Arrival in Moshi
Moshi
We meet you at the airport and take you to your Moshi hotel. Your lead guide comes by in the afternoon to explain the climb and check your gear.
- Hotel in Moshi (mid-range, or similar)
- Dinner is not included on arrival day
Mount Kilimanjaro · 7 Days on the Mountain
7-Day Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Climb
From the north, near the Kenyan border, in the drier rain shadow
- Quiet northern start
- Night at Mawenzi Tarn
- Up Rongai, down Marangu
Climbers and porters in the heath zone.
Overview
Rongai is the only route that starts from the north, near the Kenyan border. It is quieter than the southern routes and drier, which makes it a good choice in the rainy months.
You walk up through farms and forest onto open moorland, with short days that let your body adjust gradually, and spend a night at Mawenzi Tarn beneath the rock walls of Mawenzi. Then you cross the Saddle to Kibo and climb to Gilman's Point and Uhuru Peak.
You come down on the Marangu path to Horombo and Marangu Gate, so you see two sides of the mountain.
- Start/EndMoshi
- Length9 Days / 8 Nights
- TripCamping
- StylePrivate Climb
- Nights8, camping on the mountain
Why travellers choose it
- 01
Quieter than the southern routes
- 02
Short days and gradual height gain
- 03
A night at Mawenzi Tarn
- 04
Private crew and toilet tent
Day by day
Your journey
-
Arrival
-
Day 1
Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
Rongai Gate (about 1,950 m) → Simba Camp (about 2,625 m)
A drive of about three hours around the eastern side of the mountain to the Rongai gate near the Kenyan border. You walk past farms and a pine plantation into the forest and onto the first moorland.
- Simba Camp (tents)
- Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 2
Simba Camp to Second Cave
Simba Camp (about 2,625 m) → Second Cave (about 3,450 m)
A steady climb across moorland with Kibo growing ahead and Mawenzi to the east. A short day on purpose, to adjust gradually.
- Second Cave Camp (tents)
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3
Second Cave to Kikelewa
Second Cave (about 3,450 m) → Kikelewa (about 3,600 m)
East towards Mawenzi across rolling heath to Kikelewa, a sheltered valley camp with giant groundsels nearby.
- Kikelewa Camp (tents)
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4
Kikelewa to Mawenzi Tarn
Kikelewa (about 3,600 m) → Mawenzi Tarn (about 4,330 m)
A short, steep climb to Mawenzi Tarn, a small lake under Mawenzi's rock towers. A short walk higher in the afternoon helps acclimatisation.
- Mawenzi Tarn Camp (tents)
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5
Across the Saddle to Kibo
Mawenzi Tarn (about 4,330 m) → Kibo Hut area (4,703 m)
Across the high, stony Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to the camp below the summit cone. Early dinner, then rest before the midnight start.
- Kibo camp (tents)
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6
Summit night: Uhuru Peak
Kibo (4,703 m) → Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) → Horombo (3,720 m)
By headlamp up the scree to Gilman's Point and along the rim to Uhuru Peak. Back to Kibo to rest and eat, then down the Marangu path to Horombo.
- Horombo (tents)
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7
Down to Marangu Gate
Horombo (3,720 m) → Marangu Gate (about 1,860 m)
A long walk down through moorland and rainforest to Marangu Gate for your summit certificate, then back to Moshi.
- Hotel in Moshi (mid-range, or similar)
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Departure
Departure
Moshi
After breakfast we drive you to Kilimanjaro International Airport, or on to a safari.
- Breakfast
Walking times and heights are approximate. Your lead guide can change the plan for safety, and nobody can guarantee the summit.
Prices
Work out your price
See every price in one table
Price Per Person — Private Climb
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $2,570 |
| 2 People | $2,320 |
| 3 People | $2,240 |
| 4 People | $2,200 |
| 5 People | $2,175 |
| 6 People | $2,155 |
Private trip for your group only: the more of you share the vehicle and guide, the lower the price per person. For 7 or more people we send a quote.
How booking works: a 30% deposit confirms your trip and the balance is paid on arrival in Tanzania, before the trip starts. We reply within 3 hours. Booking terms
What you pay for
Included and not included
Included
- Kilimanjaro National Park fees: conservation, camping and rescue
- Licensed mountain guides, a cook and porters
- One porter for your main bag
- Emergency oxygen carried by the team
- A sleeping bag
- All meals and drinking water on the mountain
- 2 nights in a Moshi hotel with breakfast
- Summit certificate
- Private toilet tent
- Transfers: Kilimanjaro Airport, Moshi hotel and the park gates
Not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance that covers trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound visitor insurance (US$44 per person since 1 October 2026)
- Tips for the mountain crew
- Your own clothes, boots and personal gear
- Drinks other than water, and lunch and dinner in Moshi
- Any rise in park fees or taxes after you book
Questions
Before you book
Why choose Rongai?
It is quieter, drier and has a gradual profile. It is a good choice in the rainy months or if you want fewer people around.
Is it near Kenya?
The start is near the Kenyan border, but the whole climb is in Tanzania, inside Kilimanjaro National Park.
Do we sleep in huts?
No, you camp in tents; the last night on the way down is at Horombo, on the Marangu path.
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Plan your trip
Ask us about dates and prices
Tell us your dates, where you are staying and how many of you are travelling. We reply within 3 hours.