7 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Rongai Route: The Quiet Path to the Roof of Africa

After breakfast drive to register at the Marangu park gate, with a transfer of approximately two and a half hours to the Rongai trailhead. Meet your guide and porters before you begin your hike from Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest and then climbs gently through the forest. The trail is not at all steep, but is rather a gentle hike through beautiful country.

• Hiking time: 5 hours
• Distance: about 8 km
• Habitat: Montane forest

The trail continues up towards Kibo, passing Second Cave at 3,450m enroute and reaching Kikelewa Cave at about 3,600m. The views start to open up and you begin to feel you are on a really big mountain. Water is in the stream below the cave, although you may have to wander downhill a way to find some. Overnight at Kikelewa Caves camp.

• Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn, spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatising and exploring the area.

• Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

This is your extra day on Kilimanjaro, but you will not just sit around at camp. The secret to the higher success rate of the seven day itinerary is in today’s acclimatisation hike. You begin your day like any other on the mountain and then start a short hike towards Mawenzi. Depending on how you feel and your pace, you ascend for 2 to 3 hours before returning to camp, with the round trip typically taking 3 to 5 hours. You spend another night here at Mawenzi Tarn.

Continue ascending on the east side of Kibo, crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, taking 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. Overnight at Kibo camp.

• Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

You rise around 23:30 and, after some tea and biscuits, set off into the night. This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail is a rocky path to Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150m, a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s Point at 5,681m on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a great deal of stone scree and requires real physical and mental effort, and is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly. From Gillman’s Point you will normally encounter snow all the way to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m, the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend before the descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest you gather your gear and head down to Horombo Hut for the night.

• Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru, 6 hours to descend to Horombo
• Distance: 6 km ascent, 21 km descent
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

After breakfast you continue your descent, around 6 hours, passing Mandara Hut and down to Marangu gate. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in the register, and this is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Gillman’s Point at 5,681m are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak at 5,895m receive gold certificates. You then drive back to Moshi or Arusha for a long overdue hot shower and overnight at a budget hotel.

• Hiking time: 6 hours
• Distance: about 27 km