7-Day Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Trek to Uhuru Peak via the North

On this day, you will be picked up from either Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport and driven to Tulia Spa & Boutique Hotel. Once you arrive and settle in, your guide will join you shortly afterward to brief you on the hike, explain what to expect day by day, and check that you have all the necessary gear for the trek.

Arusha Farm House

• Mid-range lodge located in Arusha (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Rongai Gate (1950m) - 1st Caves Camp (2600m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Distance: Approximately 8 kilometers
Habitat: Montane Forest

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Panama Garden Resort (900m) and driven to Marangu Gate (1980m). At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then be transferred by vehicle to the Rongai trailhead, which is 2.5 hours away from Marangu Gate.

The trail begins in tall cornfields and then leads into the pine forest. This route has a gradual ascent, allowing hikers to enjoy their surroundings. About halfway up the trail, you will stop for a lunch break, and you will reach 1st Caves Camp (2600m) in the late afternoon or early evening. The porters and chef, who move very quickly up the mountain, will arrive before you to set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival.

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (other drinks not included)

1st Caves Camp (2600m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600m)
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Moorlands

Following a hot breakfast, hikers will continue their ascent to Kikelewa Cave (3600m). The trail passes Second Cave (3450m), which is a good place to stop for a lunch break. As on the first night, your tents will be set up before you arrive at camp, and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you.

You will enjoy evening snacks followed by dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night, as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Kikelewa Cave (3600m) - Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Moorlands

On this day, hikers will enjoy a short yet steep trail to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m). In the moorland, you will spot exotic plants, including giant lobelia and groundsel. At camp, hikers will enjoy spectacular views and give their bodies time to acclimatize.

A hot dinner and washing water will be prepared while hikers take in the magnificent sunset.

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m) - Kibo Hut (4700m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, hikers will continue ascending east on a half-day hike to Kibo Hut. Kibo is located in the "Saddle," the area between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo in an alpine desert. There is no water at this camp, but hikers can buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office.

An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit that same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 7:00 pm.

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Summit Attempt
Kibo Hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo Hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru and 6 hours to Horombo
Habitat: Stone scree/ice-cap summit
Distance: 6 kilometers ascent and 21 kilometers descent

Your guide will wake you around 11:30 pm, and you will begin your summit attempt. The trail is rocky up to Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). You will then continue your ascent to Gillman's Point (5681m). Reaching this section is an impressive achievement, as the trail is steep, rocky, and at high altitude. Gillman's is located on the crater rim.

From this point, you will usually experience a snow-covered trail until you reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment. You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before beginning the descent to Barafu. The hike down to Kibo Hut takes about 3 hours.

At Kibo Hut, after eating, you will continue descending to Horombo Hut (3720m).

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Horombo Hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 27 kilometers

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will hold a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for 6 hours back to Marangu Gate (1980m).

The national park requires all hikers to sign their names in order to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Gillman's Point (5681m) receive green certificates, and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving the certificates, you will drive back to Arusha/Moshi or be dropped off at the airport. Alternatively, we can schedule your airport drop-off for the following day.

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (dinner not included)
• Drinking water (other drinks not included)