Rongai Route 7 Days Itinerary, Prices, Hiking Dates

The Rongai Route 7 Days Itinerary, Prices, Hiking Dates

The Rongai route, a lesser-known Kilimanjaro route, has many advantages over the more popular routes. Starting in a coniferous forest on the northern side of the mountain, it passes through multiple temperate zones. On the descent, one follows the Marangu route, which follows the southwesterly contours of Mount Kilimanjaro.

To begin with, this route is significantly less crowded than the well-known southern Kilimanjaro trekking routes. Along this path, you won’t see ten times as many hikers! In addition, the landscapes of Tanzania, the distinctive flora, like Kilimanjaro Giant Groundsels and tropical woodlands, and the spectacular vistas of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones Mawenzi and Kibo are all part of the attraction. Despite the lack of vegetation and the dry conditions on the northern slopes, the quantity of beauty makes the climb worthwhile. Envision yourself rising up to the magnificent Mawenzi mountain, soaking in the soft light that sculpts the rocks in a variety of pastel tones, and observing the elusive Bearded Vultures gracefully swooping down toward the distant horizon of Kenya. Hiking Kilimanjaro in this manner will allow you to enjoy the mountain more serenely. You won’t feel as rushed and more at home here.

Detailed Rongai Route 7 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Meeting a representative from The Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) would facilitate your travel to the accommodation at no additional cost. All the necessities for a pleasant stay will be provided by the hotel: warm rooms, running water, friendly personnel, a pool, and Internet connection. You will be briefed by our management in the evening, and they will also ensure that you are prepared to start the ascent.

Transfers from and to the airport are part of most private trip packages. Adding more than one person to a transfer will incur additional fees. Get everyone in your company to agree on the same arrival and departure hours to save money.

Day 2: Trekking from Nalemuru Gate to Simba Camp

You will be met at your accommodation by a guide and mountain support crew in the morning for a briefing. Then, you will be driven to the northern entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park, Nalemuru Gate, which is 2,020 meters (6,627 feet) above sea level. The ascent to Simba Camp (2,671 m /8,612 f) will begin after the group has completed the short formalities of obtaining climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service. Today, you’ll have a moderate hike up Kilimanjaro’s northern slope through a coniferous forest. Stay at a leisurely pace and don’t be in a rush. Our expert mountaineers will have set up tents, done all the necessary preparations, and started cooking meals before you even reach camp.

You should pay close attention to the following instructions from now on because this is your first day at this altitude:

Throughout the day, slowly yet steadily consume more than four liters of bottled water;

You might want to think about taking a high-altitude assistance medication as a preventative step in case you have symptoms of altitude sickness. Before setting out on their climb, many mountaineers take these medications to alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. Along with your vacation plans, our managers will give you additional particular information. We advise that you address any possible allergies or health issues with your doctor before the trip.

Due to the physiological effects of being at a high altitude, it is normal for people to feel some kind of nighttime discomfort. Mountain sickness is prevalent, and so are headaches and nausea. The key is to notify your guide right away if you have any signs of altitude sickness.

Trekking time: 3 hours
Distance: 7 km

Day 3: Trekking from Simba Camp to Second Cave Camp

After breakfast, the group will leave Simba Camp and begin the hike to Second Cave Camp, your second high altitude camp at 3,450 meters. The hike isn’t too strenuous and shouldn’t take more than three hours; that leaves plenty of time to relax and discover the region around camp. Lunch will be followed by a couple of hours of relaxation. Then, you’ll go on an acclimatization trek via the Rongai Route to Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m), which is a short distance away and has an elevation increase of 100 meters. After that, you’ll climb back down to Second Cave Camp.

Please note: In order to hasten the process of acclimatization, the acclimatization hike is a leisurely walk that involves a small ascent in elevation. The ascents to acclimate should be a top priority for you. They mitigate the effects of altitude sickness and improve your odds of reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro. In order to hasten the process of acclimatization, the acclimatization hike is a leisurely walk that involves a small ascent in elevation. The ascents to acclimate should be a top priority for you. They mitigate the effects of altitude sickness and improve your odds of reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro.

