Kilimanjaro trekking routes
Rongai Route
11 days
ITINERARY
7 days
TREKKING
5,895m
ALTITUDE
Dates
2025
The Quieter Way Up...
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
Reach the Roof of Africa in 7 days...
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!
- 11 day trip - 7 day trekking
- Take on as Group or Local climb
- Approaches from the quieter North
- Mountain features ahead in distance
- 2 nights camp at Mawenzi camp & lake
- Acclimatisation day built into route
- Summit approach via Gilman's point
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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.
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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.
Self Funding
Sign up from £295 online deposit & balance payment due 12 weeks before, with no fundraising target.
Fundraise for Charity
Sign up from £295 online deposit & fundraise for a charity of your choice, with different target options.
Our Brochure
The Challenge brochure details the full itinerary, inclusions, dates & prices – download for a full run down of the challenge details.
