8 Day Hiking Tour Through the Rongai Route in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Tanzania Hiking Tour
The Rongai Route is more scenic than the Marangu Route and easier than other camping routes in climbing Kilimanjaro and the success rate on the Rongai Route is very high. Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Rongai Route you sleep in tents. The porter will have your tent pitched and waiting for you at the end of each day’s trek. There are shared camps with Marangu Route at Kibo Huts and Horombo Huts, but the huts are not used for those using Rongai Route.
Highlights
- 6 days of hiking
- Guides, cooks and porters
- Transport to and from Arusha to the trail head
- High quality tent and foam sleeping pad
- 7 nights accommodation
- Airport pick up
- All meals
Accommodation
On the first night, you will stay at Planet Lodge in Arusha. Then you will stay in various campsites in double occupancy tents.
- Simba camp
- Second Cave camp
- Third Cave camp
- Kibo Huts camp
- Horombo Huts camp
Program
Day 1: Arrival day - Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Arusha
After your long flight, you’ll be pleased to spend your first night in comfort at your hotel, the Planet Lodge in Arusha. You will be picked up by a Gifted Adventures driver, who will be waiting to meet and welcome you and take you to your hotel in Arusha to relax after your flight. Your adventure has begun!
- Meals: Dinner
- Drinking mineral water only
Day 2: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by the vehicles through many villages and coffee and plantations for 2-3-hour drive to Rongai Gate. After signing in and preparing the porters, you will start hiking on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, and then enter into montane forest. The forest begins to thin as you arrive at Simba Camp with fantastic views over the Kenyan plains.
- Elevation: 1950 m to 2750 m (6,397.6 ft to 9,022.3 ft)
- Distance: 9 km (5.6 mi)
- Hiking time: 4 hours
- Habitat: Montane forest
Day 3: Simba Camp to Second Cave Camp
After an early morning breakfast, you will have a steady ascent to the second cave where you will stop for lunch. Then after lunch you will have a little rest before acclimatization session whereby you will be walking higher then descend back to the same camp for dinner and overnight.
- Elevation: 2,750 m to 3,200 m (9,022.3 ft to 10,498.7 ft)
- Distance: 7 km (7.3 mi)
- Hiking time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Second Cave Camp to Third Cave Camp
Today after your early breakfast you will start your walk to Third Cave Camp where you will have your hot lunch then short rest followed with acclimatization session then after you will be brought back to the same camp for dinner and overnight.
- Elevation: 3,200 m to 3,900 m (10,498.7 ft to 12,795.3 ft)
- Distance: 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Hiking time: 3 hours
- Habitat: Semi desert
Day 5: Third Cave Camp to Kibo Huts Camp
This is your extra day on the mountain, and you will spend two nights at Mawenzi Tarn. You will hike up towards Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatization hike. Then after returning back to the camp for lunch, dinner, and overnight.
- Elevation: 3,900 m to 4,695 m (12,795.3 ft to 15,403.5 ft)
- Distance: 7 km (4.3 mi)
- Hiking time: 5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 6: Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts Camp
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. Leave to the peak at 12:00am, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim 4 and 6 am. Then after 2 hours of hiking along the Kibo Crater Rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak. Here you will spend some minutes taking photos and treasuring the moment. After your summit activities done, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue on down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts Camp.
- Elevation: 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m (15,403.5 ft to 19,340.6 ft to 12,106.3 ft)
- Distance: 4 km up / 14 km down (2.5 mi up / 8.7 mi down)
- Hiking time: 10-15 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 7: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
After a long and enjoyable sleep, you will be awakened for breakfast and pack up, and start the descent through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then proceed with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to Marangu park gate.
- Elevation: 3,690 m to 1,830 m (12,106.3 ft to 6,003.9 ft)
- Distance: 18 km (11.2 mi)
- Hiking time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 8: Departure day - Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Today is the day that you say goodbye to the team. Congratulations, you just hiked the highest freestanding mountain on planet Earth and the tallest mountain in Africa. You will remember these memories for the rest of your life. Upon waking up today, your guide will be with you until you need leave for Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Drinking mineral water only
Location
The tour will start in Arusha in Tanzania. You will hike Mount Kilimanjaro, camping at various campsites until Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro. You will hike back down and be driven back to Arusha.
Food
You will be provided with all meals:
- Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain
- Breakfast at hotel
The following meals are included:
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- 6 days of hiking
- Transport to and from Arusha to the trail head
- Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, rescue fees and Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Expert guide, assistant guides, cook and porters
- Bottled oxygen, for emergency rescue only
- Private toilet
- Four season, 3-person mountain tents, double occupancy
- Sleeping pad, foam, 1.5 inches thick
- Services for crew team and salary
- Tent highest quality tent Eureka or Mountain hardware
- Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
- 7 nights accommodation including 2 nights in Arusha (before and after climb)
- Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain
- Breakfast at hotel
- All meals
What's not included
- Champagne, cognacs, fine wines and premium brand spirits.
- Items of personal nature such as passport, visa, travelers etc.
- Tips for the crew
- Medical equipment as hyperbolic chamber
- Portable toilets: available for renting 110 USD/trip
- Overweight extra luggage will require an extra porter, at a rate of 11 USD per bag per day
- Massage may be arranged for 40 USD per person
- And all not mentioned in the itinerary above.
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Kilimanjaro International Airport
37 km
Transfer included
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.