Kilimanjaro & treks
Kilimanjaro Airport, Nalemuru Gate, Simba, Second Cave, Kikelewa, Mawenzi Tarn, Kibo Hut, Uhuru Peak, Marangu Gate
your journey
Rongai is the only route that climbs Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border. The trailhead at Nalemuru Gate is three to four hours by road from Moshi, and the northern slopes see far fewer climbers than the southern routes. It is a good choice if you want quiet trails and wide views over the plains.
The north side of the mountain is drier, so Rongai is a sensible route when rain is more likely. It is also the only route that passes close under Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro's second peak, and camps beside the small lake at Mawenzi Tarn. You come down on the Marangu path, so you see both sides of the mountain.
We recommend the seven-day climb, which adds a night at Second Cave and short acclimatisation walks. A six-day version is possible for climbers used to altitude. We meet you at the airport and you spend a night at Weru Weru River Lodge before and after the climb.
Climbers who prefer quiet trails and a gentler, steadier gradient, and anyone travelling in the shoulder months when the drier north side helps. It is a good route for first-time trekkers with reasonable fitness. You camp in tents throughout, apart from the huts at Kibo and Horombo.
Parks visited
Mount Kilimanjaro
what makes it special
day by day
A Honesha representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and drives you to your hotel near Moshi, Weru Weru River Lodge. Check-in starts at 1 pm, so there is time to rest and unwind after the flight. In the evening your guide joins you for a briefing on the route, the daily routine and altitude, and checks your equipment so that anything missing can be sorted before you set off in the morning.
After breakfast your guide and crew collect you for the drive of three to four hours round the mountain to Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m) on the northern side. Your head guide sorts out permits and the rescue registration, then you set off through pine plantations and forest up Kilimanjaro's northern slope. Keep to a slow, easy pace. The crew will have tents up and dinner under way when you reach Simba Camp (2,625 m), where the evening is usually quiet.
A short climb of around three hours through heath and moorland brings you to Second Cave Camp (3,480 m) with time to spare. After lunch and a rest you take an acclimatisation walk of about 2.5 km towards Kikelewa, gaining around 100 metres, and then return to camp. From today, drink three to four litres of water, skip alcohol and caffeine, and tell your guide about any headache or nausea.
Another gentle day as you leave the main trail and head across the moorland towards Mawenzi. Kikelewa Camp (3,630 m) sits among giant groundsels, and on a clear afternoon Kibo is at its finest from here. You arrive in time for lunch, and the rest of the day is for sleeping and letting your body catch up. In the evening your guide checks each climber's health and talks you through the next stage.
A steep but short climb up grassy slopes takes you into the high alpine zone and to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310 m), beside a small lake below Mawenzi's jagged spires. After lunch and a two-hour rest, you walk about 2 km up towards Mawenzi, gaining some 200 metres, before coming back down to camp for dinner. It is one of the most striking campsites on the mountain.
You cross the Saddle, a wide, stony desert between Mawenzi and Kibo, where the landscape feels almost lunar. The walking is not steep, but keep a slow pace to save your strength for the night. At Kibo Hut (4,700 m) you have lunch and then rest, drink plenty and avoid any extra effort. An early dinner and a final briefing come before a wake-up call around 11 pm. About 9 km, 5 to 6 hours.
You leave around midnight and zigzag up steep scree by headtorch to Gilman's Point on the crater rim, then follow the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), ideally around sunrise. The gradient is moderate, but the altitude tests everyone, and one guide looks after every two climbers. After photographs you descend to Kibo Hut for a rest and a meal, then continue down the Marangu trail to Horombo Hut (3,720 m). About 16 km, 9 to 12 hours.
After breakfast you walk down through moorland and rainforest to Marangu Gate (1,860 m). Watch your footing on the way down, because tired legs and loose ground cause most slips. At the gate there is time to share stories with your crew and say goodbye, and you receive your summit certificate. Then it is a short drive back to Weru Weru River Lodge for a hot shower and a proper bed. About 18 km, 5 to 6 hours.
Enjoy a slow breakfast and a rest before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Hotel check-out is at 11 am. If your flight leaves in the evening, ask us about a late check-out or an extra night at the lodge, which can be arranged for an additional fee. Many climbers add a safari, a day at Materuni Waterfall or a few days in Zanzibar after the mountain, and your specialist can plan the connection for you.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Kilimanjaro needs no ropes or technical climbing skills, but it is a serious high-altitude trek. You walk for several hours a day on uneven ground, nights are cold, and summit night starts around midnight in thin air. Walking regularly on hills before you come, with a loaded daypack, is the best preparation.
We choose routes and itineraries with enough days on the mountain, and we follow the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. On the Machame route, for example, you take short walks above camp at Shira, Lava Tower, Karanga and Barafu before returning to sleep lower. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide straight away about any headache, nausea or dizziness.
Many climbers use acetazolamide (Diamox) to help with acclimatisation, but it is a prescription medicine and not right for everyone. Talk to your own doctor before the trip, especially about allergies and side effects, and tell your guide if you are taking it.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but the driest months are mid-January to mid-March and late June to October, which are also the busiest. The long rains from late March to early June bring wet trails and cloud, and we generally advise against climbing then unless you are experienced in those conditions. November brings short rains, often in the afternoon.
On our Kilimanjaro packages with hotel nights, you stay at our partner hotel, Weru Weru River Lodge near Moshi, or a similar hotel, on the night before and the night after the climb. Your guide holds the pre-climb briefing and gear check there.
You need good broken-in hiking boots, warm layers including a down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, a warm hat, a headtorch and a daypack. Tents, mats and all group and cooking equipment are provided. Your specialist will confirm what can be rented locally, including sleeping bags, and send you a full packing list.
Yes. The six-day Rongai climb goes from Simba Camp straight to Kikelewa, then on to Mawenzi Tarn, a high camp and the summit. It saves a day but gains height faster, so we suggest it only if you have recently been at altitude.
The northern side of Kilimanjaro lies in the mountain's rain shadow and gets noticeably less rain than the southern routes. It can still rain, but the trail is usually drier and the forest section is short.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
9 days · 8 nights
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Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
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Enquiry about: Kilimanjaro Rongai Route: 7-Day Climb with 2 Hotel Nights
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