7 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing via Rongai Route

Upon arrival—if you have arranged airport transfers—our team will pick you up from either Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. Later in the day, you'll receive a comprehensive trek briefing at the hotel, during which we will review your equipment and help you rent any necessary gear. We recommend arriving at least a day before the trek starts to ensure you’re well-rested and fully prepared.

The day begins with a scenic drive from Moshi to the small village of Nale Moru on the northern side of Kilimanjaro. This journey takes about two hours and includes a stop at Marangu for registration. The trek begins on a wide trail that gently winds through maize and potato fields before entering a forest of pine trees. As the trail climbs gradually through montane forest—home to varied wildlife—the vegetation begins to thin out and the landscape opens up into moorland. After a hike of approximately 3 to 4 hours over a distance of 6 kilometers (4 miles), you arrive at Simba Camp, set at 2,650 meters (8,700 feet) on the edge of the moorland with sweeping views over the Kenyan plains. Lunch and dinner are served at camp.

Today’s hike is a steady ascent through the moorland zone. The trail offers stunning views of Kibo, the highest volcanic cone of Kilimanjaro, and its shimmering Eastern Ice Fields. After a hike of around 3 to 4 hours covering 6 kilometers (4 miles), you reach the Second Cave at 3,450 meters (11,300 feet), where the camp is located. The alpine scenery and cooler temperatures prepare you well for higher elevations. Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The trek continues as you head across open moorland on a smaller trail leading toward the dramatic, jagged peaks of Mawenzi. This part of the trail is more remote and less traveled, providing a sense of solitude. After 2 to 3 hours of hiking over 9 kilometers (5 miles), you arrive at Kikelewa Camp, tucked away in a sheltered valley with towering giant senecio plants nearby. At an elevation of 3,600 meters (11,800 feet), the camp is surrounded by semi-desert terrain. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided.

This day involves a short but steep climb up grassy slopes, leading to a high camp at Mawenzi Tarn. The trail offers breathtaking views as you leave vegetation behind and enter a more barren landscape. The campsite at 4,330 meters (14,200 feet) sits in a spectacular cirque beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi Peak. You’ll spend the afternoon resting or exploring the surrounding area to help with acclimatization. The hike spans 6 kilometers (4 miles) and takes about 3 to 4 hours. Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

After breakfast, the route crosses the expansive lunar desert of the “Saddle,” a windswept plain between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. This stark, high-altitude environment feels otherworldly. The day’s hike covers 9 kilometers (5 miles) and typically takes 4 to 5 hours, ending at Kibo Hut, located at the base of Kibo’s crater wall at 4,750 meters (15,600 feet). Here, you’ll rest and have an early dinner in preparation for the summit attempt in the early hours of the next morning.

Summit day begins shortly after midnight, typically between 12:00 and 2:00 am. With headlamps lighting the way, the climb starts up steep, loose scree, often covered in snow or ice. After an exhausting push, you’ll reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,700 meters (18,700 feet). From there, it’s another 1 to 2 hours of trekking around the rim to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). The views from the top—of the vast crater, glaciers, and plains below—are unforgettable. After celebrating at the summit, you begin your descent, stopping back at Kibo Hut for a rest and lunch. You then continue descending to Horombo Hut at 3,700 meters (12,200 feet). This long and challenging day involves a total distance of 21 kilometers (13 miles), with 6 to 8 hours of climbing to the summit and another 6 to 8 hours descending. All meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—are provided throughout the day.

On the final day, after breakfast, a steady descent takes you back through the moorland to Mandara Hut, and then deeper into the lush montane forest that marks the lower elevations of the mountain. The trail can be muddy and slippery, especially in the rainforest zone, so gaiters and trekking poles are helpful. This final stretch covers 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) and usually takes 4 to 5 hours. Once you reach Marangu Gate at 1,700 meters (5,500 feet), you’ll sign out and receive your summit certificates. A vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved shower and celebration. Only breakfast is provided on this final day.