The trek starts from Rongai Gate, north of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is a less crowded route and some people pick this route because of its remoteness. The scenery is not as varied as other routes but you’ll have a nice view of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks.
It’s one of the easiest routes but it doesn’t offer the best acclimatization (chance to climb higher and sleep low).
We recommend 5 days for experienced climbers and 6, 7, and even 8 for inexperienced climbers for the best acclimatization results.
The route descends via Marangu (or the Coca Cola route).
Sample Itinerary For a 5-day Trek
Day 1: We’ll pick you up in Arusha, and drive 4 to 5 hours. The trail starts from Rongai Gate. Your dinner and overnight will be at Simba Camp.
- Destination: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
- Elevation: 2,100 meters/6,890 feet to 2,600 meters/8,530 feet
- Distance: 8 km/4.97 miles
- Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Meals: Dinner
Day 2: We’ll walk from Simba Camp to Third Cave Camp. It’s a beautiful day. You’ll enjoy the cool air of Kilimanjaro as well as the nice view of both Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks, and the moorland zone, the third zone on Kilimanjaro. You’ll have dinner and overnight at Third Cave Camp.
- Destination: Simba Camp to Third Cave Camp
- Elevation: 2,600 meters/8,530 feet to 3,950 meters/12,959 feet
- Distance: 13 km/8.08 miles
- Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Habitat: Heath
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: We’ll walk from Third Cave Camp to Kibo Hut at 4,750 meters/15,584 feet. It’s a slightly steep day, but you’ll still enjoy the view of both Kibo and Mawenzi. The rock and ridges look beautiful from here. It’s an average walk of 3 to 4 hours.
On this day you’ll hike to the summit starting at midnight. The average walk from Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak is 6 km/3.73 miles or 5 to 6 hours.
- Destination: Third Cave Camp to Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak
- Elevation: 3,950 meters/12,959 feet to 5,895 meters/19,342 feet
- Distance: 6 km/3.73 miles
- Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland to alpine desert/ice field
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: From the summit you’ll walk down to Kibo Hut for breakfast (lunch), take a short break, and then walk to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight.
- Destination: Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut
- Elevation: 4,750 meters/15,584 feet to 3,750 meters/12,303 feet
- Distance: 9 km/5.59 miles
- Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
- Habitat: Desert to moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: We’ll walk from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate. We’ll go through the moorland zone to Mandara Hut at 2,700 meters/8,858 feet. You’ll come to Marangu Gate for the collection of your certificate, lunch, and celebration.
- Destination: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
- Elevation: 3,750 meters/12,303 feet to 1,980 meters/6,497 feet
- Distance: 20 km/12.43 miles
- Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland, heath, and rainforest
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
We’ll drive you back to Arusha in 2 to 3 hours.
Sample Itinerary For a 6-day Trek
Day 1: We’ll pick you up in Arusha, and drive 4 to 5 hours. The trail starts from Rongai Gate. Your dinner and overnight will be at Simba Camp.
- Destination: Rongai Gate to Simba Cave Camp
- Elevation: 2,100 meters/6,890 feet to 2,600 meters/8,530 feet
- Distance: 8 km/4.97 miles
- Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Meals: Dinner
Day 2: After breakfast we’ll walk towards Kibo, reaching Third Cave. The views start to open up and you’ll begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water is in the stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find some. We’ll stay overnight at Kikelelwa.
- Destination: Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp
- Elevation: 2,600 meters/8,530 feet to 3,600 meters/11,811 feet
- Distance: 12 km/7.46 miles
- Hiking Time: 6 to 7 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: This short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers 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 acclimatizing and exploring the area.
- Destination: Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut
- Elevation: 3,600 meters/11,811 feet to 4,310 meters/14,140 feet
- Distance: 5 km (3.11 miles)
- Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours.
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. It’s very steep and cold.
