6 Days Rongai Route

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll be transferred to your accommodation, where your guide will conduct a full briefing and equipment check to prepare you for the adventure ahead.

Your trek kicks off from Nalemoru Gate on Kilimanjaro's quieter northern side, close to the Kenyan border. After registering with the national park, follow a gradual ascent through montane forest — keep an eye out for colobus monkeys and forest birds — before arriving at Simba Camp on the edge of the moorland.

A longer day that combines two of the gentler stages of the standard route into one. The trail opens up into heather and moorland, passing Second Cave around the halfway point — a good spot for a packed lunch — before continuing on to Kikelewa Camp, tucked into a sheltered valley with sweeping views of Mawenzi and the plains below.

A short but steadily steep climb into high moorland, with giant lobelia and groundsel plants lining the trail. Mawenzi Tarn Camp sits in a dramatic cirque beneath Mawenzi Peak, Kilimanjaro's second-highest summit — a spectacular spot to rest and let your body adjust to the altitude.

Cross the lunar-like Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, Kilimanjaro's two highest peaks, reaching Kibo Hut by early afternoon. With an early dinner and lights out well before sunset, this short day is really about resting and preparing for the summit attempt that begins later that same night.

Your guide wakes you around midnight for tea and biscuits before the summit push begins. The trail climbs steadily past Hans Meyer Cave to Gilman's Point on the crater rim, then continues — often over snow — to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. After celebrating at the summit, it's a long descent back through Kibo Hut for a hot lunch, then onward to Horombo Hut for a well-earned dinner and rest.

A well-deserved celebration with your crew — full of songs and dancing — kicks off your final morning. Descend through lush rainforest to Marangu Gate, where you'll sign the register and collect your summit certificate before transferring back to Moshi for a hot shower and a proper celebration.

Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home, or continue your Tanzanian adventure!