Rongai route is a unique way of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Starting at the North side of the Mountain, pass through the coniferous forest, offering incredible views. This route provides moderate acclimatization experience and is rather challenging generally, yet friendly for the beginners.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) (Google Map)
Arusha Airport (ARK) (Google Map)
2 Hours Before Flight Time
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet African Wanderlust Adventures representative, and then you get transferred to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a contented stay: cozy rooms, hot water, courteous staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing will be conducted with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to commence the climb.
A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the 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). 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 will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
• Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine
• Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)
• Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip in case of potential allergies.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Distance: Nalemuru gate – Simba camp covers 8 km
Change in elevation: Nalemuru gate (2,020m) to Simba camp (2,625m)
Hiking time: 4 hours
After an early morning 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 plenty time to rest and survey the adjacent areas. Later on lunch will be provided followed by a couple hours to rest, after which the group will depart for 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, then you will hike back down to Second Cave Camp for an overnight.
Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
NB: 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.
Distance: Simba camp – Second cave camp covers 4 km
Change in elevation: Simba camp (2,625m) to Second cave camp (3,480m)
Hiking Time: 3 hours
ACCLIMATIZATION
Distance: Second Cave camp – Kikilewa camp covers 2.5 km
Change in elevation: Second cave camp (3,480m) to Kikilewa camp (3,580m)
Hiking time: 2 hours
Next morning after breakfast you will begin trekking toward 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. After dinner in the evening our guide will check health situation of the each person of the group and give the required directives for tomorrow’s trekking.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Second Cave camp – Kikilewa camp covers 5 km
Change in elevation: Second Cave camp (3,480m) to Kikilewa camp (3,630m)
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of trekking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is located 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-meter gain in altitude, followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, where you will have dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Kikilewa camp – Mawenzi Tarn camp covers 6 km
Change in elevation: Kikilewa camp (3,630m) to Mawenzi Tarn camp (4,310m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
ACCLIMATIZATION
Distance: Mawenzi Tarn camp – Mawenzi Volcano covers 2 km
Change in elevation: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4,310m) to Mawenzi Volcano (4,510m)
Hiking time: 2 hours
Today after an early breakfast we will spend the day trekking towards Kibo Summit Camp (4,700 m). Whereas the landscape will change drastically to give
way to a rocky semi-desert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an proper pace to
keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro’s summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep
well, avoid tiring activity, and drink water as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak
(5,895 m).
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Mawenzi tarn camp – Kibo camp covers 9 km
Change in elevation: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4,310m) to Kibo camp (4,700m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Today the group will depart School Hut Camp with its elevation of 4,715 m at night. The trek up to Uhuru Peak’s 5,895 m puts more of a tension 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, frequently evaluating their conditions over the duration of this part of the climb. A walk on the adjacent 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
NB: Remember 9 out of 10 climbing accident happen on the way down, so watch your step!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Kibo camp – Uhuru peak – Horombo Camp covers 21 km
Change in elevation: Kibo camp (4,700m) to Uhuru peak (5,895m) to Horombo camp (3,720m)
Hiking time: 12-14 hours
After a warm breakfast in the morning, followed by departure heading to Kilimanjaro National Park’s exit: Marangu Gate (1,860 m). After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, and then you will have the chance to share your opinions on the trip in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates (in our office) and provide you a transfer back to the hotel.
Distance: Horombo Camp – Marangu gate 18 km
Change in elevation: Horombo camp (3,720m) to Marangu gate (1,860m)
Descending time: 6 hours
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Note: Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
