8 Days Rongai Route

Yes, it is one of the better routes for first-time climbers. The gradient is gentle for most of the way, the walking days before the summit are short, and there is no steep scramble like the Barranco Wall on the southern routes. Summit night from Kibo Hut is still steep, cold and long, so good fitness matters. The minimum age for a Kilimanjaro summit climb is 10, and the gentle pace makes Rongai a popular choice for families with teenagers.

Most climbers who turn back on Kilimanjaro do so because of the altitude, not their fitness. Guidance from the CDC and the Wilderness Medical Society recommends raising sleeping altitude gradually and building in extra days for acclimatization. Our 8-day Rongai keeps the daily height gain small and adds a full rest day with a short hike at Mawenzi Tarn, at 4,315 m (14,160 ft), before you move up to Kibo Hut. That gives your body more time to adapt than the common 6 or 7-day versions.

The northern side of Kilimanjaro generally receives less rain than the southern and western slopes, which is why Rongai is often recommended for climbs in the wetter months. The best weather overall is still in the dry seasons, from late December to early March and from June to October. During the long rains from late March to May and the short rains in November, Rongai is one of the better options, although the descent on the Marangu trail can be muddy.

Our 8-day Rongai covers about 80 km, including the acclimatization hike at Mawenzi Tarn and the descent on the Marangu trail. You start at Rongai Gate at 1,950 m (6,398 ft) and gain almost 4,000 m to reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m (19,341 ft). Most days before the summit are only 5 to 8 km, while summit day is about 22 km.

Rongai is one of the quietest routes on Kilimanjaro, because the trailhead is far from the main gates on the southern side and fewer climbers start there. You may see only a few other groups until Kibo Hut, where the Rongai and Marangu trails meet. From there to the summit and on the way down to Marangu Gate, you share the trail with Marangu climbers.

The route starts at Rongai Gate on the northern side of the mountain, near the village of Nale Moru and close to the border with Kenya. From your hotel in Moshi it is a drive of about 2.5 to 3 hours around the eastern side of Kilimanjaro, with a stop for the park registration on the way. The transfer is included, and the first day's walk is short to make up for the time on the road.

You camp throughout, in mountain tents set up by your crew before you arrive at each camp. At Kibo Hut and Horombo, where the Rongai Route joins the Marangu trail, your tents are pitched at the campsites beside the huts. Our camping equipment includes sleeping tents, a mess tent with table and chairs, and a private portable toilet.

Headaches, tiredness and poor appetite are common at altitude and usually improve with rest, water and a slow pace. Your guides check on you throughout each day and measure your oxygen saturation and pulse with a pulse oximeter daily. If symptoms get worse, they take you down, which is the safest treatment, and you never go higher while feeling unwell. We carry emergency oxygen and a first aid kit, and rescue fees are part of your park fees. Your travel insurance should cover trekking up to 6,000 m.

Tipping is optional but encouraged, and it is an important part of your crew's income. The suggested amounts are per day for the whole group, not per climber: head guide 20-25 USD, assistant guide 15-20 USD, cook 12-15 USD and 8-10 USD per porter. Tips are handed over at a short ceremony on your last morning on the mountain, in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. See our Kilimanjaro tipping guide for more.

Yes. After your night in Moshi you can set off straight on safari in the northern parks, or fly to Zanzibar to rest your legs by the sea. Many climbers combine both. See our safari and Zanzibar holidays, or send us your dates and we will plan the whole trip for you.