7-Day Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Trek to Uhuru Peak at Sunrise

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be met by an Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. In the evening, attend a hotel briefing to prepare for the climb ahead, followed by a group dinner - a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other before the trek.

We drive to Marangu to complete the necessary registration formalities before continuing to Rongai. The climb begins from Nale Moru (6,400 ft) on a small path that winds through fields of maize and potatoes before entering a pine forest.

The trail then climbs consistently but gently through an attractive forest that shelters various wildlife, including the Colobus monkey. These monkeys are black with a long 'cape' of white hair and a flowing white tail.

The forest begins to thin out at the edge of the moorland zone. We then take in expansive views over the Kenyan plains as we arrive at our first campsite at Rongai One (8,500 ft). Dinner and overnight at camp. [3-4 hours walking]

The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave (11,300 ft), with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern Icefields on the crater rim.

After lunch, we leave the main trail and head southeast across the moorland on a smaller path toward the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Our campsite is in a sheltered valley decorated with giant senesces near Kikelewa Caves (11,800 ft). Dinner and overnight at Rongai Two Camp. [6-7 hours walking]

Superb all-around views and a tangible sense of wilderness reward this short but steep climb. We leave the vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn Hut (14,200 ft), spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi.

The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area to aid acclimatization. Dinner and overnight at Kikelelwa Camp. [3-4 hours walking]

We cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Hut (15,400 ft) at the bottom of the crater wall.

The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent. Dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut. [5-6 hours walking]

We start the final and most demanding climb by torchlight at around 1 a.m. We slowly trek in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman's Point (18,600 ft).

We rest here briefly to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.

The descent to Kibo Hut (15,400 ft) is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments, we continue descending to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight (12,200 ft). [11-15 hours walking]

A steady descent takes us through moorland to Mandara Huts (8,900 ft). We then continue descending through a lovely lush forest on a good path to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Marangu (6,000 ft), where we are transferred back to the hotel in Moshi. [5-6 hours walking]