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The 7 Days Rongai Route Climb Kilimanjaro is a beautiful and peaceful journey that starts on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, near the border of Kenya. This route offers stunning views, fewer crowds, and a gentle climb that allows your body to adjust well to the altitude. It is perfect for trekkers who want a quieter experience with a high chance of reaching the summit.
Bush Lion Tours provides a safe and well-organized experience with professional mountain guides, fresh hot meals, and quality camping equipment. Each day takes you through different landscapes, from rainforest to moorland, alpine desert, and finally to the snowy summit of Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters.
The 7 Days Rongai Route is known for being peaceful and less crowded, allowing climbers to connect deeply with nature. Its northern starting point provides drier weather and clearer mountain views. It also offers a gradual acclimatization profile, increasing the chance of reaching the summit successfully.
This route offers a unique perspective of Kilimanjaro, combining adventure and calmness. The journey passes through unspoiled wilderness, lush rainforests, and dramatic landscapes. Unlike other routes, it provides great chances to see wildlife early in the trek. The views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks are unforgettable.
The 7 Days Rongai Route is ideal for beginners or those seeking a peaceful experience. It’s also recommended for climbers who prefer gradual elevation gain and less rain. Families, small groups, and solo travelers all find this route rewarding and less physically demanding than other trails.
What makes this climb truly unique is its unmatched scenery and peaceful atmosphere. From rainforest trails and the vast Shira Plateau to the final push toward the summit, every stage of the Lemosho Route is designed to inspire. With its balanced difficulty and high success rate, this route gives climbers not only the chance to reach Uhuru Peak but also the opportunity to fully enjoy the journey.
You will be welcomed by our team at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Take this day to relax, recover from your journey, and meet your mountain guide for a pre-climb briefing and gear check.
Accommodation: Maridad Hotel / Parkview Inn
Meals: Breakfast included
After breakfast, you drive about 3 hours to the Rongai Gate on the northern side of the mountain. Registration is done at the park gate before the trek starts. The trail begins in a forest area filled with birds and Colobus monkeys. The path is gentle and leads you to Simba Camp, located near the edge of the moorland zone.
Trekking time: 3–4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Simba Camp
You wake up early to enjoy the clear views of the plains below and continue trekking through open moorland. The trail gently ascends, and the air becomes cooler. You will have your lunch along the way and arrive at Second Cave Camp in the afternoon. From here, you can see Kibo Peak rising ahead.
Trekking time: 6–7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Second Cave Camp
Today’s trek takes you across small valleys and rocky terrain with beautiful views of Mawenzi Peak. You’ll arrive at Kikelewa Camp by mid-afternoon. Spend the rest of the day relaxing, taking pictures, and allowing your body to acclimatize to the higher altitude.
Trekking time: 4–5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Kikelewa Camp
You climb steadily to Mawenzi Tarn, located directly below the towering Mawenzi Peak. This is one of the most scenic camps on the mountain, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and alpine desert views. The afternoon is for rest or a short acclimatization walk with your guide.
Trekking time: 4–5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Today you cross the lunar desert between Mawenzi and Kibo. The path is long but gradual, passing through a dry and windy landscape. You’ll reach Kibo Hut in the afternoon, rest, and prepare for your midnight summit attempt. Eat early, drink plenty of water, and get a few hours of sleep before the climb to the roof of Africa begins.
Trekking time: 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Kibo Hut
Your summit climb begins around midnight. You ascend slowly in the dark, following your guide’s steady pace toward Gilman’s Point (5,685m). From there, continue to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Celebrate your success, take photos, and begin your descent to Kibo Hut for a short rest before heading down to Horombo Hut.
Trekking time: 12–15 hours (total ascent and descent)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Horombo Hut
After breakfast, continue your descent through the forest to Marangu Gate. You will receive your climbing certificates before meeting our driver for your return transfer to Moshi. After a hot shower and some rest, you can celebrate your Kilimanjaro success before your next journey or flight home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Maridad Hotel / Parkview Inn
Prices (quoted in USD/per person)
| 1 Pax | 2-4 Pax | 5-6 Pax | 7-9 Pax | 10+ Pax |
| $2,492 USD | $2,050 USD | $1,950 USD | $1,850 USD | $1,830 USD |
For a more accurate estimate, it’s best to contact us directly and discuss your specific requirements and budget. We can provide you with a detailed quote based on your itinerary, group size, and preferred level of comfort
The Rongai Route is considered moderate in difficulty. It has a gradual ascent, making it one of the easiest routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s perfect for first-time climbers or those looking for a less steep trail. Good fitness and preparation are still important because you’ll be hiking for several days at high altitude.
The best time to climb the Rongai Route is during the dry seasons, which are January to early March and June to October. This route is also drier than other trails, so it can be climbed even during short rains in November or December. During these times, you’ll enjoy clear skies, amazing views, and more comfortable temperatures.
