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Bestseller
Bestseller
Holidays

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Tanzania
7 reviews
Available Departures: Jan, Mar, Aug, Sep, Dec

9 days from

US$3,370

without flights
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
CHALLENGING CHALLENGING

Climb Kilimanjaro (5895m), Africa's highest peak, by trekking the beautiful Rongai Route

Trip Code: KRR
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Highlights
  • Trek the Rongai Route, with an additional day on the mountain vital for acclimatisation and summit success
  • Our highly experienced and expert guides work hard to give you the best chances to summit
  • Watch the African sunrise from the crater rim of Africa’s highest mountain
  • Join the exclusive group who have climbed one of the world’s ‘7 Summits’

At a Glance
  • Group Size 4 to 14
  • 7 days trekking
  • Max altitude - 5895 metres
  • Join At Kilimanjaro International Airport

Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 6 nights Camping
  • 2 nights Hotel with swimming pool
Overview

This Kilimanjaro trek takes us along the quieter Rongai Route. This is one of the most scenic trekking routes on Kilimanjaro, providing a gradual climb through forest, farmland, open moor and has expansive views northwards to Amboseli National Park in Kenya. As an aid to acclimatisation, we include a rest day at the idyllic Mawenzi Tarn Camp, beneath the imposing rock spires. This additional day on the mountain dramatically increases our chances of summit success as we are better adjusted to the altitude. A pre-dawn start on the last day of our ascend enables us to reach the high point at Uhuru Peak (5895m) in time to see the summit snows illuminated by the golden light of sunrise. Kilimanjaro's prominence, being one of the world's tallest freestanding mountains, and Africa’s highest, makes it a great objective for either a life-time goal or a personal challenge.


This exceptional trekking adventure holiday offers the chance to summit Kilimanjaro by way of its finest and most enjoyable routes, alongside an additional day to acclimatise. This is probably not a journey you are going to do more than once, so ensure you have the best chances of summiting, and that you enjoy it!

Further options:

Lemosho Route (8 days trekking on Kili)

Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya (6 days trekking on Kili)

Mt Meru & Kilimanjaro (6 days trekking on Kili)

Confused as to which route to choose? Check out our expert guide: Which route to climb Kilimanjaro?

 

For safari extensions we offer a 4 day option which can be done with any dates, or a longer Serengeti Safari which combines with our October Rongai date.

Is this holiday for you?

For most, standing on the summit of the highest peak in Africa is either a life-time goal or a personal challenge. On Kilimanjaro walking days are between 4-7 hours, most being around 6-7 hours. The summit day is long with a pre-dawn start and around 12hrs of walking. All trails on the mountain are well marked and kept. Higher up there are some section of scree which we have to negotiate. They …

For most, standing on the summit of the highest peak in Africa is either a life-time goal or a personal challenge. On Kilimanjaro walking days are between 4-7 hours, most being around 6-7 hours. The summit day is long with a pre-dawn start and around 12hrs of walking. All trails on the mountain are well marked and kept. Higher up there are some section of scree which we have to negotiate. They are easy to follow, however you will always be behind your expert guide to ensure that you walk slow enough to adjust to the altitude.

 

A typical day starts with early morning tea in your tent at 0600. After a hot breakfast, our porters take their loads and we leave camp for our days walk. Lunch is at around 1100 and we aim to be at camp at around 1500-1600 to relax before dinner in the mess tent later. Of course certain days are longer, especially the summit day!

 

Don’t forget – Kilimanjaro is a big mountain (Africa’s biggest in fact!), you will need to be fit and mentally prepared to ensure summit success, and return home with the unique memories and the satisfaction of this massive achievement. You should aim to be at least fit enough to walk for at least two days in a row for 5-7 hours without a problem. Put on your boots and get walking and with a huge amount of determination you’ll be able to do it. Get training now and you can join the exclusive group who have summited.

Why KE?

