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6 Days 5 Nights Trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Duration
6 days
Group Size
1 - 7 people
Ages
2-99 yrs
Languages
English, France, German, Italiano, Español

Tour Details

Tour Overview

The Rongai route is a less popular Kilimanjaro trail that has many unique advantages. Beginning on the northern slope of the mountain in a coniferous forest, it traverses a variety of climatic zones. The descent follows the Marangu route on the southwestern side of Mount Kilimanjaro. Here's why this route stands as a top choice for climbing Kilimanjaro in 2024: Firstly, it’s much less crowded than the busy southern Kilimanjaro trekking routes. You will see ten times fewer trekkers on this route! Secondly, it is amazingly scenic, offering great views on Mawenzi and Kibo - two of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones, the surrounding Tanzania landscapes, and unique flora like Kilimanjaro Giant Groundsels and tropical forests on the descent. While the northern slopes are drier and have less dense vegetation, there is plenty to see on your way up. Imagine awakening near the majestic peak of Mawenzi, its rocks bathed in the soft hues of sunrise, and spotting rare Bearded Vultures dance and glide, setting their course towards the distant horizon of Kenya. This route offers trekkers a more secluded and intimate experience for those seeking a quieter trekking adventure on Kilimanjaro.

At Kisangara Tours, we’ve organized thousands of epic Mount Kilimanjaro climbs since 2014 and kept detailed statistics. Here are the Rongai route summit success rates:
6-day trek – Crater Rim: 91.0%, Uhuru Peak: 86%
7-day trek – Crater Rim: 93.9%, Uhuru Peak: 86.8%
The data shows that the 7-day Rongai itinerary has a slightly higher summit success rate than its 6-day variation. Keep in mind that many hikers who choose this route 6 already have some experience and make it to the top despite the higher difficulty. This means that on the 7-day itinerary, a beginner will have a significantly higher chance of summiting.
We are proud to show real summit success rates without any deception. Several factors go into making your expedition safe and memorable, with the highest chances of summiting possible. Firstly, the experience and professionalism of our mountain guides play a significant role. They are experts on high-altitude acclimatization and will always assist you if any symptoms of altitude sickness arise, ensuring your well-being remains the top priority. The lack of experienced guides is a primary reason many other operators struggle to fulfill their high summit success promises. At Kisangara Tours, we offer the best wages in the region and invest heavily in the training and education of our staff, attracting top talent to our team. Rigorous safety protocols and equipment are also key. Kisangara Tours guides conduct two in-depth medical check-ups daily to ensure your acclimatization progresses well. Additionally, we possess more oxygen tanks than all other Kilimanjaro companies combined and have specially designed first aid kits with a range of medications. All these factors combine to give you the best chance of reaching Uhuru Peak.

Tour Highlights

  • This is a mid-range camping tour.
  • On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 7 people per group.
  • If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
  • Single travelers can join this group tour, but it requires a minimum of 7 people to run.
  • You can request changes to this tour.
  • The minimum age for this tour is 5 years.

Activities and Transportation

  • Getting around: hiking or trekking on foot
  • A transfer from and back to the airport is included.

Itinerary

Arrival: Airport Pick Up
  • Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet an Kisangara Tours Travel representative, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb. Private tour packages include shared airport transfers for your group. Extra charges will apply for additional individual transfers. To avoid extra costs, sync your group's arrival and departure times.
Day 1: Trekking from Nalemuru Gate to Simba Camp
A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at your hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's northern entrance: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m /6,627 f). 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 (2,671 m /8,612 f). Your trek this day will be moderate and take you through the 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 have prepared everything necessary, put up tents, and begun preparing dinner.

This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently); To help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, consider using a preventive measure like a high-altitude aid medicine. Many mountain climbers take such pills in the morning, before they begin their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. Our managers will provide more specific details together with your travel itinerary. We recommend consulting your doctor prior to the trip to discuss any potential allergies or health concerns. It is not uncommon to experience discomfort during the night, high altitude has this effect on the human body. Nausea and headaches are common occurrences in the mountains. However, make sure you alert your guide if you feel any symptoms of altitude sickness.
  • Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Accommodation: Mid-Range camping
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • All meals included
    • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 2: Trekking from Simba Camp to Second Cave Camp
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 (3,450 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.
The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
  • Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Accommodation: Mid-Range camping
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • All meals included
    • Drinking Water (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 3: Trekking from Second cave Camp to Kikilewa Camp
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.
  • Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Accommodation: Mid-Range camping
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • All meals included
    • All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 4: Trekking from Kikilewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of trekking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated at the foot of Mawenzi Volcano, Kilimanjaro's 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 m gain in altitude, followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, where you will have dinner in the evening.
  • Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Accommodation: Mid-Range Camping
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • All meals included
    • All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 5: Trekking from Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Kibo Camp
This day will be spent trekking towards Kibo Summit Camp (4,720 m). The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semidesert. 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's summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
  • Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak)
  • Accommodation: Mid-Range Camping
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • All meals included
    • All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 5: Uhuru Peak Summit Attempt and Descent to Horombo Hut
The team will depart Kibo Hut Camp with its elevation of 4,720 m /15,482 f at night. The trek up to Uhuru Peak’s 5,895 m puts more of a strain on your cardiovascular system than your muscles as the high altitude takes its toll on your body despite the moderate gradient of the climb. One guide will be assigned to every two climbers, constantly evaluating their fitness over the duration of this part of the climb. A walk on the nearest glacier can be undertaken upon reaching the summit. The descent to 3,720 m at Horombo Camp will include a 2-hour rest stop at Kibo Camp. It is highly advisable to keep in mind that 9 out of 10 climbing accident happen on the way down, so watch your step!
  • Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak)
  • Accommodation: Mid-Range Camping
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • All meals included
    • All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 6: Final Descent to Marangu Gate
The final descent to Marangu Gate’s 1,970 m starts after breakfast. The stop at the gate presents a good opportunity for a last exchange of impressions and memories of the expedition with the whole of your support crew. The climbers will receive their certificates of achievement at our offices before being driven back to their hotel.
  • Main Destination: Either Moshi Town or Arusha City
  • Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
  • Meals & Drinks:
    • Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
    • Drinking Water (Other Drinks not included)
End of Tour
  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.

What's included

Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the itinerary section)
Drinking water (On all days)
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
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Duration (days)

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