RONGAI ROUTE

• Difficulty: Medium
• Scenery: very good
• Traffic: Low

Rongai Route is among the least frequented of all the official routes in Kilimanjaro. With respect to that, the advantage is there will far fewer climbers on the trail for most part of the trek and the woods are as pristine as it could get. But the downside is the topography of the route doesn’t provide much acclimatization opportunities and trekkers can’t follow the “climb high, sleep low” principle. An additional day at Mawenzi Tarn for acclimatization is hence recommended.

But during the rainy season, Rongai route is considered the best route as it is located in the rain shadow of Kilimanjaro and sees substantially less rainfall than its southern counterparts.

The route starts from the Rongai gate and it traverses several climatic zones along the way. Each zone has its own distinctive feature and provides amazing views and experiences. Kilimanjaro always seems to loom over dramatically overhead and at higher altitudes, you’ll be rewarded with even better alluring sights. To top it all off, you’ll get a mesmerizing 360 degrees view once you make it to Uhuru Peak.

This route used for ascending purposes doesn’t require much technical climbing, but requires a standard level of physical fitness as it is strenuous. The descend is conducted through a more heavily travelled Marangu route which offer views of both side of the trail. You can basically see everything that this beautiful region has on offer.