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Second Cave Camp (3,450 m /11,319 f)
Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m /11,909 f)
Hiking distance: 2.5 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Trekking time: 3 hours
Distance: 8 km

Day 4: Trekking from Second cave Camp to Kikilewa Camp

If the weather is clear, you will be able to see Kibo Volcano at its most majestic at Kikilewa Camp, which is 3,630 meters above sea level, and you will begin your hike there after breakfast. You will have the opportunity to rest after lunch on this rest day before continuing your trip to Mawenzi Tarn Camp. The group’s health will be assessed after dinner, and the guide will brief everyone on tomorrow’s hiking operations.

Trekking time: 3 hours
Distance: 5 km

Day 5: Trekking from Kikilewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

Gather your belongings and set out for Mawenzi Tarn Camp, located at the base of Mawenzi Volcano, the second summit of Kilimanjaro. After an early breakfast, you will begin your hike to the camp. Your day will begin with lunch and a two-hour nap at the camp. Then, you’ll have an acclimatization climb up Mawenzi Volcano, gaining 200 meters in elevation. In the evening, you’ll hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp for dinner.

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,315 m /14,156 f)
Mawenzi Volcano (4,510 m /14,796 f)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Trekking time: 4 hours
Distance: 6 km

Day 6: Trekking from Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Kibo Camp

On this day, you will go to Kibo Summit Camp, which is 4,720 meters above sea level. A rocky semidesert will eventually replace the former landscape. The hike itself isn’t too taxing; just make sure you maintain a reasonable pace so you can save your energy for the last ascent to Kilimanjaro. The night before your ascent of Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), we advise you to have a good night’s sleep, refrain from exerting yourself too much, and drink plenty of water upon reaching camp.

Trekking time: 5 hours
Distance: 9 km

Day 7: Uhuru Peak Summit Attempt and Descent to Horombo Hut

At night, the group will set out from Kibo Hut Camp, which is located at an elevation of 4,720 m /15,482 f. Even though there is a mild gradient leading up to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the great altitude makes the ascent taxing on the cardiovascular system rather than the muscles. For this section of the climb, one guide will be responsible for every two climbers, and they will regularly assess their fitness levels. Upon reaching the peak, you can go for a stroll on the closest glacier. On the way down to Horombo Camp at 3,720 m, you’ll stop for a two-hour break at Kibo Camp. Remember that the majority of climbing accidents occur while descending, so be careful!

Trekking time: 12 hours
Distance: 21 km

Day 8: Final Descent to Marangu Gate

The last ascent to the 1,970 m Marangu Gate begins after breakfast. Stopping at the gate is a great chance to say goodbye to your support crew and share last thoughts and experiences of the trek. When the climbers return to our headquarters, they will be taken to their hotel after receiving their certificates of success.

Trekking time: 6 hours
Distance: 19 km

Day 9: Departure

Have a night’s sleep before your transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE: Time to check out of the hotel is 11:00 AM. You can choose to prolong your hotel stay for an additional cost if you require a late check-out due to an evening flight.

End of the Rongai Route 7 Days Itinerary

Summit success rate on the Rongai route

With meticulous records kept since 2014, we at Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company have orchestrated several dramatic ascents of Mount Kilimanjaro. The following are the percentages of Rongai route summits:

6-day trek – Crater Rim: 91.0%, Uhuru Peak: 86%

7-day trek – Crater Rim: 93.9%, Uhuru Peak: 86.8%

Based on the statistics, the 7-day Rongai route is somewhat more successful in reaching the summit than the 6-day variant. Despite the increased difficulty, many hikers with experience select route 6 and reach the peak. This means that a novice has a far better chance of reaching the peak on the 7-day trek.

We take great pride in providing transparent, real-life summit success rates. If you want your adventure to be safe, memorable, and successful, there are a number of things you can do. First and foremost, our mountain guides’ professionalism and years of experience are crucial. Your health is their first concern, so they will help you adjust to the higher altitude and provide assistance if you experience any signs of altitude sickness. Many other operators fail to deliver on their high summit success promises due to a lack of experienced guides. The Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company pays its employees more than the average wage in the area and puts a lot of money into employee education and training, so we can recruit the brightest minds. It is also crucial to have stringent safety procedures and tools. To make sure your acclimatization is going smoothly, The Kilimanjaro Trekking Services guides perform two thorough medical checks every day. We also carry a variety of drugs in our carefully built first aid packages and more oxygen tanks than any other Kilimanjaro company put together. You will have the greatest chance of climbing Uhuru Peak when all these elements are considered together.