7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Rongai Route Hike to Uhuru Peak

6,398 ft to 9,300 ft, 5 miles, approx. 4 hours

• After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will give you an overall briefing. At 9:00 am, you will meet the rest of the guides and porters, and then drive to Kilimanjaro National Park. While officially registering for your climb at Marangu Park Gate, the staff will cross-check equipment and supplies and pack the vehicles.
• After registration, you will be shuttled 70 kilometres on poor roads to the Rongai Start Point at 1,950 meters. The trek begins from Nale Moru village and follows a gradual, winding trail that first crosses maize and potato fields before entering the rainforest, which is home to various wildlife.
• After 4-5 hours of trekking, you will be welcomed with boiled washing water and snacks before dinner is served in the mess tent.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

9,300 ft to 11,300 ft, 4 miles, approx. 3-4 hours

• You will be woken after your first night on the mountain with a nice cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at 06:30 am in your tent.
• After breakfast, you climb on a trail that continues towards Kibo. For most of the day, you will walk up slopes flanked by heather and erica, with lovely views of Kilimanjaro's twin peaks - Mawenzi and Kibo - and your first glimpse of the ice fields on the Eastern crater rim.
• Once you approach the Second Cave, the cook will welcome you to camp with boiled drinking water and hot washing water. You can put your feet up with some snacks and a hot lunch.
• After lunch, there is plenty of time to relax, enjoy the camp's spirit, and take pictures.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

11,300 ft to 11,811 ft, 4 miles, approx. 3-4 hours

• From Second Cave, the path takes an abrupt south-easterly turn and heads directly towards the jagged peak of Mawenzi. Traversing open moorland, you arrive at Kikelewa Camp, situated in a couple of caves near the Kikelewa River, with giant groundsels and lobelias flourishing nearby. The views begin to open up from Kikelewa Camp, where you will see just how huge Mt. Kilimanjaro is.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

11,811 ft to 14,160 ft, 3 miles, 4 hours

• This stage to Mawenzi Tarn is relatively short at less than 4-5 km and is usually completed in the morning. The climb is steep as you gain 660 m, with the path shedding the moorland vegetation as it climbs steadily. Mawenzi Tarn Hut is situated in one of the most spectacular settings, in a cirque beneath Mawenzi's jagged teeth.
• In the afternoon, another walk up the ridge to the west is offered for better acclimatization. If you are lucky and the sky is clear, you will enjoy fantastic views of Kibo.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

14,160 ft to 15,430 ft, 5 miles, 5-6 hours

• This lovely day begins with slightly retracing your steps before heading westwards, crossing the ridge and dropping down the slope to tiptoe along the beautiful barren Saddle's northern edge. With views like screensavers to the east and west, this is the most favoured day on the mountain. Today's destination is Kibo Campsite, which offers you another spectacular view of Kibo.
• You will arrive at camp very early and be served a hot lunch. In the afternoon, the guides will give you a final briefing to prepare you for summit day. It is time to relax, cross-check, and prepare your equipment and clothing.
• Dinner will be served very early to give you ample time to rest and sleep. Good food, water, and sleep are the keys to a successful summit. You are advised to be in bed before 7:00 pm so you can be rested for your wake-up hot drink at 11:30 pm.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

15,430 ft to 19,341 ft to 12,205 ft, 4 miles ascent, 10 miles descent, 6-8 hours ascent, 4-5 hours descent

• Wake-up tea will be served at 11:30 pm, and departure will be at midnight.
• The summit challenge begins after a hot drink and some biscuits. The initial 6-hour climb starts in the dark, with only headlamps and guides to show the way. Remember the golden rule, 'pole, pole', which means slowly. Several landmarks lie along the route: William's Point at 5.131 m and Hans Meyer Cave at 5.259 m, which act as milestones to break up the journey and give you some measure of your progress.
• At Gilman's Point (5.681 m), you will see what might be the most magnificent sunrise of your life so far.
• After taking some pictures at the sign and enjoying a fantastic view of Mawenzi, you continue climbing on part of the Marangu Route for 1-2 more hours to reach your ultimate goal - the summit - the highest peak in Africa - Uhuru Peak at 5.985 m. Congratulations! You are now standing on 'the roof of Africa'.
• Due to the altitude and the cold, it is important to begin the descent after a few minutes at the summit. After descending, the rest of the team will congratulate you and welcome you with a hot lunch at Kibo Camp.
• You will have the chance to take a break before starting the next descent to Horombo Hut. After this long day, you can enjoy your dinner and your last night on the mountain.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

12,205 ft to 6,046 ft, 12 miles, 5-7 hours

• Once again, you will be woken for your final celebratory breakfast, during which the team will thank and congratulate you in their unique, special way. This is also the opportunity to thank them for their support and encouragement and show your appreciation by giving a tip.
• You continue your descent by passing Mandara Hut down to Marangu Gate. There, you will have the chance to enjoy a celebratory beer while the equipment is loaded into the van. Then it is off to a restaurant in Moshi for lunch, where you will be presented with your certificate of achievement.
• After lunch, you will be dropped off at your hotel, where you can relax under a long, well-deserved hot shower.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner