Rongai Route

If you’re looking for seclusion, then the Rongai Route is perfect for you. This Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking sees very less traffic due to its remote location. To add to that, the Rongai route offers fantastic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and overlooking the equally stunning Kenyan plains. In fact, it’s the only Kilimanjaro Hiking route approaching from the northern side of the mountain, just near the Kenyan border.

The Rongai Route Overview

This is the only Kilimanjaro hiking trail approaching Kibo from the north. Up until recently, the trail used to begin right against the Kenyan border. But a few years back, the trail shifted eastwards and now starts from a small Tanzanian town called Loitokitok.

In fact, the original Rongai Route used to start at the Rongai village border. But eventually, it was closed by the authorities who felt that two trails on a side of the mountain were unnecessary.

You can easily spot this route marked on many maps. But today the Rongai route follows a different trail starting from the Loitokitok village.

For the final push to the summit, you’ll be taking the Kibo Hut Route at the 5000m mark just below Hans Meyer Cave. It is possible to complete the Kilimanjaro Hike in five days and four nights, but to give you an extra day for acclimatization, Kinesi Tours & Safaris prefers to take a detour to the campsite further down the Mawenzi peak.

Top Highlights Of Rongai Route

• The only route approaching from the Northern side of the mountain.
• Enjoy the clearest views of the mountain
• An array of panoramic views
• Rongai Route is less challenging, comes with an easier acclimatization profile, and lower traffic
• Chance to spot abundant wildlife
• Lacks in the scenery in comparison to other routes approaching from the west
• Doesn’t have a great “climb high and sleep low” profile due to its flat climbing trails.
• The best trail if you’re hiking in the rainy season.

Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Summit Success Rate

The Kilimanjaro success rate of the Rongai Route isn’t that great especially if you compare it to other popular Kilimanjaro Routes like the Lemosho route and Northern Circuit route. It all boils down to the very important “climb High Sleep Low” profile or the lack of it.  As the Rongai route offers only one opportunity to climb high and sleep low which might not be enough from the acclimatization point of view.

Take a look at the average annual Kilimanjaro success Rate of the Rongai route;

• 7-day Itinerary- 80%
• 6-day Itinerary- 65%

The Rongai Route Disadvantages

At first glance, the Rongai route trail might seem unattractive. As the lower slopes at the beginning have been denuded by farmers which presents a bleak landscape. But on the brighter side, this Kilimanjaro route is considered to be one of the easier hiking routes.

Another point is this route opens to the summit crater at Gilman’s Point on the summit day/night. This is a little further away from the actual summit point. So, that means you’ve to cover those extra hiking miles which can cause a great dent in your morale.

And then there’s the tariff: if your Kilimanjaro Travel bookings are in Moshi, Arusha, or Marangu, then you’re looking at the extra cost of transportation to the start of the Kilimanjaro Hike. Which can be quite exorbitant.

The Rongai route presents excellent camping accommodation. And to make your journey smoother, Kinesi Tours Safari provides all of your camping gear, including your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and pillow.

To know more about our super successful itinerary and exclusive Kilimanjaro packages, visit our website today.