9 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb via Rongai Route

Day 1: Moshi Town / Maranngu

On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel Nakara in Marangu. This is approximately 85kms from Kilimanjaro airport. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day and you may arrive at any time. In the evening there is a briefing on the trek. At this time you will also receive your own personal trek bag. This trek bag will contain a kit bag that your porter will carry, an appropriate sleeping bag, sleep sheet, down jacket and sleeping mat. You will need to transfer your other possessions into this bag. You will be able to leave your normal travelling bag and any excess luggage at Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort in Marangu to be collected upon your return. Meals included- none.

Day 2: Simba Camp

After breakfast at your hotel you will meet up with your porters and guides and transfer to Rongai Gate where you will complete registration procedures. The climb begins from the village of NaleMoru at around 1950 metres. Today’s walk is about three to four hours, beginning on a small path that winds its way through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. A gradual ascent through attractive forest brings us to the edge of the moorland zone at around 2600 metres. Extensive views over the Kenyan plains will be a highlight of today’s camp. Note that it can be wet in the rainforest. The night is spent camping at Simba Camp. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 3: Kikelewa Camp

After breakfast, you will set off at around 8am to head up to the Kikelewa Caves. Today your walking time will be about six to seven hours. From your overnight campsite a steady ascent is made up to ‘Second Cave’ at 3450 metres. Here you are rewarded with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern icefields of the crater rim. Leaving the main trail after lunch we travel across the moorland on smaller paths towards the jagged Mawenzi peaks. Tonight we camp near Kikelewa Caves at 3800 metres. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn

Today’s walk is a shorter one at three to four hours but involves some steeper sections. After leaving camp a short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by a real sense of wilderness and stunning all round views. The vegetation zone is left behind shortly before we reach our next campsite at Mawenzi Tarn at around 4330 metres. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn

Today will be spent acclimatising to maximise your summit success chances. Acclimatisation walks will be planned with plenty of rest. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 6: Kibo Camp

Today we will walk for four to five hours as we cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo. Our camp tonight is at Kibo Camp at about 4730 metres. This campsite is spectacularly located at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in final preparation for the final summit ascent. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 7: Summit and Horombo Camp

Today is the big day – 11-15 hours of walking! We will start the final and by far the steepest, most demanding, part of the climb by torchlight at around 1 a.m. We walk very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point at 5685 metres. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip to Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres, passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Kibo, at 4700 metres, is surprisingly fast and, after some rest, we continue the descent to reach our final campsite at Horombo at 3720 metres. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 8: Nakara

A final day of five to seven hours walking precedes a well earned rest at Hotel Nakara in Marangu. A steady descent takes us down through the moorland to Mandara Hut at 2700 metres. The descent continues through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu at 1700 metres where you will be met by the vehicle and transferred back to the hotel. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

Day 9: Arusha Hotel

Today you will be transferred by a private 25 seater coaster van from hotel Nakara to the theArusha Hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure. Meals included : 1 breakfast and 1 dinner.

INCLUSIONS

• Guides and porters
• All transport and excursions as per itinerary
• All meals as included on itinerary
• Camping gear
• International airfare and taxes
• National Park and climbing permits

EXCLUSIONS

• Personal travel insurance
• Food and drinks not mentioned on the itinerary
• Visas
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Tips and Gratuities for guides and porters (USD $40-100 pp)
• Sleeping bags, personal day bag and mountain clothing
• Immunization Checklist