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7 Days 6 Night Rongai Route
An Overview
Distance
81 km or 50 miles
Level
Difficulty and Walk hight
Mountain Gear
Park Eveything about it
Approaching Kilimanjaro from the north side (the only route starting on this side of the mountain), close to the Kenyan border, Rongai offers views of Masai land where wildlife including Buffalo, Elephant and Monkeys can be spotted, along with East Africa’s stunning birdlife. The Rongai route, although becoming an increasingly popular route, is still the quietest option.
Due to the long drive taken to get to the gate on day one it‘s the least frequently used route. Considered a moderately difficult route, it has excellent success rates. This is the best choice especially during rainy seasons as the north side receives less precipitation, letting you make your ascent in drier more pleasant conditions. You will make a gentle ascent through several different climate zones and make your descent on the south side along the Marangu route, so you get the best of both sides of the mountain.
After stopping at the Marangu Gate for permits, we proceed to the wooden village of Nale Moru, where the trailhead begins. The trail winds through corn and potato fields, and then climbs gently through the forest which is home to a variety of wildlife, including the Black and White Colobus Monkey. We camp at Rongai Cave.
After breakfast, we begin the morning hike with a steady incline and reach 2nd Cave while en route to Kikelewa Cave. Views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim begin to emerge.
The hike today is short and steep, up a grassy slope. Views of the wilderness area are stunning. As we exit the heath zone and emerge into the alpine desert zone, the landscape changes dramatically. Camp is situated beneath the jagged spires of Mawenzi. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing or exploring the area.
This is an acclimatization day. We hike steadily up a ridge with fantastic views on both sides; the landscape is rugged and rocky. After spending a few moments exploring Mawenzi Ridge, we head back to Mawenzi Tarn for camp. Extra days on the trail give our bodies the opportunity to acclimatize and assist with summit day.
The trail climbs gradually across the rocky lunar landscape as we traverse the “Saddle” between Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks. Our campsite for the night sits at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting and preparing for the final ascent in the early morning.
We wake in the middle of the night and begin the final push to reach the Roof of Africa. The trail to Gilman’s Point is very steep and the ascent will be slow and steady. From Gilman’s, it is a traverse along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. We stay at the summit for a short time, to take photos and enjoy the views, before retracing our steps to all the way back to Horombo Hut.
A long trek is in store for today, however, it is mostly downhill. Once at the park headquarters at Marangu Gate we pick up our certificate that proves our achievement and catch our vehicle transfer to hotel in Moshi for Hot shower.