We are different from the majority of the competition on this Rongai Route because we have an additional night at Mawenzi Tarn. We do this to allow the body to acclimatise better, which in turn increases summit success. Of course an additional day on the mountain increases the price (park fees are charged by the day along with staff costs) - but we think this additional amount is worth the increased chance of standing on that summit.

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Itinerary

The holiday starts at the hotel in Arusha. Airport transfers are included from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to the group hotel.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

D

An early start for the scenic drive around Kilimanjaro to reach the village of Rongai on Tanzania’s border with Kenya. Our route takes us through Marangu and then due north, through a number of interesting settlements. At Rongai, we complete our Kilimanjaro National Park registration, meet our trek staff and set off on trek. Starting out at an altitude of around 1950 metres, the very pleasant trail winds its way between farmland (maize and potato fields) and pine forest, gaining height steadily. In the forest, the animal that we are most likely to spot is the striking black and white colobus monkey. After 4 hours trekking, the forest becomes thinner and we set up camp on the edge of the moorland zone and can enjoy excellent views out across the Kenyan plains.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

720 M

Descent

80 M

Time

5 hrs trekking

Distance

7 KM

A longer day’s trekking today, gaining close to 1000 metres. A steady walk in the morning leads to the so-called "Second Cave," where we take lunch in sight of the peak of Kibo and the ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch, we turn off towards the jagged summit of Mawenzi and follow a trail across open moorland to a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves. Unusual giant tree-groundsels are the dominant plant species on this part of the route.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1250 M

Descent

200 M

Time

9 - 10 hrs trekking

Distance

12 KM

Our walking days become shorter to adjust to the demands of altitude. Today we cross grassy slopes with expansive views. By the time we reach our next camping place at Mawenzi Tarn, which is spectacularly situated beneath the rocky multiple summits of Mawenzi, we have passed the upper limit of vegetation (other than grasses) on the mountain. The afternoon is free for exploring the area.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

700 M

Descent

30 M

Time

4 - 5 hrs trekking

Distance

4 KM

A vital acclimatisation day at the camp beside Mawenzi Tarn. We will climb up onto the slopes of the Mawenzi volcanic cone to around 4500 metres. This day of acclimatisation, as well as being necessary from a safety point of view, will dramatically increase the group's chances of reaching the summit. Only a few operators include this day in their itinerary. It also gives you an opportunity to stay in a campsite more than 1 night.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

200 M

Descent

200 M

Time

2 - 3 hrs trekking

Distance

2 KM

Another short day of around 5 to 6 hours, as we cross the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, to reach our overnight halt at the Kibo Hut an altitude of 4750m. This camp is directly beneath the Kibo crater wall. We spend the afternoon resting and have an early night in preparation for the big day tomorrow.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

600 M

Descent

200 M

Time

5 - 6 hrs trekking

Distance

8 KM

A very early start as we set off by the light of our head-torches, on a zigzag trail on rough volcanic scree. It is a tough 4 to 5 hour climb of almost 1000 metres to the crater rim at Gillmans Point (5685m), which is a convenient point to rest and watch the sunrise on Mawenzi. It is a further 3-hour round trip to Uhuru Peak the highest point in Africa. Usually in the early morning, the conditions are clear and there are panoramic views over the crater, to Mawenzi and Mount Meru (4565m), looking very small below us. This part of the route takes us through a moonscape of volcanic rock and remnant glaciers with their impressive ice cliffs. After admiring the summit views and taking the obligatory summit photos we pat ourselves on the back for this awesome achievement. We then retrace our path around the crater rim we make a rapid descent to the Kibo Hut (4700m). We have lunch here, before setting off on the long descent to our camp at Horombo (3720m). A long day trekking - but so rewarding.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1300 M

Descent

2300 M

Time

14 - 15 hrs trekking

Distance

20 KM

As we descend from Horombo, we begin to encounter more vegetation and the lower part of the route is through pine forest. We pass the traditional first camping place on the Marangu Route at the Mandara Huts and continue our descent to the Marangu Gate (1900m). We say fond farewell to our trusty guide, staff and the porters who have helped us during the past week and pick up our certificates of ascent. We transfer to our hotel, a delight after camping on the mountains slopes. Here we have a shower and a beer (not necessarily in that order) and reflect on the climb and our achievements. A celebratory dinner and a well-deserved sleep in the hotel bed!

