Kilimanjaro trekking routes
ITINERARY
TREKKING
ALTITUDE
2023 & 2024
To climb Kilimanjaro on our 11 day Rongai itinerary (trekking for 7 days), you can join one of many Open Group Challenge climbs throughout the year, departing from the UK. Our group climbs bring like-minded people together to share a Kilimanjaro experience. You can sign up on your own, as a couple , or with a group of friends or family.
The Challenge
The Rongai Route trek approaches from the north and is one of the least frequented trails on Kilimanjaro, which is perfect for those looking for a more ‘wilderness’ experience. It isn’t an ‘easier’ Kilimanjaro route, but the first few days are a bit shorter, and the pace is more relaxed – offering good acclimatisation. Through forest, the trail climbs steadily up to Mawenzi tarn in the shadow of Mawenzi Peak, before crossing the barren landscape of ‘The Saddle’. From base camp at Kibo it is a tough but rewarding ascent up to Kilimanjaro’s summit via Gillman’s Point and Stella Point – where we will feel on top of the world!
The Experience
Life While Trekking
On an Action Challenge trip you’ll be part of a team which takes on a Kilimanjaro adventure together – and that’s what makes the experience so special. Getting to know others, supporting each other when the going gets tough on summit day, laughing together, and sharing those special moments & the new friendships that will stay with you for many years. Led by a UK Mountain Leader and supported by a Medic overseeing the group’s wellbeing – you’ll be in safe hands, and our expert local Kilimanjaro logistics team & guides will ensure it all runs like clockwork. These are ‘fully inclusive’ Kilimanjaro trips – leaving you to focus on your challenge, and to enjoy it!
An Action Challenge trip is much more than a holiday! It brings like-minded people together in fantastic landscapes, provides the best support & great hospitality, and enables the group to take on a tough & unforgettable challenge which forges new friendships, broaden horizons, and leaves you wanting more of life’s adventures!
The blueprint for Action Challenge trip is based on delivering a high quality enjoyable experience – and doing it all safely. An experienced UK Mountain Leader ensures that all aspects of the challenge run to plan – and one of our UK Medics with an expedition med kit is on-hand to look after the group’s wellbeing – enabling everyone to have the best chance of successfully competing their challenge.
We go to great lengths to ensure that we only use the best local organisations to supply the all-important ground logistics and the on-challenge support, catering, and hospitality teams – with experienced guides leading the way on the trails with their deep local knowledge and authentic style.
Like minded people with a similar sense of adventure – but often from very different backgrounds, and with a wide range of experience, ages, levels of fitness, and personal ambitions. Our trips are perfect for individuals, couples, and small groups of friends to join – and then to take on a unique challenge as part of a larger group which shapes & bonds as the adventure unfolds!
Whether its’s the hotels, restaurants & transfers before & after the main challenge – or the challenge accommodation & meals whilst out on the trails – our all inclusive packages mean that you will get a top quality experience at a great value price! Flights are generally included, but there’s a ‘land only’ option if you’d prefer to book your own – and single supplement accommodation upgrades are available.
The group comes together – takes on a tough challenge together – and then celebrates its achievements in style on the final night of the trip in a local restaurant or hotel, with medals, awards, and a maybe a bit of a party! Many of our participants make new special friends on our trips – and quite a few come back together for another challenge in the following years!
A successful challenge starts with good preparation. The better prepared you are the more confident you’ll be, and the more you’ll enjoy it! Our ‘Challenge App’ will have all the info & details of what to expect on your challenge – and how to prepare for it – and we have optional training walks, training weekends , and a place on one of our UK Ultra Challenge events to get out on the tails and test your fitness, kit, & equipment.
Itinerary & Route
Please note that some details of the itinerary may change, you will be provided with a detailed itinerary once you are signed up to the challenge.
Departing London, we fly overnight before landing into Tanzania. Upon a morning arrival, we transfer to our hotel, check in, before a welcome briefing & kit check. We have an evening meal together before an early night.
Setting out from the Nalemoru gate, to the North East of the mountain, we begin trekking from the foothills through lush vegetation. Our 1st night is spent camping at ‘Simba Camp’ (2,668m). The next day we make our way slowly towards 2nd Caves Camp where we stop for lunch, and get our first views of the top of Kilimanjaro From here we head towards Kikelewa Camp, and onwards to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330m) where we camp alongside the lake.
Day 6 is a really important day, where we take a looped route up to 4,500m on Mawenzi’s North Ridge to acclimitise our bodies to the altitude, spend a couple of hours here and then descend back down to camp for another night. We leave Mawenzi Tarn and head across the desert style landscape towards Kibo. It’s a vast and bleak area, unlike any terrain we would have seen so far. After 5-6 hours we reach our campsite at Kibo Huts Camp – before the final push to Kilimanjaro’s summit later tonight!
And so to Kilimanjaro summit day! We awake just before midnight – and after a hot drink & snacks we begin our climb. We climb for about 6 hours up the most demanding part of the route by torchlight, to reach Gilman’s Point at the crater rim. After a short rest we make our final traverse to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent at 5895m. The rising morning sunlight gives spectacular views across the plains and of Mount Meru in the distance – we feel on top of the world! After some photos it’s back to Gilmans Point – down to Kibo Camp where we stop for a rest & brunch before continuing down Horombo Huts Camp at 3,720m. After a long and exhilarating day we can finally rest our tired legs and get a good night’s sleep!
