Unbelievable Summit From A Remote Route
The data shows that the 7-day Rongai itinerary has a slightly higher summit success rate than its 6-day variation. Keep in mind that many hikers who choose this route 6 already have some experience and make it to the top despite the higher difficulty. This means that on the 7-day itinerary, a beginner will have a significantly higher chance of summiting.
Trip Itinerary
Day1: Nalemuru Gate To Simba Camp
A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at your hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's northern entrance: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m /6,627 f). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Simba Camp (2,671 m /8,612 f). Your trek this day will be moderate and take you through the coniferous forest up Kilimanjaro's northern slope. Remember not to hurry and always keep a comfortable pace. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will have prepared everything necessary, put up tents, and begun preparing dinner.
This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
- Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently);
- To help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, consider using a preventive measure like a high-altitude aid medicine. Many mountain climbers take such pills in the morning, before they begin their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. Our managers will provide more specific details together with your travel itinerary. We recommend consulting your doctor prior to the trip to discuss any potential allergies or health concerns.
It is not uncommon to experience discomfort during the night, high altitude has this effect on the human body. Nausea and headaches are common occurrences in the mountains. However, make sure you alert your guide if you feel any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Accommodation: Tented Camping
Meal Plan: L, D
Day 2: Simba Camp To Second Cave Camp
Early in the morning after breakfast, the group will depart from Simba Camp to start trekking towards your second high altitude camp: Second Cave Camp (3,450 m). This route is rather easy and will only take around 3 hours, so when you reach the camp you will still have ample time to rest and explore the surrounding area. After lunch you will have a couple hours to rest, followed by an acclimatization hike in the direction of Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m) on a stretch of the Rongai Route at a short distance with a 100-meter gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Second Cave Camp.
Please note:The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
Change in Elevation:Accommodation: Tented Camping
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 3: Second Cave Camp To Kikilewa Camp
After breakfast you will begin trekking to Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m), where you can see Kibo Volcano at its finest (barring cloudy weather). This will be a relief day, so after lunch you will have time to sleep before the next trekking towards Mawenzi Tarn Camp. In the evening after dinner the guide will check health conditions of the each person of the group and give the necessary instructions for tomorrow's trekking.
Accommodation: Tented Camping
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 4: Kikilewa Camp To Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of trekking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated at the foot of Mawenzi Volcano, Kilimanjaro's second summit. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and a two-hour rest, after which there will be an acclimatization hike towards Mawenzi Volcano with a 200 m gain in altitude, followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, where you will have dinner in the evening.
Change in Elevation:Accommodation: Tented Camping
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp To Kibo Hut
This day will be spent trekking towards Kibo Summit Camp (4,720 m). The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semidesert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro's summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
Accommodation: Tented Camping
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 6: Kibo Hut To Horombo Hut
The team will depart Kibo Hut Camp with its elevation of 4,720 m /15,482 f at night. The trek up to Uhuru Peak’s 5,895 m puts more of a strain on your cardiovascular system than your muscles as the high altitude takes its toll on your body despite the moderate gradient of the climb. One guide will be assigned to every two climbers, constantly evaluating their fitness over the duration of this part of the climb. A walk on the nearest glacier can be undertaken upon reaching the summit. The descent to 3,720 m at Horombo Camp will include a 2-hour rest stop at Kibo Camp. It is highly advisable to keep in mind that 9 out of 10 climbing accident happen on the way down, so watch your step!
Accommodation: Tented Camping
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 7: Horombo Hut To Marangu Gate
The final descent to Marangu Gate’s 1,970 m starts after breakfast. The stop at the gate presents a good opportunity for a last exchange of impressions and memories of the expedition with the whole of your support crew. The climbers will receive their certificates of achievement at our offices before being driven back to their hotel in Moshi/Arusha.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Inclusions
- Oxygen Tanks
- Meals on the hike
- Porterage
- A professional guide
- All Transfers
- Hotels before & after the hike
- Camping equipments
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Exclusions
- Tips to the climbing crew
- Personal Gear Rentals
- International flights (from/to home)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Items of a personal nature
- Single suppliment
- Portable Toilet
- Visa Fee