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

B L D

Ascent

10 M

Descent

2000 M

Time

5 hrs trekking

Distance

22 KM

The holiday ends after breakfast. Depending on flight times we have some relaxation time today. We need to vacate our rooms at 1100, but can use the hotel facilities until our transfer to the airport. Airport transfers from the group hotel are provided.

Meals

B
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Point Point
Peaks Peaks
Airport Airport
Direction Direction
Transfer
Trek

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • A professional and qualified tour leader and full support crew
  • Airport transfers to/from the group hotel on arrival and departure
  • All accommodation as described
  • All meals
  • All land transport required by the itinerary
  • All park fees and permits (total of $970)

  • Travel insurance
  • Visa
  • Tips
  • Miscellaneous personal expenditure - drinks and souvenirs etc

Return airport transfers from/to Kilimanjaro International Airport to/from the group hotel are provided for all passengers.

If you have additional nights which are not booked at the group hotel then we can provide private airport transfers at an additional cost.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Being hydrated and well fed is important element to summiting success. Our head chef and cook team works hard to ensure that the menu is carefully planned as you ascend, especially as it’s not unusual for people to lose their appetites at altitude. It is pretty amazing what this team of experts are able to produce on the side of the mountain.

At breakfast we have a hot drink (tea, coffee or hot chocolate) with porridge, or eggs, sausages and toast with jam, marmalade or honey. Lunch is usually three courses; starting with soup, followed by a hot meal such as cheese toast or chicken and ending with some fresh fruit or sometimes a muffin. Afternoon tea is served at camp shortly after we arrive, usually around 1500-1600, which is a hot drink with a snack such as peanuts, popcorn, or malt biscuits. Dinner is usually three-courses. Starting with soup, then a carbohydrate such as rice, pasta or potatoes, with beef, chicken, sausage or corned beef and cheese. The end of the meal there will be some fruit or something sweet. Vegetarians will have beans or a vegetable mix with different sauces. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements. You should bring your own trail snacks for the walking days.

At the start of the holiday you have one night at a comfortable hotel with swimming pool a 15 minute drive from Kilimanjaro Airport. We have another night here at the end of the trek.

Whilst on the mountain there are 6 nights camping. We use high quality, spacious 3 person tents. These are Simond Makalu tents and are expedition quality. Only 2 people and their bags stay in each tent. They are surprisingly warm at night. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, although you can hire them through KE if you prefer. Camping mattresses are provided by KE. We also have a dining tent with a table and chairs for meal times. The team put up the tents and take them down in the mornings for you - so you don't have to worry about that. You will be looked after very well.

We take along our own portable toilets and a little tent for privacy. These are kept nice and clean, and loo roll is provided. There are long drop toilets at each campsite which are maintained by the National Park Authority - but we find its just best to avoid these!

If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Single hotel rooms and single tents are available for a supplementary cost. If you are planning on extending your holiday additional nights at the group hotel are available on request. All hotel accommodation is subject to change.

Our groups are led by a professional and qualified tour leader. They have led groups for many years and have considerable experience on the mountain. Summit success is often attributed to the quality and experience of the guides. We are also supported by a full trek crew including cooks and porters.

This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you should consult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies.

The entrance fees and camping fees for the Kilimanjaro National Park form a considerable part of the cost of climbing this peak and are also prone to increase. We include these fees in your holiday price.

Approximately £200-250 per person (or equivalent in US dollars or Euros) should be allowed for tips, soft drinks, snacks and miscellaneous expenses. If your flight departs in the late afternoon or evening, you may wish to budget for a lunchtime snack on the last day. Alcoholic drinks, souvenirs and optional activities are additional so you may wish to budget for these.

