6 Days Rongai Route Climbing

Tour Overview

6 Days Rongai Route Climbing

6 Days Rongai Route Climbing is one of the easiest routes and the success rate is very high. The route starts on the north side of the mountain just south of the Kenyan border, and is one of the least traveled routes. The descent is down the Marangu Route on the south side of the mountain, so climbers see the mountain from many view points.

The drive to the trail head takes about 3 hours from Moshi through many villages and coffee plantations, including a stop to register climbing permits at Marangu.

The Rongai Route can also be accessed from Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Allow 2 hours including border crossing. We will need copies of passports ahead of time.

Rongai ROUTE ELEVATIONS

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Rongai Gate (Nale Moru), Hike to Simba Camp

Day one of 6 Days Rongai Route Climbing, Drive to the attractive wooden village of Nale Moru (about 2 hours including a stop to get permits at Marangu). After signing in and preparing the porters, you will begin the hike on a wide path that winds through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. The track then starts to climb consistently but gently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin out and the first camp is at the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over the Kenyan plains.


  • Elevation: 2000m/6560ft to 2650m/8700ft
  • Distance: 6km/4mi
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Montane Forest
  • Meals: LD
  • Budget Lodging: Simba Camp
Day 2: Hike Simba Camp to Second Cave

Day two of 6 Days Rongai Route Climbing, The morning hike is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim.


  • Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3450m/11,300ft
  • Distance: 6km/4mi
  • Walking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Moorland
  • Meals: BLD
  • Budget Lodging: Second Cave Camp
Day 3: Hike Second Cave to Third Cave

Day three of 6 Days Rongai Route Climbing, Today we continue our hike from the Second Cave to the Third Cave.


  • Elevation: 3450m/11,300ft to 3880m/12,700ft
  • Distance: 9km/5mi
  • Walking Time: 2-3 hours
  • Habitat: Semi-desert
  • Meals: BLD
  • Budget Lodging: Third Cave Camp
Day 4: Hike Third Cave to Kibo Hut

Day four of 6 Days Rongai Route Climbing, Hike to Kibo Hut at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent and a very early day!


  • Elevation: 3880m/12,700ft to 4750m/15,600ft
  • Distance: 5km/3mi
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
  • Meals: BLD
  • Budget Lodging: Kibo Hut Camp
Day 5: Hike Kibo Hut to Summit, and down to Horombo Hut

Day five of 6 Days Rongai Route Climbing, Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s Point located on the crater rim (elev 5700m/18,700ft). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.

The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!


  • Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
  • Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
  • Meals: BLD
  • Budget Lodging: Horombo Hut Camp
Day 6: Hike Horombo Hut to trail head, drive to Moshi

Last day of 6 Days Rongai Route Climbing, After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

Tanzania Joy Tours vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).


  • Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
  • Distance: 20km/12.5mi
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Forest
  • Meals: B

Itinerary Map

KILIMANJARO CLIMBING PRICE

GROUP EXPEDITIONS

The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.

SEE GROUP BOOKING DISCOUNT

6 days Rongai route (Joining group price 1500$)

Number of PeoplePrice per person ($)
11,754
21,606
31,584
41,553
51,539
61,523
71,516
81,513
91,500
10+1,492

Includes

  • 2 night’s accommodation in Moshi or Arusha is included
  • Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your Accommodations in Moshi.
  • Park entry fees
  • Camping fees
  • Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
  • Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
  • 18% VAT on tour fees & services
  • 4 Season mountain tents
  • Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
  • 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
  • Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
  • Hot water for washing
  • Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
  • Government taxes
  • Ox meter
  • Sleeping Mattress
  • Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
  • Emergency first-aid kit

Excludes

  • Airfare
  • Tips for porters, Guide, Cook and Assistant Guide
  • Flights
  • Tips to the mountain staff
  • Meals other than breakfast while in Arusha or Moshi
  • Additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
  • Hotel upgrade costs if you decide to request an alternative hotel to the standard
  • Items considered to be non-essential, such as alcohol, beverages, cigarettes, snacks, etc

