cave– Kikelewa Cave (6km, 6-7 hour walk, 900m/2953ft ascent)
After breakfast the trail continues to Second Cave for lunch before climbing through open moorland toward the dramatic outline of Mawenzi Peak. The day is longer than its distance suggests, the terrain demanding steady attention as the altitude begins to make itself felt. Camp at Kikelewa Cave. Overnight: Kikelewa Cave
DAY 3: Kikelewa Cave– Mawenzi Tarn Hut (5km, 3-4 hour walk, 730m/2395ft ascent)
A shorter day in distance, the trail moving through moorland and into the alpine desert zone. The vegetation thins and the landscape takes on the spare, windswept quality that defines this altitude. Mawenzi Tarn Hut sits in the shadow of the Mawenzi Peak, and the setting at day’s end is one of the more memorable on the entire route. Picnic lunch on the trail. Overnight: Mawenzi Tarn Hut
DAY 4: Mawenzi Tarn Hut – School Camp (9km, 4-6 hour walk, 420m/1378ft ascent)
The trail crosses the Saddle today, the broad high-altitude plateau that stretches between Mawenzi and Kibo. Walking with Kibo rising ahead of you and Mawenzi falling away behind, the scale of the mountain becomes fully apparent. The Saddle is barren and cold and unlike anywhere else on the climb. School Camp sits at its far edge, where rest and an early night are the only sensible agenda. Overnight: School Camp
DAY 5: School Camp – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut (19km, 11-16 hour walk, 1150m/3773ft ascent, 2200m/7218ft descent)
The summit push begins shortly after midnight. The route climbs steadily through darkness and cold to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim (5,680m / 18,635ft), and from there the final stretch leads to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa at 5,895 metres (19,340 feet). The descent follows the Marangu Route, dropping all the way down to Horombo Hut by evening. It is a very long day. It is also the one you will remember most clearly for the rest of your life. Overnight: Horombo Hut
DAY 6: Horombo Hut– Marangu Gate – Arusha (18km, 5-7 hour walk, 1720m/5643ft descent)
The final descent through moorland and rainforest to the Marangu Gate, where the vehicle is waiting. Collect your summit certificate before you leave. You have more than earned it.
End of tour!
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