9-day trip: climbing Kilimanjaro via the challenging 6-day Rongai Route

When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport our Tanzania Specialist guide is there waiting for you. He then drops you off at your hotel, where you can relax from your flight.

Preparation for your climb: You meet your guide before the start of your climb, where he briefs you and offers advice on what to wear, what to pack, and other important tips to make your climb as comfortable as possible.

Your adventure begins when your guide picks you up at your hotel and drives you for about two hours to the Rongai Gate. You then start this exciting adventure ascending through beautiful lush forests filled with diverse animal sounds. After a lunch break, you continue until the first camp on the Rongai route, which is on the less forested north side of the mountain. This quieter route gives you plenty of chances to spot different kinds of wildlife.

Today's hike takes 5-6 hours, starting with a steep climb where you might begin to feel the altitude as you catch your first glimpse of Kilimanjaro's Mawenzi Peak. After a while, you arrive at the first cave, where you have some time to explore. Lunch is taken in the second cave. In the afternoon, the climb gets less steep and you finish the hike towards the camp in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa or the third cave.

Today, you can admire some breathtaking views as you continue your route through this steep hike. You walk for about 4-5 hours in the morning, to keep the afternoon and evening to rest and to give your body a chance to adapt to the altitude. You go until Mawenzi Tarn, where you spend the night. It is just below the Mawenzi summit, with amazing views of both Kilimanjaro peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo.

On this 4th day on the mountain, be fascinated by the lunar landscape you come across on the way to the higher camp. Kibo Camp, located right below Kibo summit, offers spectacular views of the Kenyan plains. You walk for 5-6 hours through the alpine desert environment, then rest after lunch in the afternoon, as the next day is the summit push to the peak of Kilimanjaro!

At midnight, you start the final summit push to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa! Be prepared; it's about 12 hours of walking on this intense day. After reaching Gilman’s Point through a steep climb with your flashlight, Uhuru Peak is relatively easy to reach. Witness one of the most beautiful sunrises and celebrate your achievement, then head back down to the Kibo Huts Camp for a meal before continuing the descent to Horombo Huts for an overnight stay.

On this final day, you descend through a beautiful rainforest to the exit of Kilimanjaro National Park, the Marangu Gate. This is a delightful 5 to 6 hours walk at the end of which the whole group comes together to congratulate each other. Your driver then takes you back to your hotel where you get a well-deserved rest.

Sadly, this is the end of your holiday and the time to go home has arrived. Enjoy your last hours in Tanzania before our driver comes to pick you up and takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. Still longing for more? It's also possible to add a few days of safari or a beach holiday to your Kilimanjaro adventure!