Kilimanjaro Hiking Rongai Route 6 Days

The mountain is in Tanzania, East Africa, about 350km from the equator. The nearest towns are Moshi and Arusha.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Africa. Its highest point is Uhuru Peak on the Kibo crater at 5895m above sea level.

None, but previous hiking or climbing experience will help. You need to be fit and healthy and have a good pair of worn-in hiking boots. The fitter you are the more you are likely to enjoy it.

Getting to Tanzania and hiking up Kilimanjaro is not cheap. But the once in a lifetime experience is worth every penny. Costs (usually quoted in USD) will depend on the tour operator and what you need. Luxuries such as portable toilets and glassware will cost more. Land costs should include transport to and from Kili, full board, porters, guides, cooks, national park fees and permits. Do not choose the cheapest operator, choose an operator who discloses all costs and who offers value for money.

No. There are no hotels on the mountain and no cable cars to the top. You will most probably sleep in tents, or in basic huts if you take the Marangu route. Tents and sleeping mats are carried and set up by the porters. You do need to bring a very warm sleeping bag or rent it from Kilimanjaro-Experience.

On the first day of your climb, you are likely to lose signal before reaching the gate and will not regain it until day two. From then onwards, for most routes, you will find the signal at some point, and sometimes even in camp. On the Rongai route and Northern, Circuit reception can be more limited and tends to be via Kenyan networks, as the routes pass close to the border.

There are no charging stations on Kilimanjaro. You will need battery packs or solar charges to charge electrical items. Please ensure you bring the right cables and keep electrical items warm whilst on the mountain to preserve battery life.

Our crew all receive fair salaries; however, they also rely on the income they receive from tips.  Below are standard tipping recommendations to be split between everyone in your group. We prefer you to distribute tips to crew members individually and directly at a ceremony held at the end of your climb. It is a good idea to bring some notes in lower denominations to assist with splitting funds. We will provide a tipping guide with specific crew numbers at your briefing, with envelopes to help you separate money into individual amounts.

In order to help you calculate a rough total tipping amount, we work with ratios of at least one guide per two clients and approximately four porters per client. Please remember porters carry food, gas, tents, etc. in addition to your personal luggage.

Only the Marangu Route goes up and down the same way, which we don’t recommend. Lemosho, Machame, and the Northern Circuit descend via the Mweka Route, which is used only for descent and food re-supply to the camps. Rongai descends via the Marangu Route. Descent routes are more direct, whereas ascent routes pass over ridges and valleys to allow your body to better acclimatize.

Our cooks prepare three hot, nutritious meals daily, as well as snacks and afternoon tea. Delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other special meals can be provided. Please let us know in advance. If you would like more details or a sample menu, please ask.

No! We use either a Katydyn filter or water purification tablets to treat the water, making it safe for you to drink. You do not need to bring these yourself. Since the tablets are usually chlorine-based, there can be a slight lingering taste in the water. You can bring neutralizing tablets, electrolytes or flavored cordial/squash to cover the taste.

Additional luggage you do not need to take up the mountain can be left safely in storage at your accommodation or our offices. We recommend you ensure any valuables are signed in to the hotel safe, and where possible left at home!

You are unlikely to come into contact with many animals on the mountain. As the number of trekkers has increased over the years, the animals have retreated. You may see Colobus and Blue monkeys in the rainforest along with a variety of birds. Large white-necked ravens and four striped mice scavenge in camps. Malachite Sunbirds are often seen and heard in the heath and moorland zone and the national park is working hard to encourage native rodents around the Shira Plateau.

At the base of the mountain, average temperatures are 70 to 90°F (21 to 32°C) throughout the year. On the summit, temperatures range from -10 to 23°F (-23 to -5°C) with windchill. Weather is changeable, and you should be prepared for these extremes. Your guide will help you decide on appropriate clothing in a detailed daily briefing.

Weather on the mountain is fairly consistent year-round, but should you plan on attaching a safari to your trek, it’s worth keeping in mind Tanzania’s seasonal shifts. June through October is cooler and drier. December through March is warmer and a bit wetter, with lush, green landscapes throughout the country. We wouldn’t recommend climbing in April, early May, or late November, due to heavy rains.

We generally aim to keep our public group sizes small, usually no more than ten trekkers, to maintain a more personal experience and preserve the feeling of being in the wilderness. However, if you’re booking as a private group, we’re happy to accommodate you regardless of size, as everyone in your group will already be familiar with one another before arriving in Tanzania.

Absolutely! Your Kilimanjaro adventure can be tailored entirely to your preferences. We’ll collaborate with you to craft a personalized trekking experience, designed around your chosen travel companions, ideal departure date, preferred route, hiking pace, and desired duration. It’s your mountain, your way.

We generally aim to keep our public group sizes small, usually no more than ten trekkers, to maintain a more personal experience and preserve the feeling of being in the wilderness. However, if you’re booking as a private group, we’re happy to accommodate you regardless of size, as everyone in your group will already be familiar with one another before arriving in Tanzania.

Although Mount Kilimanjaro is climbable year-round, most hikers choose the dry seasons, from December to March and June to October, for more favorable weather. Among these, January, February, and September are often regarded as the best months for the climb.

You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, along with a properly endorsed entry or re-entry visa.

Yes, we offer airport transfer services. Kindly send your request to Safari for arrangements.

We manage all operations directly. We are not agents for any third party; instead, we conduct the treks ourselves through our own locally registered Tanzanian company.

On your Kilimanjaro adventure, expert camp porters set up and take down the mountain camps daily. You’ll stay in double-occupancy, all-weather tents equipped with full-ground pads to keep you and your belongings dry. Each camp features private toilet tents, solar-lit dining tents furnished with tables and chairs, and basins of hot water for washing. For those on the Grand Traverse route, accommodations are upgraded to solar-lit, walk-in-height sleeping tents furnished with mountaineering beds and mattresses for added comfort.

Each day, expert chefs prepare three hot, nutritious meals along with trail snacks and afternoon tea. You’ll enjoy your meals in a sunlit dining tent alongside your fellow trekkers and the head guide. We offer delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specialty options. Just let us know in advance. If you’d like, we can also send you a sample menu, just ask!

Before the climb begins, you’ll have an acclimatization day featuring nature walks and opportunities to observe local wildlife. While trekking through the rainforest, you can expect to see black-and-white Colobus monkeys, various tropical birds, and other fascinating creatures.

On most routes, daily trekking typically lasts between 4 and 7 hours. However, some routes include longer days where you might trek for 10 to 15 hours.