- Destination: Mawenzi Tarn Hut to Kibo Hut
- Elevation: 4,310 meters/14,140 feet to 4,750 meters/15,584 feet
- Distance: 8 km (4.97 miles)
- Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland, alpine desert
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
To the summit:
- Destination: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak
- Elevation: 4,750 meters/15,584 feet to 5,895 meters/19,341 feet
- Distance: 6 km (3.73 miles)
- Hiking Time: 6 to 7 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert, icefield
- Meals: Snacks
Day 5: From the summit you’ll walk down to Kibo Hut for breakfast (lunch), take a short break, and then later walk to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight.
- Destination: Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut
- Elevation: 4,750 meters/15,584 feet to 3,750 meters/12,303 feet
- Distance: 9 km (5.59 miles)
- Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert, moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: We’ll walk from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate. We’ll go through the moorland zone to Mandara Hut at 2,700 meters/8,858 feet. You’ll come to Marangu Gate for the collection of your certificate, lunch and celebration.
- Destination: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
- Elevation: 3,750 meters/12,303 feet to 1,980 meters/6,497feet
- Distance: 20 km/12.43 miles
- Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland/heath/rainforest
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
We’ll drive you back to Arusha in 2 to 3 hours.
Sample Itinerary For a 7-day Trek
Day 1: We’ll pick you up in Arusha, and drive 4 to 5 hours. The trail starts from Rongai Gate. Your dinner and overnight will be at Simba Camp.
- Destination: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
- Elevation: 2,100 meters/6,890 feet to 2,600 meters/8,530 feet
- Distance: 8 km/4.97 miles
- Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Meals: Dinner
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 2: We’ll eat a late breakfast, enjoy the morning at Simba Camp, and hike very slowly to acclimate your body until you reach Second Tarn Cave for a hot lunch. In the afternoon we’ll relax at the second cave with dinner and overnight.
- Destination: Simba Camp to Second Cave
- Elevation: 2,600 meters/8,530 feet to 3,450 meters/11,319 feet
- Distance: 6 km/3.73 miles
- Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: After breakfast we’ll walk towards Kibo, reaching Kikelelwa Cave. The views start to open up and you’ll begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water is in the stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find some. We’ll stay overnight at Kikelewa Caves.
- Destination: Third Cave Camp to Kikelelwa Camp
- Elevation: 3,450 meters/11,319 feet to 3,630 meters/11,909feet
- Distance: 2.5 km/1.55 miles
- Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers 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 acclimatizing and exploring the area.
- Destination: Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut
- Elevation: 3,630 meters/11,909 feet to 4,330 meters/14,206 feet
- Distance: 7 km/4.35 miles
- Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: We’ll continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. Overnight at Kibo Camp.
- Destination: Mawenzi tarn Hut to Kibo Hut
- Elevation: 4,330 meters/14,206 feet to 4,750 meters/15,584 feet
- Distance: 8 km/5 miles
- Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland/desert
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: To summit, you’ll wake up around 23.5 hours, and after some tea and biscuits, you’ll 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 the Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 meters/16,896 feet), also a good resting spot.
The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5,681 meters/16,896 feet), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring great physical and mental effort. It’s 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 (5,895 meters/19,340 feet), the highest point in Africa. Once you reach it, you’ll feel total exhilaration and satisfaction – you made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend taking photographs, before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo Hut for a short rest followed by your descent to Horombo Hut (3 hours) where you will stay overnight.
The descent to Horombo Hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours. Later in the evening you’ll enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and well-earned sleep.
- Destination: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
- Elevation: 4,700 meters/15,420 feet to 5,895 meters/19,340 feet to 3,720 meters/18,652 feet
- Distance: 6 km/3.73 miles ascent to Uhuru Peak
- Hiking Time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru, 6 hours to descend to Horombo Hut
- Habitat: Icefield
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: After breakfast, you’ll continue your descent (6 hours), passing Mandara Hut, down to the Marangu Gate. At Marangu Gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5,685 meters/18,652 feet) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) receive gold certificates. We’ll drive you back to Arusha or Moshi where your trekking tour ends with sweet memories.
- Destination: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
- Elevation: 3,720 meters/18,652 feet to 1,980 meters/6,497 feet
- Distance: 20 km (12.43 miles)
- Hiking Time: 6 to 7 hours
- Habitat: Moorland, heath to rainforest
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch