Ahsante Tours is the #1 leading local tour operator for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trusted by most agents. So why not book with us and experience the adventure of a lifetime?
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Rongai Route Overview
The Rongai Route, located on the eastern side of Mount Kilimanjaro near the Kenyan border, provides a unique and peaceful climbing experience with less crowded trails and distinctive scenery. It takes 6 to 7 days to complete and is particularly recommended during the rainy season in April and May, as this side of the mountain remains dry while the southern and western routes become wet. Climbers descend via the Marangu Route, and during quieter times, may stay in huts for extra comfort, especially during the rainy season.
- Rongai Route - Summit Success Rate
- Rongai Route Map
- Ahsante Tours’ Experience with Rongai Route
At Ahsante Tours, we have successfully guided climbers facing extraordinary challenges along the Rongai Route. Notably, we helped an amputee successfully summit on her first attempt and assisted a paraplegic in 2022 successfully summit Kilimanjaro which became featured on the BBC and helped raise over £1million for a spinal cord charity in the UK and assisted a man in a wheelchair to achieve the same goal, showcasing the route’s accessibility and potential for overcoming significant challenges. The Rongai Route is highly recommended for charity climbs or unmatched challenges due to its manageable terrain and the opportunity it provides for proper acclimatization.
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Kit Checklist
Free Kilimanjaro Packing List with gear necessary for the hike and recommendations
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Did You Know ?
The Rongai Route is the only Kilimanjaro trail from the northern side, offering drier weather, fewer crowds, and stunning, diverse scenery!
- Join our Kilimanjaro Group Climbs
7 Days Kilimanjaro Machame Route
Price : $2,570 (£ 1,910)
8 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
Price : $2,897 (£ 2,153)
6 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu Route
Price : $2,300 (£ 1,710)
9 Days Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route
Price : $3,250 (£ 2,415)
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- 7 Days Rongai Route Itinerary
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by an Ahsante Tours representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Your guide will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Meals: Dinner Only
Accommodation: Weruweru River Lodge
This morning, we will drive to the village of Nale Moru for the starting point of the Rongai route. The first stage of the trek is through farmland and pine forests. You may have chance to see the beautiful Colobus monkeys or if you’re lucky enough, elephants or buffalos en route. Our first camp will be the Simba Camp located at the edge of the moorland zone.
Distance: 8km / 5mi
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Simba Camp
The morning hike is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave Camp located in the moorland zone with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim.
Distance: 5km / 3.1mi
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: 2nd Cave Camp
Leaving the pine forest behind we carry on with a steady ascent walking though moorland. There are superb views of the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim of Kibo, the highest of the three volcanoes which form the mountain. We will leave the main trail and strike out across moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, the second of Kilimanjaro’s volcanoes. We will set up camp today in the sheltered valley near Kikelewa caves.
Distance: 5km / 3.1mi
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Kikelewa Camp
This morning, we have a short but steep ascent up grassy slopes which is rewarded by a superb view of the Kenyan plains to the north. We leave vegetation behind shortly before reaching our next camp at Mawenzi Tarn Hut directly below the towering cliffs of Mawenzi. This afternoon you have chance to rest or explore the surrounding area to aid acclimatization.
Distance: 8km / 5mi
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Mawenzi Tarn
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Distance: 8km / 5mi
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Kibo Hut
Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m (17126ft), the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681m) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m (19340ft). On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 – 2-hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.
Distance: 22km / 13.7mi
Duration: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Horombo Hut
The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rainforest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.
Distance: 20.8km / 12.9mi
Duration: 7 – 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Weruweru River Lodge.
- 7 Days Rongai route Prices
Climbing Cost Includes
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- 3 Season Mountain tents (double occupancy); except for Marangu route where we overnight in Huts
- Sleeping Bag
- 3-inch-thick foam Sleeping Mat/Pad
- Spacious mess tent with all tables and chairs for rest and dining.
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Transportation to and from the airport (JRO Airport, additional charge of USD 50 for 1 way Arusha Airport tranfer)
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Three meals daily while on the mountain
- Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek
- Hotel lodging the night before and the night after the climb with breakfast and dinner included (double occupancy)
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Tree donation in support of our environmental conservation projects
- Supplemental Oxygen tanks & Pulse Oximeter
- 1 portable flush toilet with a toilet tent for group sizes of 4 and above.
- Free of charge use of a storage room and a safe room at the lodge
- Celebration dinner at the hotel after the trek
Climbing Cost Excludes
- International and Domestic Flights
- Visa
- Tips to mountain crew (A recommended amount is USD 250-350 per participant)
- Single supplement – The tents are based in double occupancy; a single tent is arranged at an extra charge of USD 20 per day.
- Rental Gears
- Laundry Services
- Travel Insurance (Recommended – Travel insurance with medical cover on trekking to altitudes of up to 6000 meters and a helicopter evacuation)
- 1 portable flush toilet with a toilet tent for group sizes less than 4 people.
Why choose Ahsante Tours
- FAQs about Rongai Route
The Rongai Route is unique because it starts on the northern side of Kilimanjaro, near the Kenyan border. It offers less crowded trails, spectacular views of Mawenzi Peak, and a chance to experience different, quieter landscapes compared to the southern and western routes.
The Rongai Route typically takes 6 to 7 days to complete. The extra day is often recommended for acclimatization, improving the chances of reaching the summit successfully.
The summit success rate for the Rongai Route is approximately 70%, which is higher than the Marangu Route. The gradual ascent and gentle slopes help with acclimatization, increasing the likelihood of success.
Yes, the Rongai Route is an excellent choice during the rainy season (April and May) because the northern side of Kilimanjaro remains dry, while the southern and western routes tend to be wet and muddy.
The Rongai Route is suitable for climbers of varying fitness levels, including beginners. Its gentle ascent, manageable terrain, and ample time for acclimatization make it a good option for those new to high-altitude trekking.
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