Ever heard the wind whistle crisp and clear on a mountain peak? On the Rongai Route, you’ll experience just that during our 7-day trek—thanks to its remote, less-traveled paths. Situated on Kilimanjaro’s northern side, near the Kenyan border, this is the easiest route to the Roof of Africa. With gentle gradients, high summit success rates, and well-maintained trails, it’s ideal for both first-time trekkers and seasoned hikers. As we journey through untouched wilderness, sweeping moorlands, and lush forests, we’ll witness the legendary “Snows of Kilimanjaro” that inspired Hemingway himself. Ready to stand at Africa’s highest point? Let’s make it happen!
A 7-day trek on Mount Kilimanjaro, paired with two additional days (before and after the summit) for preparation and rest, offers the perfect opportunity to fully experience this mountain. We’ll spend two nights in a hotel, and the rest of the time we’ll camp, immersing ourselves in the wilderness. The Rongai route, the least crowded path to Uhuru Peak, promises a truly unique experience—both mentally and physically. With expert guides, a cook who will prepare three hot meals per day for us, and porters by our side, the journey is carefully planned to ensure proper acclimatization, maximizing our chances for a successful summit. Along the way, we’ll experience diverse landscapes, from lush forests to alpine deserts, making this adventure an unforgettable experience.
Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the hotel in Moshi. You’ll meet your guide there, who will brief you on the upcoming trek. We will check all our gear together; any missing items can be rented today.
Accommodation: Hotel
We will take a scenic 4-5 hour drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. Once we arrive, we’ll wait a bit for our permits to be issued. As we walk along the winding trails, enjoy the wooded landscapes while the guide shares insights about the local flora, fauna, and wildlife we might encounter. Our day ends at the Simba camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 7 km / 4.3 mi
Elevation: +638 m / +2,093 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We’ll continue our ascent through the moorland, following a steady uphill path. Along the way, we’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Kibo and our first glimpse of the ice fields on the Eastern crater rim. As we approach the Second Cave camp, the moorland vegetation begins to thin, and the temperatures start to drop.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 5.8 km / 3.6 mi
Elevation: +852 m / 2,795 ft
Accommodation: Camping
After breakfast and packing up, we’ll make our way steadily across the moorland, heading toward the striking peaks of Mawenzi. This shorter hiking day brings us closer to the mesmerizing Eastern ice fields. We will finish our day at Kikelewa camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 5.9 km / 3.7 mi
Elevation: +188 m / 617 ft
Accommodation: Camping
A brief but steep climb up grassy slopes leads us to spectacular views as our reward. We’ll leave the vegetation behind as we reach Mawenzi tarn, a stunning camp situated in a cirque beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon is free to rest or explore the area, helping with acclimatization.*
*It might be possible to spend an extra day on the mountain, let us know prior to booking if interested. You can then hike up, around Mawenzi, for your acclimatization hike.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 3.7 km / 2.3 mi
Elevation: +627 m / 2,057 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We’ll cross the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo, a barren desert landscape, before reaching the Kibo camp, located at the base of the Kibo crater wall. The rest of the day is dedicated to rest, allowing us to prepare for the final ascent on summit night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 8.9 km / 5 mi
Elevation: +412 m / 1,351 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We will begin our ascent early, between midnight and 2am, tackling the most mentally and physically demanding part of the trek. We’ll make our way towards the summit, navigating between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. With each switchback, we’ll head northwest, ascending through the scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. Here, we will pause for a short rest and faster hikers may catch the sunrise from the summit itself. From Stella Point, it’s a final hour-long ascent to Uhuru Peak, where snow may greet us along the way.
After a short break at the summit, we will begin our descent. The elevation drop will be significant, and we will end the day at the Horombo huts.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 15.7 km / 9.8 mi
Elevation: +721 m, -2,175 m / +2,365, -7,132 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We will continue our descent, stopping at the Mandara huts for lunch. Upon reaching the Marangu Park gate, we will receive our summit certificates. The weather will be much warmer now, where terrain is wet, muddy, and steep, so we highly recommend wearing gaiters and using trekking poles. A vehicle will be waiting to take us back to the hotel in Moshi, just a 45-minute drive away.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 20 km / 12.5 mi
Elevation: -1,816 m / -5,958 ft
Accommodation: Hotel
Feel free to unwind after the trek, before your flight home. Everyone can organize the day in a way that suits them best.
Meals: Breakfast
Thanks for an impressive job. Every arrangement done for our team of 17 members was just perfect. Would endorse and recommend.
OMG! The greatest experience ever! The trek is beautiful and moderately challenging. The team is INCREDIBLE! They are not only professionals but also quite a spirit. They kept us going when the going got tough.
Included:
Add-ons
Not included:
The best thing about hiking the Rongai route is that it’s considered one of the easiest paths up Kilimanjaro. Known for its gentle gradients and high summit success rates, it’s perfect for climbers with limited trekking experience or those seeking a scenic, steady ascent.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that hiking on lower mountains is not the same as tackling high-altitude peaks like Kilimanjaro (5,895 m / 19,340 ft). It’s highly recommended to prepare by doing some hiking and longer walks beforehand to fully enjoy the adventure. Additionally, remember that this journey involves multi-day hiking. While the route is relatively gentle, especially with experienced guides, it’s still a good idea to build stamina through training hikes before your trip.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Technical clothing:
Headwear:
Handwear:
Footwear:
Accessories:
Equipment:
Extra tips:
Please pack carefully, as porters are limited to carrying a maximum of 33 lbs (15 kgs) of your personal belongings. All items they transport between campsites should be packed into your duffel bag, including your sleeping bag. However, if needed, the sleeping bag can be packed separately. If your total weight exceeds the limit, you will be required to hire an additional porter.
During your Mount Kilimanjaro climb, you’ll enjoy first-class meals designed to fuel you for the trek to the top. You’ll have three hot meals a day, along with plenty of water and hot drinks.
Here’s a sample of the meals you’ll enjoy:
It is possible to accommodate any dietary restrictions, and you can specify your preferences during the booking process. If you have strict dietary needs, feel free to bring along some of your favorite energy foods, as specialty ingredients can be difficult to find in Tanzania.
Group sizes and pricing
Hiking on the Rongai route can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your 7-day Rongai route trek is Moshi. To get there, most people fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). At the scheduled time, the guides will pick you and the rest of the group up. If you’re not joining the group at that time, you’ll need to take a taxi, rent a car, or use a shuttle to get to Moshi where your guides will meet you at the arranged accommodation on Day 1.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
The experience there was the best of my life. I love the guides here. It’s not an easy climb, but the staff will give you their full support so you can climb with confidence. At the end of the mountain you will find irreplaceable memories.