Rongai route on Mount Kilimanjaro

This is a challenging walk to the summit of Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa following the Rongai route.

This route starts from the north side of the mountain near the border with Kenya and one of the advantages of this trail is you have a higher chance of seeing wildlife due to its proximity to Amboseli National Park. This route is known as a quieter alternative to the busier Marangu and Machame routes.

This route has a gentler gradient up to the highest camp compared to the other approaches on the mountain. However on summit day there is a steep walk up to Gillman’s Point (5,685m) then along the crater rim up to the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro at Uhuru Peak (5,985m).

The Rongai trek is graded as a strenuous with several tough days including a long summit day taking at least fourteen hours. Being aerobically fit does not in itself help acclimatisation however it is worth training hard before departure, you will definitely not regret this on the summit day.