The Rongai Route is considered as one of the easiest routes with high success rate. The route starts on the north side of Mt. Kilimanjaro just south of the Kenyan border, and is one of the least traveled routes. The descent is down the Marangu Route on the south side of the mountain, giving the climbers an opportunity to see the mountain from many viewpoints.
Rongai Route:
The Rongai Route is considered as one of the easiest routes with high success rate. The route starts on the north side of Mt. Kilimanjaro just south of the Kenyan border and is one of the least traveled routes. The descent is down the Marangu Route on the south side of the mountain, giving the climbers an opportunity to see the mountain from many viewpoints. The drive to the trailhead from Arusha town takes about 4 hours, it passed through many villages and coffee plantations, including a stop to register climbing permits at Marangu gate.
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Day 1
Briefing
You will be met by a representative of the Mapping Africa representative. After customs and immigration formalities, you will be transferred to your hotel in Arusha overnight.
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Day 2
Transfer to gate – hike to Shira 1 camp (3505 m)
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel in Arusha and transferred to Londorossi gate (ca. 4 hrs transfer), where you will complete Kilimanjaro National park entry formalities. Afterwards continue by car to Morum Barrier Gate (ca. 1 hr). Where you will have your lunch. Thereafter you begin your Mt. Kilimanjaro climb trekking through heather and moorland to the first camp (ca. 1-2 hrs). You will find that the views over to Kibo across the Plateau are breathtaking. Overnight at Shira 1 camp
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Day 3
Shira 1 – Shira 2 (Fischer’s) camp (3900 m)
Today, you have a full day to explore the Shira plateau, with a slow trek eastward towards Kibo’s glaciered peak. The Shira plateau is considered as one of the highest plateaus on earth and it averages 12,500 ft. You have a chance to visit the ancient collapsed cone of Shira volcano (the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s 3 volcanic centers). Total trekking time: ca. 3 hrs. Dinner & Overnight at Shira 2 Camp
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Day 4
Shira 2 – Barranco camp (3976 m)
After breakfast, you will have a steady climb over vast ridges to “Lava Tower”, here, you will have your lunch (ca. 4 hrs). Lava Tower, a 300 ft volcanic plug, marks an exposed pass at 15,000 ft. In the afternoon, you will have to descend the steep trail into the Great Barranco Valley. Your camp at Barranco is set in a valley enclosed on 3 sides with the massive walls of the valley itself and the massif of Kibo. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, – an eerie landscape known for its rare plants such as the Giant Groundsels (Seneciao Kilimanjaro) and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Total trekking time: 6-7 hrs. Dinner & Overnight at Barranco Camp
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Day 5
Barranco camp – Barafu camp (4673 m)
If you decide to take the 6-day itinerary option, you will trek 3-4 hours and stop in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch. Afterward, in the afternoon, the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will start growing colder and the landscape more sparse as you approach Barafu Camp. Your Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge and is the usual base camp from which you will make the summit attempt at midnight tonight. It’s essential to eat and especially drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep. Overnight at Barafu Camp
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Day 6
Barafu camp – Stella Point (5790 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – descend to Mweka camp (3068 m)
Your chef will prepare a hot drink, which you will take very early this morning. Expect a midnight wake-up call which will be the start of a juggernaut (12-17 hrs of trekking). At around 1 am, you will start trekking; Here temperatures usually range from just below freezing at midnight to somewhere between -12 deg. C (10 deg. F) to -23 deg. C (-10 F.) on the summit just before dawn. As you proceed with an ascent at a slow pace, you will come across a winding path of endless switchbacks which will slowly take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers at early dawn, and behind you the spires of Mawenzi are silhouetted against the red glow of the sun rising behind the clouds. 6 hrs of slow walking uphill, brings you to the edge of the crater: Stella Point, at an elevation of 19,000 ft. (5790 m) on the crater rim, it is the end of the steep part of the hike. From here, then you will have a gentle slope towards Uhuru Peak (ca. 1 hr), the true summit of Kili at 19,340 ft. (5896 m). The strength it takes to ascend this final piece is for many monumental. Spend a short time at the summit, before you start descending. The path goes down a steep scree slope back to Barafu Camp where you will rest for a short time before you have to summon your strength to continue your further descent to Mweka Camp for the last night on the mountain. Dinner & Overnight art Mweka Camp
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Day 7
Final descend – Transfer to Arusha
Your last descent to Mweka Gate is an easy 2-3 hours trek that will take you through a beautiful rain forest to go down the final parts of the trail back to the Mweka Gate. Here, you will be awarded your Kilimanjaro certificate, and have lunch, thereafter you will say goodbye to many of your crew, and start your return journey to Arusha where a day room to freshen will be provided till evening when you will be picked up by your driver and transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your International flight. However, your Tanzania trip will not be complete without booking one of our popular wildlife safaris to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro crater, or Tarangire Park.
Important to Know
- This tour is not available to solo travelers.
- Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
- This tour accepts children who are 12 years and older.
Rates per person
Included
- Park fees(For non-residents)
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
This tour starts and ends in 
We can help select your international flights, but you’ll have to book them yourself 
Fly to/from (JRO – Check price) near Arusha. Or fly to/from Arusha Airport(ARK – Check price) via Dar es Salaam or Nairobi (Kenya) 
A from and back to the airport is included 
Additional before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
ACCOMMODATION
- Private Mountain Camps
- Public campsites.
- Special campsites.
ACTIVITIES
- Trekking
- Hiking
- Skeing
- Parachuting
Getting there
- Trekking
- Helicopter
Best time to go
The Mountain can be trekk at any time of the year but much suited better when it is not raining.