A view of the free standing Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895M
7 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climb – Rongai Route
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania
- Arrival in Tanzania: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Tanzania and transfer to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
- Briefing and Preparation: Meet with your trekking company for a pre-climb briefing, gear check, and final preparations. Rest and relax in anticipation of the trek ahead.
Day 2: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
- Transfer to Rongai Gate: After breakfast, drive to the Rongai Gate (1,950 meters) where you’ll complete registration formalities and meet your guide and porters.
- Begin Trek: Start your trek through lush rainforest, following the trail towards Simba Camp (2,650 meters). The trek takes approximately 3-4 hours.
- Camp Arrival: Arrive at Simba Camp in the afternoon, where you’ll set up camp, enjoy dinner, and rest for the night.
Day 3: Simba Camp to Second Cave Camp
- Trek to Second Cave Camp: Depart Simba Camp and continue your ascent through the moorland zone, with views of Kibo Peak in the distance.
- Lunch Break: Stop for a packed lunch along the trail.
- Arrival at Second Cave Camp: Reach Second Cave Camp (3,450 meters) in the afternoon. Set up camp, relax, and acclimatize to the altitude.
- Dinner and Rest: Enjoy dinner at camp and prepare for the next day’s trek.
Day 4: Second Cave Camp to Kikelelwa Camp
- Trek to Kikelelwa Camp: Leave Second Cave Camp and trek towards Kikelelwa Camp (3,600 meters), passing through the expansive moorland with panoramic views.
- Picnic Lunch: Stop for a picnic lunch along the trail.
- Camp Arrival: Arrive at Kikelelwa Camp in the afternoon. Set up camp, enjoy dinner, and relax while taking in the surrounding scenery.
Day 5: Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp
- Scenic Trekking: Depart Kikelelwa Camp and trek towards Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330 meters), enjoying stunning views of Mawenzi Peak.
- Lunch Break: Stop for a packed lunch along the trail.
- Camp Arrival: Reach Mawenzi Tarn Camp in the afternoon. Set up camp beside the tarn (mountain lake), relax, and acclimatize to the altitude.
- Dinner and Rest: Enjoy dinner at camp and prepare for the summit attempt.
Day 6: Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Kibo Hut
- Trek to Kibo Hut: Depart Mawenzi Tarn Camp and trek across the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks, ascending to Kibo Hut (4,700 meters).
- Arrival at Kibo Hut: Reach Kibo Hut in the afternoon. Rest, hydrate, and prepare for the summit attempt.
- Early Dinner: Enjoy an early dinner before resting for a few hours.
- Summit Briefing: Receive a summit briefing from your guide and prepare your gear for the summit attempt.
Day 7: Summit Day – Uhuru Peak and Descent
- Summit Attempt: Wake up before midnight and begin the trek to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Sunrise: Reach Uhuru Peak in time for sunrise, allowing you to witness breathtaking views from the Roof of Africa.
- Celebrate and Descend: Celebrate your achievement at the summit before beginning the descent back to Kibo Hut.
- Rest and Refresh: Take a short break at Kibo Hut to rest and refresh before continuing the descent to Horombo Hut.
- Lunch and Rest: Enjoy a late lunch at Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) and rest for a while.
- Final Descent: Continue the descent to Marangu Gate (1,860 meters), where you’ll complete descent formalities and receive your summit certificate.
- Transfer and Celebration: Transfer back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha, where you can celebrate your successful summit and rest after the challenging trek.