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8 days

Mt Kilimanjaro Climb - Rongai (ex. Kili Airport)

Mt Kilimanjaro Climb - Rongai (ex. Kili Airport)

Climb Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak

Trip rating

  • Overview

    Trek to the highest point in Africa – enjoy mountain scenery, sensational views and a great sense of achievement! The Rongai route is one of the least travelled paths to the summit so it's the perfect route if you want to beat some of the crowds on the other tracks.

    Why we love it

    • The chance to tick an item off your bucket list and trek 5895 metres to the summit of Africa’s highest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro!
    • Celebrating your achievement with a swim, a cold beer and the best hot shower of your life at Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort
    • Pass through a variety of different climactic and vegetation zones on the mountain, including lush farmland, delightful rainforest, alpine moorland, volcanic desert, glaciers, ice and snow.

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Marangu

    • On arrival in Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Marangu. The rest of the day is at your leisure. As this is an arrival day, you can arrive at any time.
    • In the evening there’ll be a briefing on the trek when you’ll receive your own personal trek pack containing a kit bag that your porter will carry, sleep sheet, down jacket and sleeping mat. You’ll need to transfer your other personal possessions into your trek pack.
    • Please note there are no credit card facilities at the Marangu hotel
    Kilimanjaro Mountain Lodge or similar

    Day 2 - Marangu - Moorland Camp

    • Today you’ll meet up with your porters and guides after breakfast at the hotel, and transfer to the Rongai Gate where you’ll complete your registration procedures.
    • From here, you’ll travel by vehicle to the village of Nale Moru at around 1950 metres.
    • Today’s walk is about three to four hours, a gradual ascent beginning on a small path that winds its way through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest through to the edge of the moorland zone at around 2600 metres. Extensive views over the Kenyan plains will be a highlight of today's camp.
    • Please note that it can be wet in the rainforest.
    • The night is spent camping at Moorland Camp.
    Moorland Camp or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 3 - Kikelewa Cave

    • After breakfast, you’ll set off around 8am to head up to the Kikelewa Caves. Today your walking time will be about six to seven hours.
    • From your overnight campsite a steady ascent is made up to ‘Second Cave’ at 3450 metres where you’ll be rewarded with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern icefields of the crater rim.
    • Leaving the main trail after lunch we travel across the Mooreland on smaller paths towards the jagged Mawenzi peaks.
    • Tonight we camp near Kikelewa Caves at 3800 metres.
    Kikelelwa Caves or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 4 - Mawenzi Tarn Camp

    • Today's walk is a shorter one at three to four hours, but involves some steeper terrain. Leaving camp a short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by a real sense of wilderness and stunning 360 degree views. The vegetation zone is left behind shortly before we reach our next campsite at Mawenzi Tarn at around 4330 metres.
    Mawenzi Tarn Camp or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5 - Kibo Campsite

    • Today we’ll cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo. Our camp tonight is the Outward Bound campsite at about 4730 metres. This campsite is spectacularly located at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall.
    • The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final summit ascent.
    Outward bound Campsite or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 6 - Summit - Horombo Camp

    • Today’s the big day! We will start the final, and by far the steepest and most demanding part of the climb by torchlight around 1am’this morning.
    • We’ll plod very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point at 5685 metres. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi.
    • Those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip to Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres, passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
    • The descent to Kibo, at 4700 metres, is surprisingly fast and, after a little rest, we’ll continue the descent to reach our final campsite at Horombo at 3720 metres.
    Horombo Camp or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 7 - Marangu

    • A final day of walking precedes a well earned rest at Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort in Marangu. A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut at 2700 metres. The descent continues through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu at 1700 metres.
    • At the gate you can often buy beers (or from the villages on the way back). There’s then just a very short hike to the road head where you’ll be met by the vehicle and transferred back to the hotel for a swim, a beer, and a VERY welcome hot shower! Celebrations at the hotel will, no doubt, continue into the evening!
    Kilimanjaro Mountain Lodge or similar
    Breakfast

    Day 8 - Kilimanjaro Airport

    • In the morning you will be picked up by your transfer vehicle and driven from Marangu to Kilimanjaro Airport. This transfer is a group transfer and will depart Marangu in the early morning.
    • Your tour ends on arrival in Kilimanjaro Airport
    • If you’d like to book a private departure transfer to meet your flight this can be done at additional cost and needs to be booked in advance.
    Breakfast
    Download detailed trip notes

  • Details

    What to Know

    What's Included

    • A specialist local mountain guide
    • Services of porters/cook while on mountain climb
    • Arrival transfer
    • Accommodation
    • Transport
    • Entrance fees

    Not Included

    • International flights
    • Airport departure taxes
    • Departure transfer
    • Visas
    • Meals unless specified in the itinerary
    • Insurance
    • Laundry - but there will be opportunity to do some hand-washing in the camps where we stay for two or more nights.
    • Optional tours or activities during free time
    • Tips - this is something to consider, and it might be worthwhile speaking to your group about making a group contribution at the end of the trip.

  • Map

    Map Itinerary

  • Reviews

    Past Travellers' Ratings & Comments

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Trip at a glance

Trip Code PFJR
Group size 4 - 15
Start City: Kilimanjaro Airport
End City: Kilimanjaro Airport

What to know

A solo transfer surcharge will apply to this tour if you are the only client travelling from Kilimanjaro Airport on the tour.

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