7-Days Rongai Route

In the Morning our Mountain Guide & Crew support will arrive and meet you up at the hotel for a quick briefing and after you will be transferred by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's northern entrance: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Simba Camp (2,625 m). Your trek this day will be moderate and take you through coniferous forest up Kilimanjaro's northern slope. Remember not to hurry and always keep a comfortable pace. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and cook dinner for you.

This being your first day at high altitude we strongly recommend the following:

1. Abstain from taking any caffeine or alcohol.
2. Drink water often, at least 3 liters per day from time to time.
3. Ensure to take Diamox for relief from altitude sickness symptoms. It is usually taken in the morning before the day’s climbing. Consult your physician before undertaking the trip to check for possible contraindications.
4. Heed your body’s warnings and promptly inform your guide of any adverse symptoms.

Acclimatization-associated discomfort is common at night when your body gets less oxygen than during the day. This is normally expressed in the form of nausea and headaches.

Change in Elevation: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 M) – Simba Camp (2,625 M)
Hiking Distance: Approximately 8 Km
Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours
Habitat: Rain-forest

Early in the morning after breakfast, the group will depart from Simba Camp to start trekking towards your second high altitude camp: Second Cave Camp (3,480 m). This route is rather easy and will only take around 3 hours, so when you reach the camp you will still have ample time to rest and explore the surrounding area. After lunch you will have a couple hours to rest, followed by an acclimatization hike in the direction of Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m) on a stretch of the Rongai Route at a short distance with a 100-meter gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Second Cave Camp.

Change in Elevation: Simba Camp (2,625 M) – Second Cave Camp (3,480 M)
Hiking Distance: Approximately 4 Km
Hiking Time: 2-3 Hours
Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast you will begin trekking to Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m), where you can see Kibo Volcano at its finest (barring cloudy weather). This will be a relief day, so after lunch you will have time to sleep before the next trekking towards Mawenzi Tarn Camp. In the evening after dinner the guide will check health conditions of the each person of the group and give the necessary instructions for tomorrow's trekking.

Change in Elevation: Second Cave Camp (3,480 M) – Kikilewa Camp (3,630 M)
Hiking Distance: Approximately 5 Km
Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours
Habitat: Moorland

After an early breakfast the group will start trekking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated at the foot of Mawenzi Volcano, Kilimanjaro second summit. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and a two-hour rest, after which there will be an acclimatization hike towards Mawenzi Volcano with a 200 meter gain in altitude, followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, where you will have dinner in the evening.

Change in Elevation:  Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310 m) — Destination point en route to Mawenzi Volcano (4,510 m)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Habitat: Moorland

This day will be spent trekking towards Kibo Summit Camp (4,700 m). The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semi desert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you get to bed very early and try to get some good rest, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 M)

Change in Elevation: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,510 M) – Kibo Hut (4,700 M)
Hiking distance: 9 km
Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

At around midnight you will be awoken to some light tea and biscuits and will make a move into the night from Kibo Hut (4,700 M) towards Uhuru peak (5,895 M), the highest point of Africa. The trekking will be moderate from a physical standpoint, but the altitude presents a much more serious problem. For the entire length of the trekking each pair of climbers will be accompanied by their own guide, who will be monitoring your stamina and mental resolve.

After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Kibo Camp, here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Horombo hut continue your descent to Horombo Hut (3,720 M).

Change in Elevation: School Hut Camp (4,715 M) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 M) – Horombo Hut (3,720 M)
Hiking Distance: Approximately 21 Km
Hiking Time: 12-14 Hours
Habitat: Arctic

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, you will continue your descent passing Mandara hut, and down to the Marangu gate (1860 M). Here you will receive your certificates; those climbers who reached Gillman’s point (5,681m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates. After you will be transferred back to your hotel for relaxation

Change in Elevation: Horombo Hut (3,720 M) to Marangu Gate (1,860 M)
Hiking Distance: Approximately 18 Km
Hiking Time: 5-6 Hours
Habitat: Rain-forest

"After an unforgettable adventure with AMAZING GALLERY EXPEDITIONS, it's time to bid farewell to Tanzania. From Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), you'll board your international flight back home. We thank you for entrusting us with this incredible journey and hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again on your next visit to Tanzania. Asante sanaaa!"