When you go above altitudes of 2,500m (as is the case on Kilimanjaro), there is less oxygen which poses a risk of altitude sickness. High altitude sickness can happen to anybody, regardless of age or fitness. Symptoms vary between individuals but commonly include headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, and numbness in fingers and toes. These symptoms can come on unexpectedly and get severe quickly. To decrease the chances of experiencing altitude sickness, you need to allow your body time to acclimatise properly. Although impossible to completely prevent, we’ve designed our itineraries to give guests the best chance to adjust to the altitude changes. This 7-day route provides an extra day to acclimatise, which is, in our opinion, preferable to the 6-day Machame option. Bush Lion guides have years of experience in recognizing and helping guests deal with altitude sickness. Note that oxygen is not used on Kilimanjaro to help guests reach the summit or to ‘treat’ altitude sickness. The only cure for altitude sickness is to immediately descend to lower ground. In severe cases, oxygen may be given to provide enough temporary relief to allow the affected guest to descend. In extreme cases, altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro can be fatal. We put your safety first. Our guides have years of experience, and their decision on whether or not to continue is final.
We recommend that you check in with your personal healthcare advisor or travel doctor before your trip to Africa. We have provided a useful link below where you can find information on vaccine requirements.
See inclusions and exclusions above.
The following is a recommended packing list for Kilimanjaro:
DOCUMENTS
GEAR & CLOTHING
(please make sure that you have non-cotton clothing for trekking):
If you don’t want to purchase your own kit or need to travel light, you can hire most of the equipment from our guides in-country. Get in touch for the list and rental prices. Please note that all plastic bags, regardless of their thickness, are prohibited from being brought into Tanzania. This excludes packaging for medical supplies.
It is customary in Tanzania to tip guides and porters. The amount that you tip is completely up to you. As a good rule of thumb, generally, participants will tip around US$300 – US$350 per customer (not per guide). You can give this to the head guide, and they will distribute it amongst the team of guides, porters, and cooks.
Yes, If you are travelling solo and would like your own room and tent for the duration of the trip, you can pay for a single supplement. The single supplement is an optional extra with a cost of $50 per traveller. This is payable in-country. Should you not wish to apply the single supplement, we will pair you with another group member to share accommodation during the trek (twin hotel room and shared tent).
You have chefs with you on the hike who can cater to all dietary requirements. During the trek, you will be provided with three nutritious and filling meals each day to keep energy levels high. Please provide full details of any dietary requirements and allergies on your Trip Form. You will receive a link to fill this out shortly after booking. Note that lunch and Dinner (at the hotel) on your first and final day is not included.
Portable toilets are available as an optional extra to enhance your comfort during the climb. For individual travelers, this service costs $70 per person, payable at our offices in-country. However, for groups, we provide portable toilets free of charge as part of our commitment to making your group adventure as enjoyable and convenient as possible.
Most groups have 3 people, with a maximum of 14.
Accommodation during the trek is in campsites in spacious tents shared between two people. The campsites provide basic facilities, such as toilets and dining tents. In Moshi (before and after the trek), you stay in hotel accommodation.
Every day on the trek we will provide you with filtered water to fill up your bottles. The water is filtered and boiled by a Katadyn filtration system. We recommend you also bring water purification tablets or a filter bottle.
The standard trek takes 7 days, which allows time for acclimatization and a steady climb. The longer itinerary improves your success rate and provides a safer, more enjoyable experience.
The start and end point of this tour is Kilimanjaro International Airport. There are three pick-up times (10:00 AM, 5:00 PM or 11:59 PM). On the last date, you can fly at any time. Your guides will arrange transfers that work best for the group. Guests typically fly with BA, Air France, or Qatar. However, we’d recommend comparing a few airlines.
Porters are included as part of your trekking team. The porters will carry all the supplies, camping gear, water and also your main luggage. There is a 15kg limit for personal luggage that the porters will carry. This should be packed into a flexible duffel bag, 90l is a good size. This personal luggage includes your sleeping bag (provided) which must also fit into the duffel bag. Extra luggage and suitcases can be left in the locked storage room of the lodge.
The success rate for the 7 Days Rongai Route is around 90–95%. The longer duration and gradual ascent give your body time to adjust, increasing your chance of reaching Uhuru Peak safely and successfully.
Kilimanjaro is very close to the equator, so the temperatures are very similar year-round. They can range from around 20°C(68°F) at the base to -10°C (14°F) on the summit. The dry season is June-September, and during these times, there is typically just a dusting of snow on the summit. These are also the busiest months. The wet season is Nov-May, where snow depth on the summit can regularly be 20-30cm.
Yes, of course! Safari in Tanzania is an amazing experience – simply message the Bush Lion team before/ after booking and we’ll help you arrange a 2-7 day safari.
Climbers must be at least 10 years old to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Any person under the age of 15 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Tell us your travel dates, number of people, and what you’re interested in, and we’ll send you a free quote with the best suggestions.
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