7 Days Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

7 DAYS KILIMANJARO RONGAI ROUTE

TRIP OVERVIEW

A 7 Days Rongai Route ascent of Kilimanjaro starting on the Eastern side of the national park. This side of the mountain is relatively dry and has a relatively short forest zone. It skirts the base of Mawenzi and the ascent is via Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. There is an acclimatisation day at Mawenzi Tarn. The descent is via the Marangu Route.

HIGHLIGHTS

Kilimanjaro: views over the Mawenzi and Kibo saddle, close views of Mawenzi, the Kibo Crater and ash pit and glaciers on the roof of Africa.

Hike Distance – 47miles / 76 km
Vertical Gain – 13,885ft / 4232m
Drop – 14,118ft / 4303m
Trekking Time – 43 hours

Day 1: Simba Camp

START – 6,398FT / 1950M
END – 8,764FT / 2671M
DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM
TIME – 3-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – FORESTS

After breakfast you depart by vehicle to the eastern side of Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalise packing while you enjoy lunch. After finishing with formalities, you start hiking from Nale Moru Gate through farm and pine plantations before arriving at Simba Camp surrounded by afromontane forest.

Day 2: Kikelewa Caves

START – 8,764FT / 2671M
END – 11,812FT / 3600M
DISTANCE – 10 MILES / 16KM
TIME – 8-10 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH

In the morning you ascend to Second Cave (11,319ft, 3,450m) with views of the Eastern Icefields before stopping for lunch. After eating, you leave main trail and head towards Mawenzi before arriving at Kikelewa Caves Campsite in a sheltered valley.

Day 3: Mawenzi Tarn Hut

START – 11,812FT / 3600M
END – 14,158FT / 4315M
DISTANCE – 2 MILES / 3KM
TIME – 2-3 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

Today you hike up to Mawenzi Tarn, located in a cirque beneath the Mawenzi Volcano. In the afternoon you head out for an acclimatisation walk with your guide. Overnight Mawenzi Tarn Camp (full board).

Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn Hut (Acclimatisation Day)

START – 14,158FT / 4315M
END – 14,158FT / 4315M
DISTANCE – 2 MILES / 4KM
TIME – 3-4 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

Today is an acclimatisation and rest day. Your guide takes you on a gentle exploration hike, which normally lasts for around 3-4 hours before returning back to Mawenzi Tarn Campsite.

Day 5: Kibo Hut

START – 14,158FT / 4315M
END – 15,486FT / 4720M
DISTANCE – 5 MILES / 8KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

Today you cross the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo in the alpine desert zone. You will arrive at your basecamp, Kibo Hut, in time for lunch. In the afternoon it is time to prepare for the night ascent and then an early dinner before heading to bed for a few hours.

Day 6: Summit Bid / Horombo Huts

START – 15,486FT / 4720M
END – 12,205FT / 3720M
DISTANCE – 13 MILES / 21KM
TIME – 13-17 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT / ARCTIC / HEATH

Rising early (normally before midnight) you start out from Kibo Hut towards the peak. At night time the scree sections are normally much firmer and the night time start enables the best chance of a clear summit attempt. It takes around 6 hours to reach Gilman’s Point and then a further 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak (Alt 19,341ft, 5985m) the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world and the roof of Africa! You then descend the same route before a short stop at Kibo Hut for a refuel and rest. By the evening you descend back down to Horombo Huts for dinner and one last sleep.

Day 7: Arusha

START – 12,205FT / 3720M
END – 6,164FT / 1879M
DISTANCE – 12 MILES / 19KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH / AFROMONTANE FOREST

The final descent takes you back through the heath zone and forest to Marangu Gate. After taking the diplomats, lunch and saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Tanzania Travel Company Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.

Tour Includes & Excludes

Tour Includes:

Park fees, (entry fee camping/hut fees & rescue fees crew fees)
18% VAT on tour fees & services
Three health and fresh meals
Professional and experienced mountain Guide
Professional and experienced cooks
Transportation to & from the airport
Transportation to & from the mountain gates
Enough number of porters for your luggage, food, water, and camping equipment
Food, shelters, and fair wages for the porters, cooks, and guides
Camping gears (sleeping tents, dining tents, tables, chairs, and cooking gear)
Radio and cell phone communication that help us to stay in contact within and outside the group therefore we can respond almost instantaneously to whatever issue that may arise
We provide our guides with professional first aid kits and pulse oximeters for daily updates on acclimatization progress
Assistance with the climbing permit procedure

Tour Excludes:

Personal porters
All international and domestic flights
Tourist Visas
Medical and Travel insurance
Tips to mountain crew
Mountain trekking gears e.g. walking poles (available for hire upon request)
Sleeping Bag (available for hire upon request)
A portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$200 per toilet + toilet tent)
Others; Extra expenses as food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary, satellite phone calls, transference fees, and other services not specified as included
Any other alterations to our itineraries
Emergency Oxygen

Have Any Question?

Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.

Sam Diah - Safari Expart

Book your dream Tanzania wildlife safari with sustainable local experts! Enjoy a lifetime thrill while supporting local communities and animal welfare. Start your adventure today with our custom itinerary

Chat Live

Zoe K

2022-10-31

Kilimanjaro Lemosho route TTC were amazing throughout my trek to the Kilimanjaro summit in October 2022. Everything was organised so well but the really exceptional aspect was the team of local support staff and guide. AJ, Paul, Isaya, Joseph, Pascal, Renata and the 30 other fantastic people that carried, cooked, camped and cared for us. Absolutely loved every second, a trip of a lifetime, thank you 🙏

Henry S

2022-10-31

Once in a lifetime experience I climbed Kilimanjaro with the Tanzanian Travel Company (booked through Charity Challenge UK) in October 2022. Everything was superbly coordinated by TTC, who arranged everything from porters, transport, food, tents- pretty much everything we needed to get to the summit! All of the staff from the guides and porters were very friendly and their knowledge was unrivalled. Special mentions to our lead guide, Richard, who's advice was invaluable and the other guides and porters David, Eric and Joseph (there are too many to mention). Would definitely book again with TTC in the future.

Nicola D

2022-10-24

Excellent experience I just got back from climbing My Kilimanjaro on a trip organised by Charity Challenge in the UK. All the ground arrangements in Tanzania were done through Tanzania Travel Company and I would highly recommend. Staff were all excellent, knowledgeable and friendly. It was a great trip and I’m considering organising a holiday for the family with TTC in the future.

MbaleSaint

2022-08-26

Great company with excellent staff Climbed Kilimanjaro with the Tanzanian Travel Company at the end if July and the whole experience was superb. The guides, porters, cook, doctor & toilet man were unfailingly encouraging, helpful, cheerful and really seemed to enjoy their work. I would thoroughly recommend them.

PDatlen

2022-08-09

An adventure you won't forget! The whole experience from start to finish was awesome and I most certainly won't forget it. From the hotel to the staff and porters who made our trek possible, the food was tasty and plentiful, we all felt like part of the team and very well looked after.I definitely recommend doing the Lemosho Route for a greater chance of acclimatisation. The summit night was by far the hardest part but well worth the effort (even I got emotional). I would urge everybody looking to climb Kilimanjaro to definitely train for a good 4-5 months before attempting this challenge, it will only enhance the mammoth achievement.

Rod

2022-08-04

Fantastic time climbing Kilimanjaro thanks to TTC! I recently completed a climb of Kilimanjaro with a small group of 7, managed on behalf of Charity Challenge by Tanzania Travel Company. We had a fantastic (if gruelling) experience, and I cannot praise TTC highly enough. From the MD Sam and our chief guide Richard, through to every guide and porter who accompanied us (not forgetting Pius, our doctor), everyone combined the highest standards of professionalism with warmth and friendliness, and a genuine concern for both our well-being and our success in getting to the summit. Highly recommended.

Billy B

2022-07-19

Amazing family experience Excellent safari! Incredibly friendly and accommodating! I was having some difficulty finding a well priced thorough safari and was given a number by a family friend who highly recommended this safari company. As Tanzanians it’s rare for us to be able to see a safari but Samuel helped guide us through a plan for a truly unforgettable experience. We hide an amazingly well educated guide and driver Kamau who went out of his way to get us some truly amazing shots. At one point we were literally 2-3 meters away from 3 young male lions, I was in shock at what Kamau could point out. Food provided was excellent Tanzanian cuisine. My little brothers(8 yr)first safari and he had a fantastic time Highly recommend as a Tanzanian.

Suzie D

2022-07-15

Professional, organised, outstanding Tanzania travel company are a great company, incredibly professional and organised a comprehensive and well planned trip to Kilimanjaro. The communication and attention to detail were outstanding and I would highly recommend this company to any group heading to Tanzania. Suzie, International Mountain Leader (BAIML), Women with Altitude co-ordinator.

lisaappelbaum

2022-03-18

Excellent experience with TTC! Setting out to climb Mt Kilimanjaro was quite a challenge and the team at TTC made it a safe and enjoyable trip! They did an excellent job guiding us through each day of the climb. I also had the opportunity to go on a safari afterwards with a guide named Livingston and he did an absolutely fantastic job getting us close to the animals and knowing the best spots in the game drives. Highly recommend this incredible travel group!