Rongai Route

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

The Rongai route is basically one long hike with a very gentle gradient. This means it’s a relatively easy route as it doesn’t have the steep climbs of some the other routes to conquer. It’s the only route that approaches the summit from the northern side of the mountain, near the Kenyan border, and is the least crowded of the seven Kilimanjaro routes. It’s recommended to do the seven-day itinerary if you choose the Rongai route as this trail doesn’t afford many opportunities to ‘climb high, sleep low’, which help with acclimatisation. There’s only one such day on the route, and the drop in altitude isn’t that pronounced either. Seven days is therefore arguably the minimum time needed for your body to acclimatise properly to each increase in elevation.

Follow Alice’s view

The Rongai route is up there as one of our favourite Kilimanjaro routes, along with the Lemosho route. We recommend choosing this Kilimanjaro climb route if you want to avoid the crowds and are looking for a more unique experience on Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s also a good option if you have less or no trekking experience and want a more relaxed climb with fewer steep sections. Though there aren’t opportunities to climb high and sleep low, if you opt for the seven-day itinerary over the six-day one you should be giving yourself enough days to acclimatise sufficiently well.

 

The Rongai route is for climbers who want a more remote climb away from the crowds and are interested in seeing both sides of the mountain.

What is the scenery like on the Rongai route?

The Rongai route is generally considered one of the less scenic Kilimanjaro routes. However, we’re not convinced. We find the scenery to be great, and also this route offers superior game-spotting (think buffaloes, elephants and antelopes). Furthermore, because the northern side of the mountain is less prone to rainfall, you’re more likely to get clear, unclouded views of the mountaintop along the way. Whoop whoop!

How hard is the Rongai route?

No Kilimanjaro climb is easy – it’s important you know that. But generally speaking the Rongai route is a relatively easy climb, as it has a gentle incline throughout. Its a bit of a longer hike for this reason. What makes the Rongai route ‘hard’ is its less-than-ideal acclimatisation profile, because it doesn’t often have you climb high during the day and then drop back down for the night, which is a key strategy in helping one’s body acclimatise to the increases in elevation. In fact, there’s only one day on the trail when you climb high and then sleep low. You can combat this by opting for the seven-day itinerary over the six-day one to at least give your body another day to adjust to the changes in altitude on your ascent. Put simply, with the right Kilimanjaro preparation anyone can climb it.

Note that you should be physically fit to attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, though you don’t need any previous trekking experience. The Rongai route is not technical at all, meaning a good pair of hiking boots strapped onto some decently strong legs is all you need.

What is the Rongai route summit success rate?

Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate for the seven-day Rongai route across all Kilimanjaro operators is 80%, and 65% for the six-day route. If you compare these statistics with those of routes like the Lemosho route and Northern Circuit route, you’ll see they aren’t particularly good. The reason for this low success rate is the route’s poor acclimatisation profile: it only offers one opportunity to climb high and sleep low. Days when you hike up to a new altitude and then descend to a lower altitude for the night are incredibly helpful in terms of acclimatisation.

How busy is the Rongai route?

The Rongai route is the least frequented of the Kilimanjaro routes. It’s the only route to approach the summit from the northern side of the mountain. Trekkers often don’t consider the Rongai route because of the perception that it’s not as beautiful. However, it’s actually a very beautiful Kilimanjaro route. We think it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a quieter, more relaxed climb.

Good to note
Though the Rongai route is definitely the least frequented of all the Kilimanjaro routes, over the last couple of years the route has grown in popularity. If you climb in peak season and start on a group departure date (most commonly a Sunday), you may experience some crowds. Speak to us for the latest updates on the Rongai route.

What is accommodation like on the Rongai route?

The Rongai route offers camping accommodation only. If you climb Kilimanjaro with Follow Alice, we provide all of your camping equipment, including your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and pillow. Further, all tents are pitched and taken down by our dedicated mountain crew throughout the trek.

How long does it take to hike the Rongai route?

The Rongai route can be completed in six days, but we recommend you do it over seven days, as the extra day gives you more time to acclimatise. Most people need the extra day to acclimatise properly and so have a good chance of successfully summiting the mountain. In our experience most people who have completed the right Kilimanjaro preparation complete the seven-day Rongai route with no real problems. And finally, climbing Kilimanjaro isn’t a race. If you’re travelling all the way to Tanzania to climb the mountain, don’t rush the experience!

What is the Rongai route cost?

Follow Alice offers the Rongai route as a seven-day group or private climb. Our seven-day Rongai route package costs $2,585 per person. This includes seven days on the mountain and one day either side at our beautiful parter lodge in Moshi. The fee is based on double occupancy, which means you’l be sharing your tent and lodge room with a partner in crime. For more information on the inclusions and exclusions of the Follow Alice package fee, as well as more details about the trip, head to our Kilimanjaro climb page.

“The hike was super challenging for me because I suffered from pretty bad altitude sickness, but our team did everything they could to make me feel comfortable.” Alexandre Polise

7-day Rongai route overview

The trek starts at Rongai Gate. You climb to the summit, then descend the mountain to finish at Marangu Gate. This means you don’t retrace your steps on the Rongai route but are always trekking new trail.