You can choose to take your money in pounds sterling, US dollars or euros, but US dollars in small notes can also be used in emergencies where change facilities are not available. Tips to trek staff can be paid either in Tanzanian shillings or in US dollars, or a mix of both (USD are preferable). There will be the opportunity to change money into local currency on arrival at the airport on arrival, and we advise you to use the facilities here. Credit cards are useful and it is a good idea to carry one in case of emergency, however be aware that not all lodges/hotels accept cards.

Tips are the accepted way of saying thank you to your guides and porters. Tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members and are entirely dependent on the service that was given. Tipping should be decided and given by the group as a whole rather than from individuals. As a rough guide we suggest that a total contribution of approximately $150-200 from each group member. This will then be divided between the guides and support staff.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage, which should be a soft and sturdy duffel bag and a daypack. Your bag on trek will be carried by porters and should not weigh more than 14kg. This weight allowance is strictly enforced.  It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

Please be aware that plastic/polythene bags are illegal in Tanzania. The law says that they are not allowed to be manufactured, imported, used or sold in Tanzania (since Jun 2019).

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Visa Tanzania

UK passport holders do require a visa. The visa fee is $50 (single entry) and is obtainable on arrival or prior to departure online at https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/. The online application requires a scanned passport photo, a scanned copy of your passport bio page and evidence of your return flight details. 

 

If you are arriving into Kilimanjaro Airport, Dar es Salaam or into Tanzania via the Namanga border crossing, we advise you to get a visa prior to arrival as there can be long queues for visas services at customs.

For visas on arrival you require 2 passport photos for the visa, however we recommend you travel with 4 passport photos just in case. Payment must be in cash when getting your visa on arrival.

USA passport holders do require a visa. The visa fee is $100. It is advised to obtain this prior to departure, full and up to date information can be found online https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Tanzania.html

 

We (KE) require copy of the information page of your passport in order to make the arrangements in Tanzania. A colour scan must be emailed or posted to us at the earliest opportunity.

If you are travelling to Zanzibar you will also need to purchase specific insurance (as well as your standard travel insurance), through the Visit Zanzibar website - Visit Zanzibar

 

TRAVELLING WITH UNDER 18YRS

If the children (under 18yrs) with whom you are travelling have a different surname to yours, you should consider taking with you the child's full birth certificate. It is not a requirement, but some border personnel in Tanzania as well as the UK, may request to see it when travelling to/from Africa.

If you are travelling via Kenya to your destination you may also require a visa for Kenya. If you have connecting flights and your baggage has been checked all the way through to your destination you will not need a Kenyan visa.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis are required. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited for more than 12 hrs through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

The fitter you are the more you will enjoy your holiday and you are more likely to summit if you are not totally exhausted at the end of each day. Training should not be a chore, use your Kilimanjaro trip as an excuse to get out in the evenings after work or a walking weekend in the hills. Aerobic activities such as running, biking and swimming help overall fitness. You should aim to be at least fit enough to walk for at least two days in a row for 5-7 hours without a problem. Put on your boots and get walking and you’ll be able to do it. The summit day is a tough day with an 8-10 hrs ascent and a 6-8 hrs descent – and alongside the fitness you need plenty of determination for this day!

There is little you can do to prepare for the altitude but if you have an excellent level of fitness this can help.

We would recommend wearing and testing out the equipment and clothing that you will be taking with you before you go. Best to find out before you go that your new boots give you a little blister, or the trousers are just a little on the tight side, or the jacket just has too many pockets. At least you can do something about it before the trip.

