This 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain climbing trek Rongai Route Safari Tanzania Trip is a 6 nights/7 days Mountain Kilimanjaro trekking safari in Tanzania tour, taking you on an unforgettable experience of trekking to the tallest peak in Africa, the iconic Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro. Mt Kilimanjaro rises 5,895 meters/19 341 feet above sea level, giving it the added distinction of being the world’s highest free-standing mountain.
Your 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain climbing trek safari Tanzania trip takes the Rongai Route, the only trail starting on the northern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro. Though this part of the mountain is rarely visited by trekkers, it’s not less interesting than the popular southern and western slopes. We recommend Rongai if you are interested in a reclusive Kilimanjaro mountain climbing experience.
You trek through farmlands, Afromontane forests, moorlands, and the alpine desert as you approach the beautiful snow-capped summit cone. This route allows acclimatization, before the arduous final ascent. The final climb to the “Roof of Africa” begins in darkness but your reward is an incomparable dawn vista over the sweeping East African plains. Please note that a 6 day Tanzania hike is possible on this route, but, we recommend longer options for better acclimatization.
Day 1: Hike from Nalemuru Gate (2,020m) to Simba Camp (2,625m)
Day 2: Simba Camp to Second Cave Camp (3,480m)
Day 3: Second cave Camp to Kikilewa Camp (3,630m)
Day 4: Kikilewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310m)
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Kibo Camp (4,700 m).
Day 6: Ascend Uhuru Peak (5,895m) & Descent to Horombo Hut (3,720m).
Day 7: Final Descent to Marangu Gate (1,860m)
On day one of your 7 days Mountain Kilimanjaro climbing trek, you will start your trek to the ‘roof of Africa’. Your guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at your hotel in Arusha in the morning to meet you.
After a quick briefing, you will be driven for about 2 ½ hours to the northern entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m). Here, the head guide will acquire the necessary permits and finalize search and rescue registration.
This day’s trek through the coniferous forest of Kilimanjaro’s northern slope to Simba Camp is moderate, taking you up to 2,625 m. Remember not to hurry and maintain a comfortable pace. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will have pitched your tents and started dinner preparations.
Please note:
Since this will be your first day at this altitude, you’re advised to abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine and drink over 4 liters of bottled water every day, taking it frequently and in small doses.
During the night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into consideration, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and inform your guide if you begin to experience any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Accommodation: – Simba Camp
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Altitude: – Climb 605m
Hiking Distance: – 8km
Hiking Time: – 3-4 hours
Difficulty: – Low
Habitat: – Rainforest
On the second day of 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain climbing trek Tanzania safari tour, enjoy an early breakfast at Simba Camp (2,625m). After breakfast, begin a steady hike towards your second high-altitude camp: Second Cave Camp at 3,480m.
This trail is relatively easy and will only take about 3 hours, so when you reach the camp you’ll still have ample time to rest and explore the surrounding area.
After lunch, have some time to relax before embarking on 100 meter-acclimatization hike towards Kikilewa Camp (3,630m). You then descend to Second Cave Camp for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Please note:
One of the most proven ways to acclimatize to increased altitude is to ‘hike high, and sleep low, which entails hiking to a point above your camp and then returning to camp to rest. Acclimatization increases your likelihood of successfully climbing Kilimanjaro and protects you from altitude sickness.
Accommodation: Second Cave Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Altitude: Climb 955m, Descend 100m
Hiking Distance: 6.5km
Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Habitat: Moorland
Your day three of the 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain climbing trek safari Tanzania trip will begin with breakfast at the Second Cave Camp.
Thereafter, you will begin hiking to Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m), with superb views of the Eastern ice fields on the rim of Kibo, the youngest and highest of the three volcanoes that form the entire mountain.
This will be a relief day, so after lunch, have time to sleep before the next climb towards Mawenzi Tarn Camp. In the evening after dinner, the guide will check the health conditions of each person in the group and give the necessary instructions for tomorrow’s hiking adventure.
Accommodation: Kikilewa Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Altitude: Climb 150
Hiking Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Habitat: Moorland
On day 4 of the 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain climbing trek safari Tanzania trip, you will wake up early and enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, you will start hiking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,310m), spectacularly situated in a cirque beneath the towering cliffs of Mount Mawenzi Volcano, Kilimanjaro’s second summit.
When you reach the camp, have lunch and a 2-hour rest, after which there will be an acclimatization hike towards Mawenzi Volcano with a 200-meter gain in altitude. After that, hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Altitude: Climb 680m, Descend 200m
Hiking Distance: 8km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Habitat: Moorland
On day five of your 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain climbing trek safari Tanzania, leave the attractive campsite and cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite (4,700m) at the bottom of the Kibo Crater wall by early afternoon.
The actual trek is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro’s summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you’ll be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895m).
Accommodation: Kibo Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Altitude: Climb 390m.
Hiking Distance: 9km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Habitat: Alpine desert
On day six-day of 7 days Mountain Kilimanjaro climbing trek safari Tanzania, you start your final and by far the steepest and most demanding part of the climb by torchlight at around midnight. It will be extremely cold as you walk very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the Crater rim at Gillman’s Point (5,685 m).
You will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip along the snow-covered rim to the true summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Kibo Hut (4,700m) is surprisingly fast and, after some refreshments and rest, we continue descending to reach our final campsite at Horombo (3,720m). This is an extremely long and hard day.
Accommodation: Horombo Hut
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Altitude: Climb 1195m, Descend 2175m
Hiking Distance: 21km
Hiking Time: 12-14 hours
Difficulty: High
Habitat: Arctic
On day seven of 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing trek, you embark on a sustained descent with wide views across the moorland.
Trek into the lovely forest around Mandara (2,700m), the first stopping place on the Marangu route. Continue through semi-tropical vegetation to the national park gate at Marangu (1,860m).
After your descent, the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the Kilimanjaro climb in the guestbook. Lastly, you will be given a commemorative certificate. Then it is back aboard your transfer vehicle to the very welcome soft bed and warm showers at your hotel of choice in Arusha for a blissful overnight stay.
Please note: An affordable Tanzania wildlife safari and/or Zanzibar Beach Holiday can easily be added to your booking as an extension to your 8 days Kilimanjaro Hike. Also, extensions to Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking or a safari to Kenya parks can easily be arranged. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more details.
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