Day	Start	Altitude (m)	Altitude (ft)	Finish	Altitude (m)	Altitude (ft)	Time (hr)	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
1	Rongai Gate	1,950	6,398	Simba Camp	2,830	9,300	4	8	5
2	Simba Cave	2,830	9,300	Second Cave	3,450	11,300	3-4	6	4
	Second Cave	3,450	11,300	Kikelewa Cave	3,600	11,811	3-4	6	4
3	Kikelewa Cave	3,600	11,811	Mawenzi Tarn Camp	4,315	14,160	4	5	3
4	Mawenzi Tarn Camp	4,315	14,160	Mawenzi Ridge	4,390	14,400	2-3	2	1
	Mawenzi Ridge	4,390	14,400	Mawenzi Tarn Camp	4,315	14,160	1-2	2	1
5	Mawenzi Tarn Camp	4,315	14,160	Kibo Hut	4,703	15,430	5-6	8	5
6	Kibo Hut	4,703	15,430	Uhuru Peak	5,895	19,341	6-8	6	4
	Uhuru Peak	5,895	19,341	Horombo Hut	3,720	12,205	4-5	16	10
7	Horombo Hut	3,720	12,205	Marangu Gate	1,843	6,046	5-7	20	12
				Total				79	49

Rongai route elevation in profile

The two graphs below show the elevation of the Rongai route in profile – first in metres, then in feet. They offer a nice visual of the gradual climb involved in trekking the Rongai route.

Rongai route itinerary

The Rongai route can be over six to eight days. We always recommend the seven-day itinerary as we feel six days is too short for proper acclimatisation. The Rongai route approaches the mountain from the north. You enter the Kilimanjaro National Park at Rongai Gate, which is on the Kenyan side of the mountain. It takes about four hours of driving to reach the gate from the town of Moshi, which is where we put up our clients on the nights before and after the trek. You pass through various climate zones on your way to the summit, including forest and high-altitude desert. The highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Peak, which sits at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above seal level. After summiting, you descend the mountain via the Marangu route.

The Rongai route is the only Kilimanjaro route that approaches the summit from the northern side of the mountain.

 

Day 1

Rongai Gate to Simba Camp

First things first, you drive to Rongai Gate where you’re recorded in the Kilimanjaro National Park’s registry. You begin your climb by trekking through rainforest. At points you have breaks in the vegetation that offer magnificent views of cultivated fields down below. You climb for about four hours to reach Simba Camp, where you spend the night.

 

Day 2

Today has two parts to it: the climb to Second Cave, followed by the climb to Kikelelewa Cave.

Part 1 | Simba Camp to Second Cave

Today you start by trekking through moorland to Second Cave, a popular lunch spot. This takes three to four hours.

Part 2 | Second Cave to Kikelewa Cave

The second half of today’s trek leads you to Kikelewa Cave, where you stay overnight. This leg takes about three to four hours.

Day 3

Kikelelewa Cave to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

Today you trek through alpine desert to Mawenzi Tarn Camp. The scenery along this part of the journey is quite remarkable, as the closer you get to Mawenzi Tarn the greater the magnitude of Mawenzi Ridge towering above you. You hike for about four hours.

 

Day 4

Today is the only day of the trek where you climb high and then sleep low. As such, it’s an important acclimatisation day.

Part 1 | Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Mawenzi Ridge

After breakfast you trek to Mawenzi Ridge, which takes between two and three hours.

Part 2 | Mawenzi Ridge to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

From Mawnzi Ridge, you head back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp where you stay another night. This leg of the climb helps you to acclimatise and prepare for your summit attempt on Day 6.

 

Day 5

Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut

Today you trek for five to six hours through alpine desert to reach Kibo Hut. The trek is a gradual incline that heads west through the Saddle, a ridge of barren land that connects the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi.

 

Day 6

Today is the day! All going well, you’ll be standing at the tippy top of Africa before lunchtime and glorying in your mega achievement. Summit day is split into two parts: the ascent to Uhuru Peak, followed by a descent of over two vertical kilometres.

Part 1 | Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak

The first half of today’s journey starts much earlier than on every other day. Your guide wakes you up at midnight. The follow a rocky, moonlit trail to Uhuru Peak. Welcome to the Roof of Africa!

Part 2 | Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

Part two of today’s trek sees you make your way down the mountain from Uhuru Peak to Hormobo Hut, which is where you overnight.

 

Day 7

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

Today is the last day of your incredible journey! You do however have a relatively long hike down the mountain ahead of you. You trek for five to seven hours from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate, where you bid Kilimanjaro farewell.

The 7 Kilimanjaro routes

• Lemosho Route
  The Lemosho is the most beautiful Kilimanjaro route.
• Machame Route
  The Machame is the most popular Kilimanjaro route.
• Marangu Route
  The Marangu route offers hut accommodation.
• Rongai Route
  The Rongai is the only route to approach the summit from the north.
• Shira Route
  The Shira approaches the summit from the west.
• Northern Circuit Route
  The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest Kilimanjaro route.
• Umbwe Route
  The Umbwe is the shortest, steepest and hardest Kilimanjaro route.