Mt Kilimanjaro Trek; Rongai Route - 6 Days

Distance: Approximately 6.7 km Habitat: Forest (Montane) Depart from Moshi town and drive 45 minutes to the Marangu park gate for registration. From Marangu park gate we travel to Naro Moru, northeast Kilimanjaro, a further 68km and approximately 2 ½ hours on bad roads to the Rongai start point (1996m). 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 countryside. The first night’s camp is at Simba Camp (2 626m). The camp facilities include a public toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut.

Distance: Approximately 11.8 km Habitat: Moorlands We hike from Simba camp up towards Kibo till 3 482m for lunch at First Caves, a distance of 5.8km. After lunch, we continue trekking until reaching Kikelewa Camp at about 3679 metres. The views start to open up and you begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water can be found in an obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find a pool or two. Enjoy dinner and overnight at Kikelewa camp.

Distance: Approximately 3.7 km 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.

Trekking time:4 to 5 hours Distance: approx. 9 km Vegetation type: Alpine desert After a light breakfast, you will start your today’s program by hiking over a small ridge before having an easy walk on a nice path that is on the northern part of the saddle. With good weather views around this area is wonderful. The vegetation type that will dominant today’s walking is an alpine desert furnishing with some hardy grasses and occasionally everlasting flowers. At this juncture, Rongai route will adjoin the Marangu route when reaching the saddle in-between Mawenzi and Kibo. The pass to the summit at this point is as the same as from Marangu route. The final part of today’s hike that leads to Kibo hut is steeper. Reach Kibo hut at 47,00 m during lunchtime. Hot water to wash & other procedures will follow, get enough rest and some acclimatization and be ready for the final part of your Kilimanjaro trekking Rongai route 6 days. On this day dinner will be served early but before or after dinner your guide will give you a detailed briefing of your final push to the summit. Go to bed early & try to get enough sleep as this is your big night at Kilimanjaro but before bed, you should have prepared everything needed for your final ascent. Things needed for your final attempting to the summit are thermal clothing, ski-stick, and thermal flask for water, don’t forget to put in replace your headlamp and batteries.(the guide will remind you during the briefing).

Trekking time: About 8 hours to Uhuru and 6 hours to Horombo Vegetation type: Stone scree / ice-cap summit Distance: approx. 6 km ascent and 21 km descent The summit day on Rongai Route, the wake-up time will be at around 23:00 to 23:30. Have some biscuit and tea before you start, you will firstly hiking through a very rough path with rocky passing Williams Point at an altitude of 5,000 m, Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150 m and Gillman’s Point at an altitude of 5,681 m situated on the crater rim. To reach Hans Mayer Cave from Kibo hut you will need almost two and a half hours. Gillman’s Point is not that far from Hans Meyers Cave, it is in a distance of about an hour. To reach the summit from Gillman’s Point is about 1.5-hour walking distance. The remaining of the climbing is normally covered with snow and walking is along the rim of the crater all the way to Uhuru Peak. On the way to Uhuru Peak, you will pass Stella Point stands at an altitude of 5,752 m; this point is where the other routes reach the rim. Now you are almost at the summit but might be very challenging. Congratulation you have made it to the roof of Africa via Rongai route 6 days of tough hiking. At Uhuru Peak you should not expect to spend much time, few minutes will be enough in such an altitude, so you may expect to take some pictures before starting your way down. Now it is the time for the descent back to Kibo hut 4,700 where your lunch is to be served. From Kibo hut, you need about 3 hours to reach Horombo hut 3,720 m. Arriving at the camp in the afternoon, get hot water to followed by coffee/tea with snacks, Change clothes & have a deep breath while relaxing waiting for dinner.

time: 6 hours Distance: approx. 27 km Vegetation type: low alpine zone and Montana forest After heavy breakfast at Horombo hut, you are last day at Kilimanjaro will then start. Passing Mandara hut at an altitude of 2,700 on your way down to Marangu gate, here you will have a short break for lunch then proceed down to Marangu gate at (1,980 m) At Marangu gate, you will sign some of your details into a register book and you will be provided with a summit certificate, a green colour certificate is for those who reached Gillman’s Point and a gold certificate (Big Diploma) for Uhuru Peak. Celebrations, singing & dancing including farewell & tipping session for the crew can be at Horombo hut in the morning or here when receiving a certificate. At the time you reach the gate your driver will have already arrived and waiting to take you back to your Hotel in Moshi possibly for a long overdue hot shower before dinner & overnight.