9-day trip: climbing Kilimanjaro via the challenging 6-day Rongai Route. An expert climber is most likely to choose the Rongai Route. The only way to get to the top of Kilimanjaro starts in the north, close to the border with Kenya. The northern side of the mountain has more wind and less rain. Because of this, there is less vegetation here, and you can often see a long way, including the beautiful Kenyan scenery.

You can see both sides of Kilimanjaro as you go down the Marangu Route (south). The Rongai Route takes six days to do the whole climb, including the return. You can hike for another day if you want to. In fact, this is highly suggested! You have a better chance of not getting altitude sickness if you stay an extra day. This is because your body will have more time to get used to the higher elevation.

Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your climb
Day 2: Rongai Route (1/6) | Rongai Gate (1,950 m/6,398 ft) – First Cave Camp (2,650 m/8,694 ft)
Day 3: Rongai Route (2/6) | First Cave Camp (2,650 m/8,694 ft) – Kikelewa Camp (3,660 m/12,007 ft)
Day 4: Rongai Route (3/6) | Kikelewa Camp (3,660 m/12,007 ft) – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,305 m/13,238 ft)
Day 5: Rongai Route (4/6) | Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,305 m/13,238 ft) – Kibo Huts Camp (4,720 m/15,485 ft)
Day 6: Rongai Route (5/6) | Kibo Huts Camp (4,720 m/15,485 ft) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) – Horombo Huts (3,720 m/12,204 ft)
Day 7: Rongai Route (6/6) | Horombo Huts (3,720 m/12,204 ft) – Marangu Gate (1,860 m/6,102 ft) – Hotel
Day 8 – 9: Flight home from Kilimanjaro International Airport after the climb

Tanzania Zanzibar Safari gives a one-of-a-kind service during the climb.

The hardest thing you can do is climb Kilimanjaro. Little things can make a big difference, that’s why we send you up with trained guides, porters, and a cook. The people who work on the Rongai road take care of you by checking on your health twice a day and giving you tasty food. Does that sound like too much? Not if you want to get to the top! Because we know that altitude sickness can sneak up on you and that good eating is important to keep you going on a tough climb.

You can also get a lot of information from us to help you get ready for your climb via the Rongai way. It tells you about Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro, how to get ready, and what you can buy or rent. Another thing we want to bring up is that we work with the Kilimanjaro Responsible Travel Organization (KRTO). That means that while we climb, we look out for our team and the mountain. This way, you can climb without worrying. Are you ready for an event you’ll never forget?

*We can send you the menu ahead of time if you’d like to see it.

How fit do you have to be to go up Kilimanjaro the Rongai Way?

Kilimanjaro is very hard to climb because of its high elevation, fast ascent rate, and changing weather. You will walk for six to seven hours every day on average when you climb. It is definitely possible if you are healthy and fit. You can do many things to improve your chances of making it to the top and to make sure you enjoy the hike.

Take your time. Allow your body time to adjust and get used to the altitude by hiking slowly.
Get ready. Also, being in good shape helps a lot with the climb. Hiking a few months before the climb is a great way to prepare, especially walks that last more than one day. But running and other physical activities are also good ways to get ready.

Add one more day. There is no way to know ahead of time who will get altitude sickness. This risk will go down if you climb for one more day. Because the climb is spread out over more days, your body has more time to get used to being taller. We really think you should do this to improve your chances of getting to the top.

Day by day breakdown

Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your climb

When you get to Kilimanjaro International Airport, our Tanzania Zanzibar Safari guide will be there to meet you. After the trip, he drops you off at your hotel where you can rest.
Getting ready for your climb: Before you start your climb, you meet your guide. He tells you about the climb and gives you important tips on what to wear, what to bring, and how to make it as easy as possible.

Day 2: Rongai Route (1/6) | Rongai Gate (1,950 m/6,398 ft) – First Cave Camp (2,650 m/8,694 ft)

When your guide picks you up at your hotel, the trip starts. The drive to the Rongai Gate takes about two hours. In the next part of this exciting journey, you go up through beautiful, lush forests that are full of different animal sounds. After lunch, you keep going until you reach the first camp on the Rongai road. It is on the north side of the mountain, where there are fewer trees. This road is less busy, so you’ll have more chances to see different kinds of wildlife.

Day 3: Rongai Route (2/6) | First Cave Camp (2,650 m/8,694 ft) – Kikelewa Camp (3,660 m/12,007 ft)

The walk today lasts 5 to 6 hours and starts with a steep climb. As you get your first look at Kilimanjaro’s Mawenzi Peak, you may start to feel the altitude. When you finally get to the first room, you have some time to look around. In the second cave, people eat lunch. The climb gets less steep in the afternoon, and you finish the hike to camp in a valley with lots of trees near Kikelewa or the third cave.

Day 4: Rongai Route (3/6) | Kikelewa Camp (3,660 m/12,007 ft) – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,305 m/13,238 ft)

Now that you’re further along this steep walk, you can enjoy some truly stunning views. You walk for four to five hours in the morning so that you can rest in the afternoon and evening and give your body time to get used to the higher elevation. You continue until you reach Mawenzi Tarn, where you will spend the night. It is right below the top of Mawenzi, and it has great views of both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks on Kilimanjaro.

Day 5: Rongai Route (4/6) | Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,305 m/13,238 ft) – Kibo Huts Camp (4,720 m/15,485 ft)

Look at the moonscape you see on your way to the higher camp on this, your fourth day on the mountain. The view from Kibo Camp, which is right below Kibo’s peak, of the Kenyan fields is truly amazing. You walk for five to six hours through an alpine desert. After lunch in the afternoon, you rest because the next day is the summit push to the top of Kilimanjaro!

Day 6: Rongai Route (5/6) | Kibo Huts Camp (4,720 m/15,485 ft) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) – Horombo Huts (3,720 m/12,204 ft)

You start the last push to the top of Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa, at midnight. Get ready, because you will be walking for about 12 hours today. After a steep walk with your flashlight to get to Gilman’s Point, it’s not too hard to get to Uhuru Peak. Enjoy one of the most stunning sunrises and enjoy your accomplishment. Then, go back down to the Kibo Huts Camp for a meal and continue your descent to the Horombo Huts, where you will spend the night.

Day 7: Rongai Route (6/6) | Horombo Huts (3,720 m/12,204 ft) – Marangu Gate (1,860 m/6,102 ft) – Hotel

On this last day, you go down through a beautiful jungle to the Marangu Gate, which is where you leave Kilimanjaro National Park. This is a lovely five- to six-hour walk, and at the end, everyone gets together to cheer each other on. After that, your driver takes you back to your hotel, where you can rest.

Day 8 – 9: Flight home from Kilimanjaro International Airport after the climb

It’s time to go home now that your vacation is over. Have fun in Tanzania for a few more hours before our driver picks you up and takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your trip home. Do you still want more? You can also add a few days of hiking or a trip to the beach to your Kilimanjaro trip!