The driest months are June to October when there is the least likelihood of rain or clouds higher up. This is also peak season to climb Kilimanjaro, especially as many people are on summer holidays. January to end March is also a drier period compared to the long rainy season in April/May and a second, shorter rainy period in November/early December. January to March is usually a bit colder, which can put some people off, but means that there are less people on the mountain. Rain is usually lower down during this period. Temperatures vary greatly with altitude. At the foot of Kilimanjaro it’s usually approximately 25- 28⁰C, dropping to 15⁰C at night. At 3000m, daytime temperatures can be around 15⁰C. Above 4000m, the night-time temperatures will fall below freezing and it is usually no more than 10⁰C in the day.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

Africa - The highest Peaks. TerraQuest

This is a great map, large-scale and laminated. Kilimanjaro National Park and Arusha National Park (1:150 000). Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (1:50 000), Massif of Mount Kenya (1:175 000), Summit of Mount Kenya (1:50 000), Rwenzori Mountains National Park (1:100 000), Summits of Rwenzori Mountains (1:50 000).

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

You should bring the following items:

  • Sleeping bag (comfort rated -15°C)*
  • Hiking boots (waterproof)
  • Trainers / sandals for camp
  • Trekking poles
  • Walking / trekking socks
  • Underwear
  • Trekking trousers
  • Waterproof jacket and overtrousers
  • Warm fleece
  • Fleece jacket
  • Warm / down jacket (to go over the fleece jacket)
  • Thermal baselayer – leggings & top
  • T-shirts, tops and/or casual shirts
  • Thermal gloves
  • Warm and waterproof gloves or mittens
  • Warm hat
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun protection (including for lips)
  • Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
  • Water purification tablets
  • Headtorch and spare batteries
  • Washbag and toiletries
  • Trek towel
  • Daypack 30 litres
  • Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents dry)
  • Antibacterial handwash
  • Basic First Aid Kit including: painkillers, antiseptic cream/spray, throat lozenges, plasters and blister treatment, Diamox (for the altitude), insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite) and diarrhoea treatment (Imodium)

The following items are optional:

  • Gaiters
  • Sleeping bag liner (essential if hiring a sleeping bag)
  • Shorts
  • Spare laces
  • Buff (it can get dusty)
  • Travel clothes
  • Camera
  • Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage)
  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Notes:

Equipment hire: Items marked * can be hired through KE Adventure Travel. Please make all requests at least 6 weeks prior to your departure date. The items are issued in Tanzania. Hire sleeping bags are not suitable for people over 6 feet in height.

Sleeping mattress: A thick foam sleeping mattress (3" thick) is provided.

Hold baggage: We recommend that you do not pack your hiking boots and other essential items in hold baggage due to the possibility of baggage being delayed.

PHD Gear Advisor:PHD specialise in cold weather equipment, from the world’s lightest right up to the very warmest. So to help you choose what you need to keep you warm, PHD have listed the gear that is appropriate for this Kilimanjaro trek.

Please be aware that plastic/polythene bags are illegal in Tanzania. The law says that they are not allowed to be manufactured, imported, used or sold in Tanzania (since Jun 2019).

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

Extensions

Extension Details

Tanzania Safari 4 day extension

4 Days

The world's finest game viewing can be found in the Tanzania National Parks of Tarangire, Manyara and in the crater of Ngorongoro. There is an excellent chance of spotting the ‘big five’ of elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo and lion, as well as wildebeest, cheetahs, giraffe, zebra and hyena. From our comfortable permanent tented lodge accommodation, we go out on safari with expert guides and trackers, in 4WD vehicles which are specially adapted for game viewing.

Extension Code: SAWL
Sharing Price from
US$2,155
Single Traveller Price from
US$3,275
Single Room Supplement from
US$160
Deposit Per Person from
US$200

Extension Itinerary

After breakfast we leave Arusha and drive to Manyara National Park. The road winds through luxurious jungle where groups of a hundred or more baboons can be found along the road. Blue monkeys climb in the acacia tress and the bushbuck antelope gentle grazing in the shade of the forest. In the meantime the impressive silvery-cheeked hornbills have a cacophonic concert in canopy! We stop for a picnic lunch under the Umbrella Thorn before continuing our game drive. This small park has herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe. It is famous of it's lions who lounge in the Umbrella Thorn (not the one we have our picnic under though!). At the end of the day we drive to our accommodation for the next 2 nights, on the green, lush outskirts of the small village of Karatu.

