7-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Rongai Route to Uhuru Peak

• Get picked up from your hotel and drive for two and a half hours to Marangu Park Gate for registration formalities. After that, transfer to the Rongai trailhead in about 3 hours.

• Meet your guide and porters before beginning your hike from Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering the pine forest, then climbs gently through the forest. The trail is not steep, making for a gentle hike through beautiful country. Your first night's camp is at Simba Camp, at about 2,600 metres. There is a toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut. Water can be found just down the trail below Simba Camp.

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Distance: About 8 km

Habitat: Montana forest

• Enjoy a late breakfast and a relaxed morning at Simba Camp.

• Proceed with the hike very slowly to acclimatise your body until you reach Second Cave (3,450m) for a hot lunch.

In the afternoon, relax at Second Cave with dinner and an overnight stay.

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Moorland

• Continue up towards Kibo after breakfast and reach Kikelewa Cave at about 3,600 metres. The views start to open up, and you begin to feel that you are on a really big mountain. Water is available in the obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander a little downhill to find some.

Stay overnight at 3rd Cave Camp (Kikelewa Caves).

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Moorlands

• Go on a short but steep climb up grassy slopes offering superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn, spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi.

• Spend the afternoon acclimatising and exploring the area.

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Moorlands

• Continue ascending on the east side of Kibo, crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, and take 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight.

Stay overnight at Kibo Camp.

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

• Wake up around 11:30 pm, and after some tea and biscuits, shuffle off into the night. This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to Hans Meyer Cave (5,150m), which is also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman's Point (5,681m), located on the crater rim. This section is very steep, with a lot of stone scree, and requires great physical and mental effort. It is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. From Gillman's Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa.

• Reach Uhuru Peak. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend there taking photographs before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo Hut for a short rest, then continue your descent to Horombo Hut (3 hours), where you will overnight. The descent to Horombo Hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is almost 14 hours, but later in the evening, you will enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Hiking Time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru

6 hours to descend to Horombo

Distance: 6 kms ascent - 21 kms descent

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

• Continue your descent after breakfast, taking about 6 hours and passing Mandara Hut on the way down to Marangu Gate.

• Sign your name and details in a register at Marangu Gate. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Gillman's Point (5,685m) are issued green certificates, while those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates.

• Drive back to your hotel in Moshi, where your trekking tour ends.

Hiking Time: 6 hours

Distance: About 27 km