7 Days Rongai Route
Overview
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Rongai Gate To Simba Camp
Rongai Gate (1,950m / 6,400ft) to Simba Camp (2,625m / 8,610ft)
Elevation Gain: 675m / 2,210ft (about 0.42 miles / 2,210 feet)
This morning you will drive for approximately 2-3 hours to the Rongai Nalemoru Gate, near the Kenyan border. After registering, begin your Mt Kilimanjaro climb through the forest where you may see and hear wildlife, including black and white Colobus monkeys. Enjoy lunch on the trail before continuing to the first campsite.
Overnight Simba Camp
Day 2 - Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp
Simba Camp (2,625m / 8,610ft) to Kikelewa Camp (3,600m / 11,800ft)
Elevation Gain: 975m / 3,190ft (about 0.61 miles / 3,190 feet)
Day two takes you through Kilimanjaro’s moorland with views of Mawenzi Peak ahead. The morning is steep, and you may begin to feel the effects of Kilimanjaro’s altitude.
Explore the first cave before resting over lunch near the second cave. The afternoon trek is gentler, contouring across the moorland to camp in a sheltered valley. Trekking time is approximately 6-8 hours.
Overnight Kikelewa Camp
Day 3 - Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn
Kikelewa Camp (3,600m / 11,800ft) to Mawenzi Tarn (4,330m / 14,200ft)
Elevation Gain: 730m / 2,400ft (about 0.45 miles / 2,400 feet)
Today’s hike is relatively short but steep, with a morning ascent followed by an afternoon rest to aid your acclimatization.
The trail rewards you with superb panoramic views and a strong sense of wilderness. Mawenzi Tarn Camp is nestled below Mawenzi Peak and offers stunning vistas of both Mawenzi and Kibo, providing an impressive perspective on Kilimanjaro’s grandeur.
This campsite is an ideal place to soak in the majesty of Kilimanjaro’s peaks.
Overnight Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Day 4 - Acclimatization Walk to Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Acclimatization Walk & Return to Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Elevation Gain: 650m / 2,130ft
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast this morning since you will be spending a second night at Mawenzi Tarn Camp—no packing required!
The morning is dedicated to an acclimatization walk on Mount Kilimanjaro. Depending on how you feel, you can opt for a steep climb up the scree slopes toward the peak of Mawenzi, or choose a gentler hike along the ridge or the lunar desert, including a visit to the haunting site of a historic plane crash.
After your walk, return to Mawenzi Tarn Camp for a hot lunch and a restful afternoon.
Overnight Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Day 5 - Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Huts Camp
Mawenzi Tarn (4,330m / 14,200ft) to Kibo Huts Camp (4,700m / 15,410ft)
Elevation Gain: 370m / 1,210ft
Today you will cross the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi peaks—a stark, lunar-like landscape offering spectacular panoramic views. Be prepared for exposed, windy conditions as you traverse this unique terrain.
Kibo Huts Camp is located just below the summit cone, with sweeping views down to the Kenyan plains and up towards the final climb ahead.
After a hearty lunch and a comprehensive summit briefing, take time to rest and recharge for your Kilimanjaro summit attempt.
Overnight: Kibo Huts Camp
Day 6 - Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak
Kibo Huts (4,700m / 15,410ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m / 19,340ft) then descending to Horombo Huts (3,720m / 12,200ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,195m / 3,930ft
Elevation Loss: 2,175m / 7,140ft
Around midnight, begin the final and most challenging ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. For the next six hours, you will hike by flashlight through steep switchbacks, including a rocky scramble known as Jamaica Rocks as you approach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point (5,756m).
From Gilman’s Point, the trail gradually climbs to Uhuru Peak. While the terrain is less difficult here, the extreme altitude makes the ascent long and strenuous.
After celebrating your summit, descend back to Kibo Huts for a meal, then continue down to Horombo Huts to camp for the night.
This day involves around 14 hours of trekking, so be prepared for a physically demanding and rewarding experience.
Overnight: Horombo Huts
Day 7 - Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate
Horombo Huts (3,720m / 12,200ft) to Marangu Gate (1,840m / 6,040ft) then transfer to Moshi
Elevation Loss: 1,880m / 6,160ft
Complete your Kilimanjaro trek with a scenic descent through lush cloud forest to the Marangu Gate. This final hike takes approximately 5–6 hours and offers a rewarding chance to soak in the mountain’s unique ecosystem one last time.
At the gate, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred back to Moshi.
Overnight: Ameg Lodge (Classic) or Pink Flamingo Boutique Hotel (Premium)
Departure
Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your flight, or if you’ve decided to extend your Tanzanian adventure, begin the next part of your journey!
- Included
- Transfers to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Two nights’ accommodation in Moshi (before and after the trek).
- Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fees, camping fees, and rescue fees.
- Services of a professional guide, porters, and cook.
- All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
- Drinking water during the trek.
- Tents, sleeping mats, and camping equipment.
- Daily health check-ups, first aid kit, and oxygen for emergencies.
- Certificate of achievement for reaching Uhuru Peak or Stella Point.
- Not Included
- International flights.
- Visa fees for Tanzania.
- Personal climbing gear (available for rent).
- Travel insurance (including medical evacuation).
- Tips for guides, porters, and cooks.
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and snacks.
- Meals and drinks at the hotel.
- Any additional services or activities not mentioned in the itinerary.