6 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking Via Rongai Route

6 days Rongai Route takes you through the most increasingly popular route in the Northern side of mount Kilimanjaro.The 6 days Mount Kilimanjaro trek Rongai Route starts from Rongai gate, through Simba camp, kikelewa camp, Mawenzi turn hut, Kibo huts camp to Uhuru peak to Horombo hut, and exits through Maragu gate.

The Rongai route is usually easier route than the Marangu route. It also composed of  beautiful landscapes with various plants plus animal species. Besides,the 6 days Rongai route trek, the 7 days Rongai route of mount Kilimanjaro is also highly recommended because the acclimatization day, for a better success rate of climbing Kilimanjaro.

Despite the fact that the Marangu route has permanent huts,  the Rongai route accommodation is majorly tents, which are being pitched by the help of porters. The Rongai route begins from the Northern side, nearby the  Kenyan border. The 6-day Rongai route for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is broken down below

Day By Day  of the 6 Days Rongai route Mount Kilimanjaro Trek

Day 1: Moshi to Rongai Gate to Simba Camp

Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Elevation(m): 915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Habitat: Montane Forest

6 days mount kiimanjaro trek via Rongai routeLeave your Moshi accommodation behind, after breakfast for a drive through various villages and coffee plantations to arrive after 2-3 hours at Rongai Gate (1,950 m/6,398 ft). You will meet with your mount kilimanjaro climbing crew, as you finalize with registration, then after, set your foot on the wide path to start hiking. You will wind through maize & potato fields, then into montane forest, where you will begin climbing gently but consistently through breathtaking forest that covers a variety of wildlife. The forest then become thinner as you approach Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) with spectacular views over the Kenyan plains.

Day 2: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp

Elevation: 2,750 m to 3,600 m
Distance: 17 km
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Have breakfast early, then depart  the hut for a steep climb to the second cave where you will stop for lunch.  You will proceed through the direct trail, and later join the moorland on a smaller path toward Mawenzi side peak to Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley, where  you will settle for your dinner and overnight rest.

Day 3: Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi turn hut

Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
Elevation: 3,600m to 4,330m
Breakfast will be served early, after then, you will take a short steep hike up the grassy slopes; rewarded by beautiful views all round, immersed in the vast surrounding wilderness. There after you will pass the vegetation and arrive at the Mawenzi Tarn Camp, located in a spectacular cirque directly below the towering spires of Mawenzi Peak. After this hike, you will the arrive  at Mawenzi turn hut camp where you will see the magnificent Lake with no inlet as well as outlet while you have lunch and later rest, for dinner folllowed by an overnight at this camp.

Day 4: Acclimatization day (6 day itinerary skips this day)

You will be urged to spend 1 more night at Mawenzi Tarn hut, for better acclimatization, although there will be a pleasant climb towards Mawenzi  for acclimatization hike, before you descend back for lunch, dinner & overnight.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn hut to Kibo Huts camp

Elevation: 4,330 m to 4,695 m
Distance: 8km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast early in the morning, start by crossing the lunar desert of the saddle between Kibo peak and Mawenzi peak to Kibo Huts at the base of Kibo’s crater wall, and spend the rest of the day spending the rest of the day resting and preparing for your summit climb.

Day 5: Summit Day! Kibo Huts camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts camp

Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Elevation: 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Rise up early  at 12:00 am, before dawn to start hiking to the summit, because, you have reach UHURU peak, before or shortly after  sunrise. You will switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and arrive at the Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 6 AM. At this point, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Thereafter hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows after 2 hours,  it will lead you to Kilimanjaro’s summit – Uhuru Peak, where you will spend some time taking photo’s. After your summit activities done, trek back downwards to the Kibo Huts, for a lunch break, then further slope down re-crossing the saddle downwards Horombo Huts.

Have dinner and overnight at Horombo camp.

Day 6: Horombo Huts camp to Marangu Gate to Moshi

Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Elevation: 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387 m

Rise for breakfast, then depart your hut for a descent down through the moorland to Mandara Hut where, you will have lunch. Then continue down through lush forest to Marangu Gate, to sign out, as you receive your certificate, then your driver guide will  transfer you back to your hotel where it is definitely time for !
Rongai Route