traveler photos from this trip

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READ TESTIMONIES FROM OUR HAPPY TRAVELERS

Maryam E
Maryam E
2023-08-06
Verified
Serious company and friendly people Tanzania Joy tours is really a serious company. They were here whenever we had any question when preparing our trip to Kilimanjaro. We did lemosho route in 8 days. Our guides Calvin and Levin and their team of porters was incredible. We spent memorable days. The whole trip was exceptional. The guides are amazing persons, very friendly and this is important since we spent a lot of time together. At the final ascension to the summit they were very motivating and never let us out. The team of porter are also very nice and helpful. Really amazing people that we will never forget on this incredible experience.
Solène L
Solène L
2023-08-01
Verified
What an amazing experience So an amazing experience with this local agency to climb the Kilimandjaro. It was initially planed to make it in 7 days by the Machame route but after some days, our chef guide Patrick propose us to make it on 6 days without risk of bad acclimatization and it was successfully ! He is a very professional guide, attentive, with a big knowledge of the mountain. We were also accompagnied by Maiko, also an incredible guide, always here to encourage us, discuss about Tanzania, life, everything. Jeremiah, the cook, made us so good meals during this 6 days. And to finish, a dream team of porters was here to help us, of course to relieve us physically but also with good attentions on the camps and some of them to the top, always in an incredible atmosphere. Nothing would have been possible without this team. I really recommand this agency if you want to success your climb, in security, with a dream team.
Camille M
Camille M
2023-08-01
Verified
Un immense merci à toute l’équipe pour cette expérience inoubliable! Un immense merci à toute l’équipe pour cette expérience inoubliable! Nous avons emprunté la route Machame en 6 jours (initialement prévu en 7 jours mais après proposition et discussion avec notre guide nous avons finalement condensé deux journées en une) Nos guides Patrick et Maiko nous ont permit d’atteindre le sommet grâce à leur professionnalisme, leur gentillesse et leur motivation. Ils étaient accompagnés d’une équipe incroyable avec un cuisinier, un serveur, des porteurs dont deux sont venus avec nous jusqu’au sommet, un responsable des tentes : rien n’aurait été possible sans eux. La nourriture était excellente, nous avons été dorlotées par toute l’équipe pendant ces 6 jours. Encore merci pour ces souvenirs gravés à jamais!
Maggie A
Maggie A
2023-07-23
Verified
worth more that 10 stars! It was a second time I went with this agency and experience is just unbelievable! Guides, hotel, food organisation - top notch. Emmanuel is just great and very responsive and adaptive to all the needs of the group. Our guide - Patrick and his team - did everything for us to succeed and to make an experience unforgettable. Big thanks to everyone. If I could give 10 stars I would!
Misty T
Misty T
2023-07-14
Verified
Two day to Horambo Hut Guide Ringo was amazing. He had local knowledge of the mountain habitats and terrain. This was a two day overnight from base to Horambo Hut. 19 km each way. Our crew prepared great meals and were amazing supports on such an extensive hike. I would ask for this crew again if hiking over more days.
Martin V
Martin V
2023-07-06
Verified
Succesfull Kilimanjaro climbing - Lemosho route with TJ Tours Just completed Kilimanjaro climbing 7 days Lemosho trek with Tanzanie Joy Tours, the successful summit. Our lead guide Patrick has helped us a lot. Incredible staff - guides, cooks, porters, etc. Everything came off without a hitch. Clients well being/safety is foremost as well as exceeding expectations. Always a great equipments tents,campsite, friendly staff and eager to make your climb the best possible experience. I would strongly recommend this local company Tanzania Joy Tours as a highly professional, quality services and supportive team.
Steffi F
Steffi F
2023-07-06
Verified
Unforgettable experience Very good experience with Patrick and his team. They were professionals and very helpful. We reach our goal and they contribute to it. I recommend TJ Tours to everybody!
Cian L
Cian L
2023-07-02
Verified
An incredible experience Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro with Tanzania Joy was a wonderful experience. Ringo and the team were fantastic, every day they went above and beyond to provide a world class experience and make the trip feel like a balance of adventure and fun. I chose the Lemosho Route as a solo trip, and felt like I was travelling with a group of friends once I met the team. From the first day I emailed Emmanuel, I received quick, detailed replies that made planning the trip a breeze. Once I arrived in Tanzania, my guide Ringo made sure I had the right equipment and prepared for the trip ahead. The entire team worked extremely hard every day to make camp lodgings feel comfortable, providing all the necessities and then some. On the trail Ringo was an amazing guide, providing encouragement and insight at every step. I ended the trip due to a bad bought of altitude sickness and struggled to breathe, and Ringo and the entire team went above and beyond to help me get to safety. Ringo even came and visited me once I got back to Moshi to make sure I was okay, and made sure I was able to get home safely. This is a genuinely great organisation with a fantastic team. Happy to recommend this group to anyone, Tanzania Joy is a very professional
Monika Va
Monika Va
2023-06-27
Verified
We recommend this company 100 percent We had a great experience with TJ Tours. Our team leader Kelvin and his assistant Hassan were knowledgeable, patient and very encouraging. Our cook made us wonderful meals and Leavy catered to all our needs. Everyone on our team did their best to help us reach the Uhuru peak!
Elżbieta W
Elżbieta W
2023-06-11
Verified
Great experience with professionel company❤️ Very professional and friendly team. They always help you when you need help. They always think positivley and believe in you. They take care of you. They explaine everythink and are very patient with you. With whole heart i recommend this company ❤️

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