After breakfast we continue our descent back through the rainforest to the Mandara Huts for lunch, and then on down the track to leave the Kilimanjaro National Park through Marangu Gate. Today’s descent is straightforward but after the challenge of the Kilimanjaro summit day we’ll have to dig deep. After a rest & a hot shower we have the afternoon to relax by the pool before a celebratory dinner. The next day we have a free morning, before heading to the airport for an overnight flight back to the UK.
Costs & Fundraising
We’ve three payment & fundraising options for you to take on this challenge.
Sign up from £295 online deposit & balance payment due 12 weeks before, with no fundraising target.
Sign up from £295 online deposit & fundraise for a charity of your choice, with different target options.
The Challenge brochure details the full itinerary, inclusions, dates & prices – download for a full run down of the challenge details.
Join our Newsletter list & keep up to date with our latest news & deals.
* After booking your challenge, use the link in your confirmation email to select your free challenge.
It’s like paying for an all-inclusive holiday.
You pay the registration deposit. The final balance for the trip cost will be due no later than 10 weeks before your departure date
If you want to fundraise for charity, you may still do this separately – either on or offline. All fundraising will be a direct donation to your chosen charity. Please contact them for more information.
This option lets you pay some of the trip cost yourself, including the registration deposit. You then fundraise on top for a chosen charity.
Action Challenge will invoice your charity for 50% the trip cost 12 weeks before departure.
You must complete 80% of your fundraising by 12 weeks before departure, with the remaining 20% completed 4 weeks after departure.
Let us know what charity you want to support when registering so that we can set up your agreement.
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £5,995 total (£495 deposit & £5,500 balance)
Land only = £5,395 total (£395 deposit & £4,900 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £4,095 total (£395 deposit & £3,700 balance)
Land only = £3,095 total (£295 deposit & £2,800 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1800
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £595
With flights = £4,995 total (£595 deposit & £4,400 balance)
Land only = £3,995 total (£495 deposit & £3,500 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £495
With flights = £4,595 total (£495 deposit & £4,100 balance)
Land only = £3,995 total (£495 deposit & £3,500 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £4,095 total (£395 deposit & £3,700 balance)
Land only = £3,495 total (£395 deposit & £3,100 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £3,695 total (£395 deposit & £3,300 balance)
Land only = £2,695 total (£295 deposit & £2,400 balance)
The above is for Flights Included packages, for ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1,800
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £3,895 total (£395 deposit & £3,500 balance)
Land only = £2,895 total (£295 deposit & £2,600 balance)
Pay £750 (£395 deposit + £455 final balance) + fundraise £6200
Pay £1000 (£395 deposit + £705 final balance) + fundraise £5700
Pay £1500 (£395 deposit + £1205 final balance) + fundraise £4700
Pay £2000(£395 deposit + £1705 final balance) + fundraise £3700
The above is for Flights Included packages, for ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1,800
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £295
With flights = £3,695 total (£295 deposit & £3,400 balance)
Land only = £2,895 total (£295 deposit & £2,800 balance)
The above is for Flights Included packages, for ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £295
With flights = £3,495 total (£295 deposit & £3,200 balance)
Land only = £2,895 total (£295 deposit & £2,600 balance)
The above is for Flights Included packages, for ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £3,895 total (£395 deposit & £3,500 balance)
Land only = £2,895 total (£295 deposit & £2,600 balance)
Pay £750 (£395 deposit + £455 final balance) + fundraise £6,200
Pay £1,000 (£395 deposit + £705 final balance) + fundraise £5,700
Pay £1,500 (£395 deposit + £1,205 final balance) + fundraise £4,700
Pay £2,000 (£395 deposit + £1,705 final balance) + fundraise £3,700
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1,800
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £3,895 total (£395 deposit & £3,500 balance)
Land only = £2,895 total (£295 deposit & £2,600 balance)
Pay £750 (£395 deposit + £455 final balance) + fundraise £6,200
Pay £1,000 (£395 deposit + £705 final balance) + fundraise £5,700
Pay £1,500 (£395 deposit + £1,205 final balance) + fundraise £4,700
Pay £2,000 (£395 deposit + £1,705 final balance) + fundraise £3,700
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1,800
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £295
With flights = £3,295 total (£295 deposit & £3,000 balance)
Land only = £2,695 total (£295 deposit & £2,400 balance)
The above is for Flights Included packages, for ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Registration deposit (included in costs below): £395
With flights = £3,695 total (£395 deposit & £3,300 balance)
Land only = £2,695 total (£395 deposit & £2,400 balance)
Please note:
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £395
With flights = £4,095 total (£395 deposit & £3,700 balance)
Land only = £3,495 total (£395 deposit & £3,100 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £495
With flights = £4,595 total (£495 deposit & £4,100 balance)
Land only = £3,995 total (£495 deposit & £3,500 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Registration deposit (included in costs below): £295
With flights = £3,695 total (£295 deposit & £3,400 balance)
Land only = £3,095 total (£295 deposit & £2,800 balance
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1,200
Registration deposit (included in costs below): £295
With flights = £3,295 total (£295 deposit & £3,000 balance)
Land only = £2,695 total (£295 deposit & £2,400 balance)
For ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200
Deposit (included in costs below) paid online to sign up: £295
With flights = £3,495 total (£295 deposit & £3,200 balance)
Land only = £2,895 total (£295 deposit & £2,600 balance)
The above is for Flights Included packages, for ‘Land Only’ Packages, the fundraising target is reduced by £1200