Rongai route Kilimanjaro climb, Tanzania
| country: | Tanzania |
| location: | Kilimanjaro |
| trip type: | High altitude, strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 15 Jan, 5 Feb, 19 Feb, 26 Feb, 28 May, 25 Jun, 30 Jul, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 8 Oct 2011: 21 Jan, 4 Feb, 25 Feb, 27 May, 24 Jun, 29 Jul, 2 Sep, 16 Sep, 7 Oct |
| price: | From £1939 - £2349 (10 days) including flights from the UK. From £779 - £1299 excluding flights. |
| more info: | The price range above includes Kilimanjaro Park fees |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 4 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
A less demanding route to Kilimanjaro’s summit
Rongai Route
You’ll see fewer other climbers on this less trekked route giving you a real sense of discovery away from the crowds. As the only route with views of the Masai lands you’ll have the best chance of seeing wildlife including monkey, buffalo and elephant. This is a fully supported six-day camping trip and offers the most ‘gradual’ ascent of Kili
Rongai Route
You’ll see fewer other climbers on this less trekked route giving you a real sense of discovery away from the crowds. As the only route with views of the Masai lands you’ll have the best chance of seeing wildlife including monkey, buffalo and elephant. This is a fully supported six-day camping trip and offers the most ‘gradual’ ascent of Kili
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London You catch an overnight flight from London to Kilimanjaro airport via Addis Ababa. |
| Day 2: | Marangu (1600m) After your flight, you transfer (85km) to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Marangu is situated on the south-eastern side of the mountain. As you drive, there are usually some excellent views of the snow-capped peak. Once settled into your lodge you are briefed on the coming trek. Hotel - 1 night (D) |
| Day 3: | First Cave Camp (2600m) This morning you’ll transfer to the northern side of the mountain and the village of Nale Moru (1950m). Having registered at the Rongai Gate you’ll meet your team of guides and porters who will accompany you during your trek. As you walk up from the gate you’ll wind through cultivated farmland and pine forest plantations before entering lush forests. As you go along keep your eyes open; the trees hide many species of birds and you might be lucky enough to see monkeys and signs of larger game. Your first mountain camp will be on the edge of the moorland zone with great views back down to the plains and into Kenya. Walking time 3-4 hours. Camp - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Kikelewa Caves (3600m) After waking with the dawn and a hot drink you’ll have a hearty breakfast and prepare for the day’s walk. Continuing uphill you’ll ascend steadily up to the second cave at 3450m whilst high above you Kibo Peak towers and the eastern ice fields cling to the mountain’s crater rim. Below, the slope sweeps away down into the forests. The third cave is your goal for today and so you’ll head further up the mountain and reach camp in the afternoon. Total walking time 5 hours. Camp - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Mawenzi Tarn (4330m) This morning you will have a steady but steep ascent under the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Leaving grassy slopes behind you’ll leave the vegetation zone and enter the high altitude desert. You’ll head for tonight’s camp near to the Mawenzi Tarn – the only permanent lake on Kilimanjaro - with the cirque of this 5149m peak towering above you. The afternoon is free to help your acclimatisation. Total walking time 4 hours. Camp - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Kibo Hut (4703m) Skirting Mawenzi Peak, you head out into the lunar landscape of "The Saddle", a broad tundra desert between the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. From here you get fantastic views of the upper reaches of the mountain before arriving at Kibo Hut (4703m), a dry-stone-walled hut with limited facilities. Tonight you prepare for tomorrow's final assault - re-packing to leave any non-essential items with the porters; you need to summon all your energy to get to the summit so there's absolutely no point in carrying anything you don't need! An early night is imperative as you must make a midnight start in order to reach the summit in the morning before the cloud cover settles, and then have time to get back down. Total walking time - 4/5 hours. Camp - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Uhuru Peak (5895m) This is a long and demanding day! The guides wake you soon after midnight and you start out in darkness, zigzagging up a long scree slope by the light of your head-torch in the extreme cold. At this time of day the scree is still frozen - which makes it easier to walk on! After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer's Cave - named after the German geologist who made the first successful ascent in 1889 - where he found the remains of a frozen leopard. The gradient gets steeper and three hours on (this is the hardest stretch of the ascent!) you should reach the crater rim at Johanne’s Notch. From here it's a short scramble to Gillman's Point (5680m) in time for dawn. Your reward is the dramatic spectacle of the sun rising over the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi - the profusion of colours and shapes make all the suffering seem worthwhile! The views are incredible as you look down with the plains of Africa stretching away. For those who still have the energy and drive, it takes another couple of hours along the crater rim to reach Uhuru (Freedom) Peak (5895m). Your descent retraces the route back down to Kibo Hut. Here you’ll be able to get some food and recharge a little before continuing down to Horombo Hut camp for a well-deserved rest. Total walking time approx. 