The Rongai Route

Type: Camping 
Difficulty: Moderate to demanding 

Day 1: Nalemuru gate to Simba camp 
Trekking time 4 hours
Climatic zone Rainforest
Altitude gained 600 metres / 1,970 feet
Vehicles take climbers to the gate at 2,000 metres at the entrance to the forest on the north eastern side of the mountain. This is a journey of a little over an hour from Marangu. From here it is a 3 to 4 hour walk, gradually ascending through the forest, to the camp which is just clear of the forest at 2,600 metres. 

Day 2: Simba camp to Kikelewa camp 
Trekking time - 8 hours
Climatic zone - Alpine moorland
Altitude gained - 1,100 metres / 3,600 feet

The path ascends on a good path through Alpine moorland, similar to what is found on the Marangu route, to Second Cave at 3500 metres. After a lunch stop here, the path forks left towards Mawenzi. After another 3 hours on a rocky path, Kikelewa Cave is reached at 3690 metres. Total time is about 6-7 hours. This is really quite a long day, although most of the altitude gain is achieved in the first half of the day. 

Day 3: Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi Tarn 
Trekking time - 4 hours
 Climatic zone - High altitude desert
Altitude gained - 700 metres / 2,300 feet
The path climbs up a steep ridge directly towards Mawenzi. At the top of the ridge, the path turns left and traverses across rocky landscape and then descends into the Tarn Valley where camp is made at 4320 metres. The distance covered is only about 5 kilometres but this usually takes about 3 to 4 hours because of the steepness and altitude. After lunch at Mawenzi Tarn, climbers can trek up into the north corrie of Mawenzi to admire the mountain and to get views eastwards down the Small Barranco (the second largest valley on Kilimanjaro) or westwards across the Saddle towards Kibo. 

Day 4:  Rest day at Mawenzi Tarn camp 

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut 
Trekking time - 5 hours
Climatic zone - High altitude desert
Altitude gained - 400 metres / 1,315 feet
Climbers retrace their path of the previous day for a short distance, and then descend to the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. There follows a 6 kilometre walk across the gradually ascending high altitude desert to Kibo Hut. Camp is made close to the hut at 4700 metres. Total time is about 5 to 6 hours. 

Day 6: Kibo Hut to the summit then down to Horombo Hut 
Trekking time - 15 hours
Climatic zone - Arctic zone
Altitude gained - 1,000 metres / 3,280 feet
Climbers are woken at about 11pm. After dressing in all their warm clothing, they have a hot drink and then set off at midnight. The first part of the ascent to the Hans Meyer cave is quite indirect, going around large rock outcrops and it is not as steep as the latter part. The surface is loose and can be hard going. After the cave the scree slope becomes extremely steep and you have to climb in a zig-zag fashion. It takes an average of 6 hours to reach Gillman's Point on the crater rim. On a fine morning, the views of the sun rising from behind Mawenzi are spectacular. Gillman's Point is at 5,700 metres. From here, the path goes around the crater rim for a further one and a half to two hours to the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5896 metres. The descent back to Kibo Hut can take a further 3 or 4 hours. After a rest and a meal, the descent continues to Horombo Hut via the lower route, a further trek of around 3 hours. 

Day 7: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate 
The descent from Horombo to Mandara Hut takes around 3 hours, and the final part of the descent through the forest to Marangu Gate takes another 2 hours. At the Gate vehicles will be waiting to take you and your crew back to the hotel.