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The Rongai ruten is the only route that ascends the northern slope of Kilimanjaro. It’s a quieter route, and offers some amazing views. We discuss the pros and cons of the Rongai to help you decide if it’s the right route for you.
The Rongai ruten is the only route that approaches the summit from the northern side of the mountain, near the Kenyan border. It’s one of the least crowded of the seven Kilimanjaro routes.
Rongai Route Kilimanjaro is a far less popular route toclimb Kilimanjaro. Starting from the North- east side of the mountain near the Kenyan border, the Rongai route up Kilimanjaro rises above the Amboselli plains and approached the summit of Kilimanjaro east of the Mawenzi peaks. The route is also known as Loitokok or the old Outward Bound Hut route up Kilimanjaro. It is an unfrequented route and in terms of difficulty is also the ‘easier’ camping approach to Uhuru Peak.
The route approaches Kilimanjaro from the northern side at Loitokok Park gate over by the Kenyan side of the mountain after a long drive of about 4 hours from Moshi. The route heads through the forest on an unspoilt, remote and less popular trail as a direct approach towards Kibo huts. There are chances to see herds of Buffalo if you are lucky and you also get a chance to see a number of caves formed from the volcanic eruption of Kilimanjaro. However because of the constant altitude gain of the route does not allow for the application of the climb high and sleep low principle and hikers generally suffer more from altitude sickness along Rongai route compared to other routes. For this reason an extra day acclimatisation is advised.
The Rongai Route is more scenic than the Marangu Route, easier than the Machame Route, and the success rate on the Rongai is very high.
Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, Rongai you sleep in tents (tents are included), and the porters generally pitch your tent for you.
The Rongai starts on the north side of the mountain just south of the Kenyan border, and is one of the least traveled routes. It joins the Marangu Route for the summit climb, then you descend the Marangu Route on the mountains’ southeast side, so you see Kilimanjaro from many view points.
Rongai Climb • 6 Days • 5 Nights on the mountain
The Rongai Route is considered one of Kilimanjaro’s easiest routes. It routinely sees high success rates, in part because it is relatively short. The route begins on the north side of Kilimanjaro just south of the Kenyan border, traverses the summit, then descends the mountain’s southern flank via the Marangu Trail. It is an excellent way for climbers to see fresh terrain throughout their expedition and experience more of the mountain’s rugged beauty. The Rongai is one of Kilimanjaro’s least traveled routes. It may also be climbed via a 7-day variation to allow more time for acclimatization.
There are two versions of this trek – a direct 6 day itinerary, and a 7 day itinerary that takes a longer route.
Day | Start | Altitude (m) | Altitude (ft) | Finish | Altitude (m) | Altitude (ft) | TIme | Distance | Distance |
1 | Rongai Gate | 1,950 | 6,398 | Rongai Cave | 2,830 | 9,300 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
2 | Rongai Cave | 2,830 | 9,300 | 2nd Cave | 3,450 | 11,300 | 3-4 | 6 | 4 |
2nd Cave | 3,450 | 11,300 | Kielewa Cave | 3,600 | 11,811 | 3-4 | 3 | 2 | |
3 | Kielewa Cave | 3,600 | 11,811 | Mawenzi Tam | 4,315 | 14,160 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
5 | Mawenzi Tam | 4,315 | 14,160 | Kibo Hut | 4,703 | 15,430 | 2-3 | 4 | 2 |
Kibo Hut | 4,703 | 15,430 | Mawenzi Tam | 4,315 | 14,160 | 1-2 | 4 | 2 | |
5 | Mawenzi Tam | 4,315 | 4,160 | Kibo Hut | 4,703 | 15,430 | 5-6 | 9 | 6 |
6 | Kibo Hut | 4,703 | 15,430 | Uhuru Peak | 5,895 | 19,341 | 6-8 | 6 | 4 |
Uhuru Peak | 5,895 | 19,341 | Horomobo Hut | 3,720 | 12,205 | 4-5 | 16 | 10 | |
7 | Horombo Hut | 3,720 | 12,205 | Marangu Gate | 1,843 | 6,046 | 5-7 | 20 | 12 |
The Rongai route is the only route that approaches the summit of Kilimanjaro from north of the mountain. It’s a decent route choice for those looking to climb during the rainy season, as the north side of the mountain generally receives a little less precipitation.
We recommend choosing this route if you want to avoid the crowds. It’s also a good option if you have less or no trekking experience and want a more relaxed climb with fewer steep sections. (You might also like to read Trekking tips for beginners.)
There isn’t an opportunity to climb high and sleep low on the Rongai if you opt for the six-day itinerary. If, however, you hike the seven-day itinerary, there is an acclimatisation day at Mawenzi Tarn Camp. We highly recommend choosing the seven-day over the six-day itinerary.
The Rongai route can be climbed in 5 rather than 6 days, if desired. Mawenzi Tarn is not visited in this case, and on the second day climbers go to Second Cave for lunch, as normal, but then the path continues directly towards the peak of Kibo for a further 2 hours and camp is made at Third Cave, 3,700 metres. On the following day, climbers continue ascending up to the Saddle, and onwards to make camp next to Kibo Hut, at 4,700 metres. The itinerary is then the same as for the 5th and 6th days of the 6 day Rongai ascent. Although this 5 day climb is sometimes undertaken, we advise climbers to opt for the 6 day climb if possible, as Mawenzi Tarn is one of the most magnificent camps on Kilimanjaro, and it is a shame to miss it!
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