13 hours. Camp - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Arusha The pace quickens as you continue your triumphant way back down across alpine meadow and past Mandara Hut through the rainforest to Marangu Gate where you board the vehicle for the journey back to Arusha. After the solitude of the mountain this town seems like a lively metropolis. Here you can take a well-earned shower and relax with a celebratory drink! Lodge - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 9: | Fly To London The day is free to relax, shop, or explore. It’s worth a look at the covered market, or the stalls and shops around the clock tower. However the likelihood is that you will want to relax, maybe with a drink, at the lovely lodge in Arusha resting those tired legs and reminiscing about your journey to the highest point in Africa!! The trip ends in Arusha for Land Only clients, clients on group flights to the UK make a late afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight back to London. NB Lunch is not included today. (B) |
| Day 10: | Arrive in London |
| Day 11-17: | Optional Zanzibar Island Extension Day 1-8: As per itinerary above Day 9-10: Transfer to Arusha airport for a flight to the ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar. After checking into your hotel in the island’s capital and main port you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy ‘sundowners’ on the terrace of one of the bars or restaurants looking out towards sunset over the Straits of Zanzibar. Stone Town, in the heart of Zanzibar Town, is a fascinating place to wander around; every twist and turn of the crumbling alleyways presents something of interest. From the Beit-el-Ajaib, or House of Wonders, formerly the Sultan’s palace, to the striking structures of the Arab fort and St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the town has an air of intrigue and history. The town has a multitude of mosques - 50 in all - as well as reminders of Zanzibar’s more sinister past as a large slave centre. There are also hints of a British presence - the National Museum houses artefacts from the British colonial period and Livingstone’s base for his last expedition has been preserved. There is ample time to browse the bazaars of the old town whose many irresistible crafts, textiles and spices make wonderful souvenirs. It's easy to get lost in the maze of streets, and part of the fun, but you may wish to hire a local guide to show you around and your hotel will assist you with this. Hotel - 2 nights (Bx2) Day 11-15: Today you drive across the island to the coast where you check in to your beachside hotel. You have plenty of time to relax and enjoy this tropical paradise. The coral-sand shores of this beautiful coast are protected by an offshore coral reef. The reefs are peppered with colourful sponges, fan worms, sea slugs and a wealth of fish - from small anemone to clouds of damselfish. Dolphins also frequent the coast. Try your hand at deep sea fishing, snorkelling or scuba diving. For those who prefer to be land based take a spice tour into the centre of the island see your favourite spices growing here as you never knew they looked. Hotel - 5 nights (Bx5,Dx5) Day 16:You transfer from your resort back to Stonetown. The trip ends here for Land Only clients. Those on group flights back to London board the overnight flight via Addis Ababa. Day 17: Arrive in London |
travellers' tales
It was excellent from start to finish. Hard, challenging but worth it, thanks.
(more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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On our trip: Our policy of staying in locally owned accommodation, having local guides and group leaders and using transport owned and operated by local people wherever possible is continued in Tanzania. Our small groups (maximum of 16 people) have a minimal impact on the fragile environment as we explore predominantly on foot. All tour guides are responsible for ensuring that the guests understand the nature of the environment that they are in and minimise the impact that they may have. We use local group leaders and our local agent is firmly committed to sustainable and ecological tourism. We collect and dispose of all litter, purify all drinking water instead of using bottled water, and use responsible cooking fuels (kerosene) instead of wood.
We support the Arusha children's trust, a charity which runs projects in rural communities in the more remote areas of The Rift Valley, seeking to improve the lives of the tribal groups that live there, without imposing Western values on them. The projects aim to help children in a number of areas including education, health services and environmental awareness. If you would like to offer your much needed help to the project, as well as monetary donations, the trust would be delighted to receive any picture books for young children, games, construction toys, puzzles or sports equipment that you are able to carry out with you. Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |