6 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Rongai Route Package

This is one of Kilimanjaro’s easiest routes, and it has become an increasingly popular route in recent years. This route is located on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro with a variety of spectacular landscapes together with different plants and animal species. The typical duration for this trip is 6 days. However, you can also add an acclimatization day and make it a 7 day climb.
The Rongai Route is more scenic than the Marangu Route and easier than other camping routes in climbing Kilimanjaro and the success rate on the Rongai Route is very high. Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Rongai Route you sleep in tents, the porter will have your tent pitched and waiting for you at the end of each day’s trek. This route starts on the north side of the mountain just south of the Kenyan border and is one of the least traveled routes. The route merges with the Marangu Route for the summit climb. The descent follows the Marangu Route on the mountain’s southeast side, so you will be able to see Kilimanjaro from many viewpoints. There are two versions of this trek – a direct 6-day itinerary, and a 7-day itinerary that takes a longer route.

Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Moshi.

Elevation: 1,000m to 1,200m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45Min
Habitat: Town

KilimanjaroTravels.com driver will meet and pick you up from JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi for overnight B/B.

Day 2: Moshi to Rongai gate to Simba Camp

Elevation(m): 1,387/915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by our vehicles through many villages and coffee and plantations for 2-3 hour drive to Rongai gate (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing in and preparing the porters, you will start hiking on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, and then enter into montane forest. You will then start to climb gently but consistently through attractive forests that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin as you arrive at Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) with fantastic views over the Kenyan plains.

Day 3: Simba Camp to Second cave Camp

Day 4: Second cave camp to Third cave camp

Elevation: 3,200m to 3,900m
Distance: 6km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert

Today after your breakfast you will start your walk to Third cave camp where you will have your hot lunch then short rest followed with acclimatization session then after you will be brought back to the same camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Third cave camp to Kibo Huts camp

Elevation: 3,900 m to 4,695 m
Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After an early breakfast, you will cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Kibo peak and Mawenzi peak to Kibo Huts at the bottom of Kibo’s crater wall. You should spend the remainder of the day resting and preparing for your summit climb.

Day 6: Summit Day! Kibo Huts camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts camp

Elevation: 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12; 00AM, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 6 AM. At this point, you will have views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 2 hours of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak where you will spend some time taking photos but it will depend on how you feel. After your summit activities are done, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue on down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Have dinner and overnight at Horombo camp.

Day 7: Horombo Huts camp to Marangu Gate to Moshi

Elevation: 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387 m
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

After a long and enjoyable sleep, you will be awaked for breakfast and pack up, start descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then proceed with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to Marangu park gate. Here you will sign out then after a vehicle will take you back to the hotel where it is definitely time for certificate presentation and celebration!

Day 9: Moshi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Elevation: 1,200m to 1,000m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45Min
Habitat: Town

KilimanjaroTravels.com driver will meet and pick you up from Moshi and transfer you back to JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) or to Safari or Zanzibar if you have arranged extensions with us.

Included on the climb 

• Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
• Pre & Post Trek accommodation at the standard hotel in Moshi
• Park fees, camp fee, rescue fees
• Transfers to/from the mountain gates.
• Expert guides, cook, assistant guides, and porters.
• Three meals a day during the climb.
• Bottled water on the first day of the climb boiled and filtered on the mountain.
• Entry fees, Camping fees, rescue fees and crew fees.
• Mountains 4 Season sleeping tents double occupancy.
• Sleeping mattress, foam, 1.5 inches thick.
• Mess tent, table, chairs and lanterns.
• Oxygen tank in case of emergency.
• Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent.
• Crew salaries (Guides, cook and porters).

Excluded on the climb

Prices are per person per trip – all in $USD

Accommodation: overnight stays at campsites in Hilleberg | Vaude, 4 season, 2 person tents.

Accommodation in Moshi: Ameg lodge / Pink flamingo / Chanya lodge / Sal salinero hotel

Ascent & descent: different, ascent via Rongai route, and descent via Marangu route.

Length: this route can be trekked within a minimum of 5 days in total (recommended for those who have had high altitude experience), however the longer versions of the routes are highly recommended which provide better acclimatization to the altitudes.

Price: low to high-range (depending on the number of days on the mountain). Please contact us for a price quote.

Success rate: low on the shorter trek, higher on the longer treks.

Acclimatization: poor on the shorter trek, high on the longer treks.

Level: beginner -intermediate

People traffic: very low

Note: You are responsible for bringing the required, recommended and optional personal gear and equipment listed below. Be very selective in what you take with you, our porters are limited to carry 15kg of your personal belongings. Communal equipment such as tents, food utensils et cetera is provided.

Required and recommended items.

• 1 x walking poles
• 1 x sleeping bag
• 1 x duffle bag
• 1 x waterproof jacket, breathable with hood
• 1 x insulated jacket, synthetic or down
• 1 x sleeping pad/mattress
• 1 x soft jacket, fleece or soft-shell
• 2 x long sleeve shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
• 1 x short sleeve shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
• 1 x waterproof pants, breathable (side-zipper recommended)
• 2 x hiking pants (convertible to short recommended)
• 1 x fleece pants
• 1 x short (optional)
• 1 x long underwear (moisture-wicking fabric recommended)
• 3 x underwear, briefs moisture-wicking fabric recommended)
• 2 x sport bra (women) head wear
• 1 x brimmed hat, for sun protection
• 1 x knit hat for warmth
• 1 x balaclava, for face coverage (optional)
• 1 x Bandana (optional) hand wear
• 1 x gloves, warm (waterproof recommended)
• 1 x gloves liners, synthetic, worn under gloves for added warmth (optional)
• 1 x hiking boots, warm, waterproof, broken-in, with spare laces
• 1 x Gym shoes to wear at camp (optional)
• 3 x socks, thick, wool or synthetic
• 3 x socks liners, tight, thin, synthetic, worn under socks to prevent blisters (option)
• 1 x gaiters, waterproof (option)
• 1 x sun glasses or goggles
• 1 x backpack cover, waterproof (optional)
• 1 x poncho, during rain season (optional)
• 1 x water bottle (Nalgene, 32oz (recommended)
• 1 x water bladder, camelback type (recommended)
• 1 x towel, light weight, quick-dry (optional)
• 1 x pee bottle, to avoid leaving tent at night (recommended)
• 1 x sleeping bag liner, for added warmth (optional)
• 1 x head lamp
• 1 x daypack, for you to carry your personal gear.

Rent your climbing equipment.

Climbing equipment can be rented on your arrival and payable in USD – cash only.