9-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet your tour representative. You will then be transferred to your hotel for bed and breakfast, a briefing, a gear check, and arrangements to hire any equipment you may need.

• The driver will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Marangu Gate, where registration takes place while the guides and porters prepare the equipment.
• After that, you will be transferred again to Rongai Gate/Nalemuru, which takes about 3 hours.
• Lunch will be on the way to the gate or at the gate before starting your climb. Your hike begins from Nalemuru village, where a small winding path crosses maize, bean, and potato fields before entering a pine forest and then climbing gently through the forest.
• This area is home to a variety of wildlife, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons, and different species of flowers. This is a tented route, dinner will be served in your mess tent, and you will camp in the moorland area.

Elevation: 1900m/6270ft to 2626m/8665ft

Distance: 8 km

Hiking Time: 3 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Rainforest

• After breakfast, continue hiking slowly through the moorland to Second Cave, where you will have lunch. During the ascent, you will enjoy good views of Kibo and the eastern ice fields on the crater rim.
• Around 4:00 pm, the guide will take you on a short acclimatization walk toward Third Cave, where you can enjoy views over the Kenyan plains before heading back down for dinner.

Elevation: 2626m/8665ft to 3450m/11385ft

Distance: 6 km

Hiking Time: 4-5 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Moorland

• This is a short day. After breakfast, proceed with the hike very slowly and head southeast across an undulating smaller path through the moorland toward the peak of Mawenzi. Your campsite is in a sheltered valley.
• Here, you will have lunch and get time to explore the area, relax, and take some pictures.

Elevation: 3450m/11385ft to 3600m/11880ft

Distance: 6 km

Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Moorland

• This is another short day, but with a steep hike up grassy slopes.
• At the top, you will have magnificent views from a different angle of the National Park and Mawenzi Peak.
• You will arrive at Mawenzi Tarn Hut in time for lunch and then have the whole afternoon to explore the surrounding area and acclimatize.

Elevation: 3600m/11880ft to 4300m/14190ft

Distance: 5 km

Hiking Time: 3 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

• This is a long hiking day. After breakfast, head west through the Saddle and the lunar desert formed between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. It will take 5 to 6 hours to reach Kibo Hut.
• Sometimes you will carry a packed lunch and stop on the way, or have a hot lunch at Kibo Hut, depending on your speed. The route is dry but provides spectacular views of the mountain.
• At Kibo Hut, you will be served an early dinner before going to bed.

Elevation: 4300m/14190ft to 4720m/15576ft

Distance: 10 km

Hiking Time: 5-6 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

• This is your special day when your dream comes true. Your guide will wake you around 11:00 pm for tea and biscuits.
• The summit climb begins at midnight. You will follow a switchback path up a volcanic scree slope, passing William Point (5000m/15000ft) and Hans Meyer Cave (5200m/17000ft), which is a good resting spot for drinking.
• After a short break, continue to Gillman's Point (5681m), located on the crater rim. This section is very steep, with a lot of stone scree, and requires great physical and mental effort.
• From Gillman's Point, you can see the sunrise above the cloud line illuminating the plains below - an incredible sight to behold. A bit farther around the crater, you will reach your goal, Uhuru Peak (5895m/19453ft), the roof of Africa.
• Here, you will have a short time to take photographs around the summit and drink water. Those who are still feeling strong will get a chance to pass nearby glaciers.
• The descent to Kibo Hut is surprisingly fast, and after lunch, refreshments, and collecting your trekking poles, you will continue descending to Horombo Campsite. Most people will be too tired to notice the beauty of the area surrounding the camp, and in the evening you will enjoy your last dinner on the mountain.

Elevation: 4720m/15576ft to 5895m/19453ft to 3720m/12276ft

Distance: 21 km

Hiking Time: 13-15 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert/Arctic zone/Moorland

• This is another big day, and after an early breakfast, your staff will sing and dance for you.
• After that, you will begin the descent, passing through Mandara Hut before reaching Marangu Gate.
• You will cross through moorland into rainforest, where you may spot many birds, tall trees, flowers, and many other interesting things.
• The route ends at Marangu Gate, where all hikers are required to sign out and receive certificates of completion.
• The driver will take you back to the hotel. On the way, you will pass through coffee and banana farms around Marangu village.

Elevation: 3720m/12276ft to 2720m/8976ft

Distance: 19 km

Hiking Time: 7-8 Hours

Vegetation Zone: Moorland/Rain forest

• Rest at the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Tour ends.