6-day Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Climbing Tour Package

Arrival Day the day of arrive.

"On this day, we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and take you to a lodge prepared for resting and preliminary preparations such as organizing your mountain gear, etc. If you arrive early, you will have the opportunity to visit the small town of Moshi for a walking tour."

Day 1 Moshi Rongai Gate Hike to Simba Camp

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the start of the Rongai route, the Narumuru Gate, close to the Kenyan Border, where we begin the ascent of Kilimanjaro after meeting our porters and having lunch. We walk to the Rongai Forest past farmland, where you will see potatoes, maize and other vegetables, carefully tended by the men and women of the nearby villages. In the forest, the vegetation is lush and exotic. You may even see White and Black Colobus Monkeys, and the exotic Hartlaubs Turaco, a large bird with a violet blue tail, red wing tips, a blue- black head, and eyes surrounded by white. Even if you don’t see it, you may hear its loud raucous call. After leaving the forest, the lush vegetation thins to heather moorland with many flowers, including the unique Protea Kilimanjarica, which grows only on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. After a 3-4 hour walk today ends with dinner & overnight at Cave 1 sometimes called Simba Camp. (2830m.)Your cook will then prepare a delicious meal, and you can swap travellers’ tales around the table with your co-adventurers.

• Elevation: 2000m/6560ft to 2635m/8645ft
• Distance: 7km
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

Day 2 Hike Simba Camp to Second Cave

After an early breakfast you will have a steady ascent to the second cave where you will stop for lunch. You leave the direct trail at this point and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path toward Mawenzi side peak to Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley. At the Kikelewa Camp you will settle for your dinner and overnight rest.

• Elevation: 2635m/8645ft to 3487m/11,440ft
• Distance: 6km
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Day 3 Hike Second Cave to Third Cave

After breakfast you will face a short, steep climb up grassy slopes; rewarded by superb all-round views, immersed in the vast surrounding wilderness. Soon after you leave the vegetation behind and arrive at the Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated in a spectacular cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi Peak. After this hike, you will reach the Mawenzi turn hut camp where you will also see the amazing undried Lake with no inlet as well as outlet here you will have lunch and rest, dinner and overnight at this camp.

• Elevation: 3487m/11,440ft to 3939m/12,913ft
• Distance: 4km
• Walking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Semi-desert

Day 4Hike Third Cave to Kibo Hut

After an early breakfast you will cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Kibo peak and Mawenzi peak to Kibo Huts at the bottom of Kibo’s crater wall. You should spend the remainder of the day resting and preparing for your summit climb.

• Elevation: 3939m/12,913ft to 4700m/15,466ft
• Distance: 5km
• Hiking time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 5 Hike Kibo Hut to Summit, and down to Horombo Hut

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s Point located on the crater rim (elev 5700m/18,700ft). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.

The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!

• Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft Down to 3700m/12,200ft
• Distance: 6km up / 15km down
• Hiking time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6 Hike Horombo Hut to Marangu gate , drive to Moshi

After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

• A vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).It is time for celebration