The Rongai route ascents Kilimanjaro from the northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya. This route retains a sense of unspoilt wilderness and offers a different perspective on Kilimanjaro by approaching it from the north whereby you  clearly view Amboseli National park as  back ground.

Minimum Rate Per Adult: US$ 1850
Departing From:             Arusha or Mosh

Day 1: Arrival Day in Tanzania:
- Arrive in Arusha or Moshi, you will be met and greet by our mountain leader for tour briefing and equipment check-up. Dinner and overnight at standard hotel booked on bed and breakfast basis, BB

D ay 2: Rongai Gate (1950m) - 1st Caves camp (2600m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Distance: About 8 kms
Habitat: Montane forest

Register at the Marangu park gate with a transfer (approximately 2 ½ hours) to the Rongai trailhead. Meet your guide and porters before you begin your hike from the Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, and then climbs gently through a forest. The trail is not at all steep, but is rather a gentle hike through beautiful country. The first nights camp is at First Cave, at about 2,600 metres. There is a toilet and a wooden table with benches, but no hut. Water can be found just down the trail below First Cave

Day 3:  1st Cave (2600m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600m)
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Moorlands
The trail continues up towards Kibo, passing Second Cave (3450m) en-route, and reaching Kikelwa Cave at about 3600 metres. The views start to open up and you begin to feel you e on a really big mountain! Water is in the obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find some. Overnight at 3rd Cave camp (Kikelewa Caves)

Day 4: Kikelewa Cave (3600) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Moorlands.

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatizing and exploring the area.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - Kibo hut (4700m)
Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo taking 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight. Overnight at Kibo Camp

Day 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT Kibo hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru -
6 hours to descend to Horombo
Distance: 6 kms ascent - 21 kms descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
At mid-night on around 23h30, wake up and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. This is a really tough piece of final trekking up to summit. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillmans point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort, Probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly. From Gillmans Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Total exhilaration and satisfaction - you made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend, taking photographs, before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short rest you gather all your gear for the ascent and head down to Horombo hut (3 hours) where you will overnight. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours, so be prepared for a very tough day. Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner (with soft drinks and beer for sale at the camp office) on the mountain and well-earned sleep, filled with memories and stirring emotions.

Day 7: Horombo hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m)
- After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate (About 27 kms). It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Click here for more info on tips. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillmans Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Moshi or Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight at standard hotel, reserved on bed and breakfast, End of trip.

Below find other important detail:
K I L I M A N J A R O -P A C K I N G -L I S T -A D D I T I O N A L -I N F O R M A T I O N

