Destination Tanzania Safaris

Rongai Route
(6 Days / 5 Nights)

Day 1: ARRIVE AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JRO)
We will meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport on you arrival and transfer to your overnight lodge in Arusha. Welcome to Africa!

Day 2: PRE-CLIMB ORIENTATION
This day is designed to give you plenty of time to relax, pack and recoup from the long journey. We will meet you late in the morning for a short climbing orientation. We will give you a climb briefing and answer any questions you may have. We will also do an equipment check with each person to be sure that you are fully prepared. We have designed this day to allow for walking, game viewing or cultural exchange with indigenous people.

Day 3: RONGAI GATE TO THE FIRST CAVE
Drive from Arusha to Marangu Gate for the necessary registration formalities and then transferred by Land Rover to Rongai, which should take about 1.5 hours. The climb starts at the village of Nale Moru through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. The climb is consistently and gently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. Reaching first Campsite, at the edge of the moorland zone giving you extensive views over the Kenyan plains.

Day 4: FIRST CAVE TO THE KIKELEWA CAVES
After breakfast start with steady walk ascent up to the 'Second Cave'. Start seeing Kibo Peak and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim. Leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. The campsite is in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves.

Day 5: MAWENZI TARN CAMP
Trailing start with short but steep climb up grassy slopes, which are rewarded with superb circular views and a tangible sense of wilderness, before reaching Mawenzi Tarn for camping. Spend the rest of the day resting or exploring the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatization

Day 6: KIBO CAMPSITE/SCHOOL CAMPSITE
Early morning proceeds with trekking crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach School Campsite at the foot of the Kibo crater wall. Spend the remainder of the day resting and preparation for the final ascent

Day 7: TREK TO UHURU PEAK
The last day will be a really early beginning for the summit, normally 01:00 am, trailing through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman's Point, take a rest for short while before continuing to the Uhuru Peak (which might take 3 hours) After relaxing, watching the sun rise and taking memorable pictures, start descending to the Horombo Hut and spend overnight there.

Day 8: DESCEND/RETURN TO ARUSHA
After breakfast descend to Marangu Gate where we will check out and receive Kilimanjaro climbing certificate at the park gate office, then eat our lunch and say goodbye to your Destination Tanzania Safaris mountain staff. We will then drive back to Arusha, for a nice hot shower or swimming at the lodge, looking forward to departing or going on safari the following day.