Meals

B L D

After breakfast we drive the 30 mins to Ngorongoro Crater. We spend a full day here in the park discovering its wonders. The crater has an inside diameter of 20km, and is 600m from its rim. It is also one of the places in Tanzania to see the Big 5; elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. More than 550 bird species are found here, and Lake Magadi in the crater is often pink because of the flamingos. We can also see the hippo and buffalo lounging in the mud in Ngoitotitok. It's a special place. We return to our lodge in Karatu for our overnight.

Meals

B L D

We have breakfast and depart our accommodation for Tarangire National Park. This park is famed for its large herds of wildlife, especially the elephants between August to January. It also harbours antelope species which are difficult to see in other parks such as' gerenuk, kudu, oryx and eland. We have a picnic lunch and see the many baobab trees on the hilly plains that Africa is so famous for. The landscape is also dotted with a large number of termite mounds. The Tarangire River crosses through the park giving way to permanent water points - a life line for the wildlife. At the end of the afternoon we drive back to our accommodation in Arusha.

Meals

B L D

After breakfast we depart to the airport, either for our return flight - or maybe off to the paradise island of Zanzibar.

Meals

B
Whats Included
  • A professional and qualified tour leader / wildlife guide
  • All transport and transfers included as per the itinerary
  • 1 night in an Arusha hotel
  • 2 nights at permanent tented lodge in Karatu
  • Game viewing safaris as described
  • All meals
What's Not Included
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips (approx USD20 per day of safari for the guide from everyone in the vehicle - max 6 in vehicle)
  • Miscellaneous personal expenditure - drinks and souvenirs etc NOTE: This price is based on 2 people travelling together. Please call us for a price for larger number (usually cheaper)
  • or to see if others on your climb also booking a safari.
Extension Details

Zanzibar - 4 day extension

4 Days

The lure of Zanzibar -The Spice Island, is legendary, with its exotic towns, palm-fringed beaches and pristine coral reefs it is the perfect place to relax after either climbing Kilimanjaro and being on safari. We are based at The Mwenzi Boutique Resort, The Ocean Paradise Resort, or similar (depending on availability) - all have access to the pristine white beaches. Zanzibar is bliss, and the perfect place to stop and relax for a few days after your time in Tanzania.

Extension Code: ZZWL
Sharing Price from
US$940
Single Traveller Price from
US$1,250
Single Room Supplement from
US$115
Deposit Per Person from
US$200

Extension Itinerary

We transfer to the airport and fly to Zanzibar. From here we transfer to the coast and our accommodation for the next few days. We have a cooling fruit cocktail and relax with views of the white sandy beaches.

We can relax by the pool at our hotel or on the beach.

Meals

B

A further day on Zanzibar to soak up the sunshine and relax in this corner of paradise.

Meals

B

After breakfast we transfer to Zanzibar Airport to meet with your international flight home.

Meals

B
Whats Included
  • 3 nights accommodation

  • Flight one-way from Arusha to Zanzibar

  • Airport transfers

  • Breakfasts whilst on Zanzibar

  • NOTE: This price and itinerary are an example for a 3 night stay on B&B basis in a standard room during low season. A stay of any number of nights is possible. Prices are seasonally dependent.

What's Not Included
  • Any other meals
  • Optional activities in Zanzibar
  • Miscellaneous personal spending & drinks etc
  • BAGGAGE: On the internal flight from Arusha to Zanzibar there is a 15 kg weight limit in a soft bag.
Extension Details

Arusha National Park

1 Day

Arusha National Park, close to Arusha, is the perfect place to spend a day either before or after your Kilimanjaro climb. The montane forest is inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys, birds and the acrobatic colobus monkey. At the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater we can see herds of buffalo and warthog. And the green and blue Momela Lakes, can be tinged pink with thousands of flamingos. Giraffes can be seen gliding across the grassy hills in between grazing zebra herds.

