7 DAYS RONGAI ROUTE

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Day 1: Airport Pick-Up - Hotel Drop-Oﬀ

A member of the Chakapori hospitality team will greet you upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro InternaConal Airport. They will drive you to Panama Garden Resort, where you'll find everything you need for a comfortable stay aBer your long flight, including pleasant rooms with hot showers, a restaurant oﬀering delicious opCons, a friendly service team, and internet access. Your briefing, during which your guides will provide all the details of the upcoming trek, will take place at the scheduled Cme. They will answer your quesCons and ensure you are properly equipped for the trek, providing rental gear if necessary.

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Day 2: Moshi – Rongai Gate – Simba Camp

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll depart around 8:00 AM and arrive at Rongai Gate around 11:00 AM, where you'll enjoy a picnic lunch. You'll complete the registraCon formaliCes and meet the essenCal trekking team who will accompany you up the mountain. Your porters will load your gear, and then you're ready to start the trek! Today's starCng alCtude is 2,364 meters, and you'll ascend to a new alCtude of 2,671 meters. IniCally, you'll trek through pine forests and some vegetable fields, briefly entering lush areas where colobus monkeys may be spoEed. The landscape then transiCons to heathland with its disCncCve large heathers. Your goal is to reach Simba Camp at 2,671 meters by 5:00 PM. The walking distance today is only 7 km (4 miles), with an esCmated walking Cme of around 3-4 hours. ABer relaxing upon arrival at the camp, you'll have dinner around 7:00 PM.

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Day 3: From Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp

Wake up! ABer your first night on the mountain, enjoy breakfast and prepare to depart around 8:00 AM. Today, you'll walk approximately 16 km (10 miles) with an ascent of around 929 meters, expecCng about 6.5 to 7 hours of actual walking. At the start, you'll noCce the large heathers become smaller as you climb, and trees become fewer and farther between. On a clear day, you might see across the border to Kenya. The path involves a steady, steep, and oBen dusty ascent. You'll have a picnic lunch around 1:00 PM before conCnuing in a southeast direcCon with the rugged peak of Mawenzi in view. The trail crosses moorland with less ascent than this morning, but it's sCll a long, challenging day. By the end of the aBernoon, you should reach Kikelelwa Camp at 3,600 meters around 5:00 PM, with dinner served at 6:00 PM.

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Day 4: From Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

Enjoy an extra hour in bed with a slightly later departure. Today’s distance is short at only 3 km (2 miles), but you'll ascend over 600 meters, making that extra sleep worthwhile! As you conCnue to climb, you'll noCce the vegetaCon thinning rapidly at higher alCtudes, but the views on Rongai are truly excepConal. Your goal is to arrive at Mawenzi Tarn Camp at 4,315 meters by around 1:00 PM for acclimaCzaCon in this beauCful seang. On clear days, the views up to Kibo at 4,720 meters are stunning. Dinner will be served around 6:00 PM.

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Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp – Mawenzi Ridge – Mawenzi Tarn Camp

This extra day is for acclimaCzaCon. ABer breakfast, you'll begin your hike toward Mawenzi Ridge, gaining 74 meters in alCtude. You'll spend one to two hours at a higher alCtude to properly acclimate, with lunch taking place at Mawenzi Ridge itself before hiking back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp. Dinner is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

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Day 6: From Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Kibo Camp

Return to your early breakfast schedule to ensure you're ready to depart Mawenzi by 8:00 AM. StarCng at 4,315 meters, you'll ascend to Kibo Camp at 4,720 meters. You'll head west before crossing the ridge and conCnue along the edge of the "saddle." While vegetaCon is sparse, you might spot an eland at this loBy alCtude. Your objecCve is to arrive at Kibo Camp at 4,720 meters around 3:00 PM, stopping for a midday picnic lunch. In the evening, as you prepare for tomorrow’s summit aEempt, dinner will be served early at around 5:30 PM, allowing you to reCre to bed at a good Cme.

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Day 7: Ascent to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo Camp

Your schedule for Summit Day is unique. You'll rise at 11:00 PM, enjoy tea and biscuits at 11:30 PM, and depart at midnight. Today, you'll climb 1,192 meters, making it your toughest day with around 10–13 hours of actual walking and a total distance of 22 km (14 miles). You can expect to reach the summit starCng around 7:00 AM. The climb begins on a rocky path, progressing through a series of increasingly Cght zig-zags. Key points on your ascent include William’s Point (5,000 meters), Hans Meyer Cave (5,151 meters), and Gilman’s Point (5,685 meters). Remember to "walk pole pole"—that is, slowly. Upon reaching the top at Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), take Cme to celebrate, take photos, and congratulate yourself. Then, descend back to Kibo Camp (4,703 meters) by around 11:00 AM for a well-deserved two-hour rest and a welcome brunch. Seang oﬀ again at 2:00 PM, you'll conCnue your descent to Horombo Camp (3,720 meters), arriving around 5:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM.

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Day 8: Descent from Horombo Camp to Marangu Gate – Moshi

After breakfast at 7:00 AM, take the opportunity to thank your hardworking guides and porters during the important “Tipping CelebraCon.” Then, depart from Horombo Camp and begin your descent toward Marangu Gate, stopping at Mandara around midday for a cooked lunch. You'll reach Marangu Gate at 1,879 meters by around 4:00 PM. Today’s secCon is approximately 20 km (12 miles), taking about 6.5 to 7 hours of walking. Upon arrival at Marangu Gate, you'll receive your cerCficate—a fiang souvenir recognizing your tremendous eﬀort. You'll then return by vehicle to Moshi, where you'll stay overnight at your hotel for some well-deserved relaxaCon. If you sCll have energy, you can celebrate your wonderful achievement, having just climbed Africa’s highest mountain!

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Day 9: Departure - Kilimanjaro International Airport

After a good night’s rest at your hotel, enjoy breakfast and prepare for your scheduled check-out by 10:00 AM. If you wish to stay in the hotel during the day, please inform us when you book your trip. We can arrange a “day room” for you to stay unCl 6:00 PM for an addiConal fee. As transfer services are included in this package, you'll be picked up from your hotel and dropped oﬀ at the airport. For travelers who have booked a safari, our Chakapori Tours guide will meet you in the aBernoon to provide a pre-safari briefing.