Kilimanjaro Gear Packing List: Food/Meals
Meals will be provided, as well as basic snacks like cookies and fruit. You should also bring your own energy snacks, for example:
Chocolate
Nuts
Dried fruit
Trail mix
Glucose sweets
Energy gel sachets
Sports drink powder
Some recommend vitamin C fizzy tablets to improve the waters taste and added vitamin benefit
If you prefer de-caf tea, its best to pack a few bags
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Kilimanjaro Gear Packing List: Gear
Important: Sleeping bag: -15°C/0°F (or warmer weather sleeping bag with extra fleece liner for warmth)
Self-inflating mattress
Small travel pillow, or you can use your polar fleece/windbreaker
Daypack (approx. 35 litres)
Waterproof cover for daypack
Large kit bag/duffel bag, to be carried by a porter
Plastic bags: normal and "Ziplock" type (for rubbish/wet washing/muddy shoes/organise clothes in duffel bag -for the latter you can also use stuff sacks). Smaller Ziplock bags for glucose or other gel packets -lower air pressure may cause them to break and mess.
Headlamp (with spare batteries and spare bulb)
Insulated water bottle/"flexi-flask"/Camel Back with drinking tube (the latter is most recommended as water bottles usually freeze on summit attempt)
Water purifying tablets/drops
Telescopic trekking poles
Whistle
Important: Sunglasses (preferably the polarized glacier type)
Camera and/or video camera and extra film/memory cards
USB cable, battery charger (nowhere to plug it on the mountain, but perhaps for afterwards)
Extra batteries (headlamp, camera, iPod etc. -batteries may freeze)
Lens cleaning cloth (for cameras, sunglasses)
Earplugs (for the busier camps)
Pocket Knife (Swiss/Leatherman type)
Small scissors, if not on your pocket knife
Small unbreakable mirror
String/rope (washing line, tying sleeping bag, multitude of uses!!)
Small calculator (or if you e taking your mobile phone) for currency calculations
Watch
Some form of entertainment, e.g. deck of cards/travel size game/reading book
Plug adaptors: 3-prong round (like South Africa/India) or square (like Britain)(not needed during your time on the mountain) -Tanzania is on 220V
If applicable to you/optional:-
Tripod for camera/video camera
Binoculars
Alarm clock (your guide/porter will usually wake you)
Prescription glasses (plastic type lens is better as glass might crack in the extreme cold)
Goggles if you wear contacts, to keep dust out (especially on the descent) and prevent your eyes from drying out when theres wind
Small compass or GPS (optional, for interest’s sake only -your guide will be your compass)
Waterproof matches
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Kilimanjaro Gear Packing List: Clothing
Important: Waterproof trekking boots (well broken-in)
Extra shoes, like sneakers (when you e not hiking and as a back-up)
Gaiters to ensure water, mud and snow stays out of your boots
Thermal outer socks
Inner socks -moisture wicking ones are best (moisture promotes blisters)
Waterproof trousers
Long trousers (warm)
Long trousers (light)
Short pants
Thermal underwear (longs)
About 5 sets of underwear, bras
Waterproof outer gloves
Inner gloves
Wind- and waterproof jacket with inner fleece
Sweater
Long sleeved shirt
T-shirt
Poncho
Scarf
Bandana (dust)
Cap or hat for the sun
Ski beanie or balaclava
Mini sewing kit, safety pins (needle and thread can also be used to drain blisters on your feet)
Extra shoelaces
Washing powder/travel soap for laundry (not during your time on the mountain)
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Kilimanjaro Gear Packing List: Toiletries & First Aid
Toilet paper
Tissue (nose)
Sun block and after sun
Lip balm with sun protection
Skin lotion
Wet wipes
body bath/soap
Soap
Travel Towel / light-weight and takes very little space
Foot powder to help keep feet dry and avoid blisters
Shampoo (normal or better yet "no-rinse" type)
Brush, comb
Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
Deodorant
Insect repellent
Tweezers
Q-tips & cotton balls
Nail clippers/scissors
Razor & shaving cream/gel
Medicines/First Aid:
Diamox or similar (high altitude)
Anti malaria medication
Band aids & moleskin (blisters, small cuts)
Bandages, gauze pads
Emergency blanket
Vitamins
Painkillers
Nasal decongestant
Antiseptic cream
Heartburn remedy
Indigestion medicine
Anti-diarrhea medicine
Re-hydration salts
Cold/flu tablets
Throat lozenges
Some people take a basic antibiotic, just in case
Sterile needles (in case you need an injection and don trust the hygiene conditions)
If applicable to you/optional:-
Contraceptives
Feminine products -the Mooncup is ideal for this kind of travel
Contact lens solution & extra set of disposable lenses
Eye rinse/moisturising drops
Prescribed medicine (enough to last your trip)
Allergy remedy
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Kilimanjaro Gear Packing List: Money & Documents
Some of the documents won be needed on the mountain, but some of it (like money and passport) you should keep with you anyway, even if you e storing excess luggage somewhere during your trek.
Important: Cash (to buy drinks, tipping etc.) USD or Tanzanian Shilling
Other money: credit card (Visa is best) and/or travellers cheques
Passport & relevant visa papers
Flight ticket(s)
Africa travel insurance policy
Notebook & pen/pencil
Your itinerary & Kilimanjaro consultant contact numbers
Emergency phone numbers
Addresses and mobile numbers (postcards/e-mails/texts)
Medical history
Vaccinations certificates (e.g. yellow fever)
Phone card and international access numbers
Extra passport photos
Copy of your passport, kept in a separate place than your passport (or scan a copy electronically and keep it in your e-mail box where you can access and print at an internet terminal)
Back-up ID (e.g. drivers license)
If applicable to you/optional -
Kilimanjaro guide book, worth more to read prior to your trek
International Youth Hostel card (depending on your type of trip and accommodation)
Copy of marriage certificate, especially if you recently tied the knot
Copies of prescriptions
Business card