Extension Code: ANPT
Sharing Price from
US$440
Single Traveller Price from
US$670
Deposit Per Person from
US$200

Extension Itinerary

After breakfast our safari guide briefs us for the day ahead. We leave in our safari vehicle for the 30-45 minute drive into the Arusha National Park. The main sightings will usually be giraffe, zebra and buffalo heads and sometimes the many flamingos at the pretty Momela Lakes. Good viewings of the blue-and-white colobus monkey are frequent. Elephants are uncommon, and lions & rhino are absent altogether, however leopards and spotted hyenas have been seen in the early morning and late afternoon. Weather dependent this is also a great place for views of majestic snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro and its unassuming cousin, Mt Meru (4566m) that dominates the park's horizon. At the end of the afternoon you are either taken back to your hotel in Arusha or straight to the airport for the evening flight home.

Meals

L
Whats Included
  • A professional and qualified tour leader / wildlife guide
  • Game viewing safari as described
  • Picnic lunch
  • Park fees
What's Not Included
  • Tips (approx USD20 for the safari guide from everyone in the vehicle (max 6 in vehicle)
  • Miscellaneous personal expenditure - drinks and souvenirs etc
  • NOTE: Prices are based on 2 people sharing a vehicle. The price decreases with larger groups
  • please call the office.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 from 7 reviews

Summiting Kili as a “mature” novice high-altitude trekker - plus some safari-ing ★★★★★

Due to the pandemic, I undertook this trip after two cancellations and three years after originally booking it… this meant that my “new” walking boots were very well broken in and that I was a couple of years older than I’d intended. I’ve walked/ trekked all of my adult life as a casual, infrequent walker - including a couple of excellent trips in the Balkans with KE,, one of which was preparation for Kilimanjaro. So this review is mainly aimed at someone who wouldn’t consider themse lves as a “serious” or experienced trekker. Our guide, Onex, and his team were exceptional throughout the trek - couldn’t fault them on any aspect. Food was good especially considering that we were camping on a mountain and everything had to be carried with us and we we very well looked after at all times both when walking and when in camp. Onex is a very experienced lead guide who has an unbelievable 100% record when it comes to getting folks to the summit. That being said, safety is the foremost consideration and during the briefing for “summit night” it was made very clear that significant symptoms of altitude sickness or intervention with oxygen would mean immediate evacuation to lower altitude and an end to the summit attempt. Basic tips: Do your research and reading on climbing Kilimanjaro but don’t necessarily be put off by the potential issues related to the altitude. Random physical factors over which you have no control appear to play a part in how high altitude affects you. I consider myself as only reasonable walking fit but by adhering to the main pieces of advice I had no issues directly related to being at altitude - having an excellent guide and taking the Rongai route with its extra acclimatisation day obviously helped. I took altitude tablets as directed and would absolutely recommend doing this - they are preventative and therefore are intended to stop symptoms from starting. I also made sure I that stayed hydrated - a tip I picked up from our guide on my Balkan trip was to attach a 500ml bottle to the front strap of my rucksack using a carabiner (topping it up at every break) … rather than constantly trying to reach round and grab a drink from my 1 litre bottles round the back of my pack… this worked for me and I drank a lot more - little and often - than I usually did. Definitely pack layers - we had great weather and it was warm at lower level and during the middle of the day but very cold in the tent at night and obviously during our summit night; when we left camp at 11.30 pm and returned back down to camp at 9.30 am. The temperature got way down below zero (double digits). Pack good thermal gloves! Walking poles are a must. Tents are functional and space was ok for me, my rucksack and hold-all, but appeared very tight for the couples on our trip. Another tip that I picked up from a previous trip was to compartmentalise all of my kit and pack it in travel zip-lock bags in my hold-all: this allowed me to locate and organise everything very easily in the crowded tent. You spend about 10 hours a night in the tent so pack two or three torches and plenty of spare batteries. Tents are closely pitched and snoring carries at night so I’d highly advise taking ear plugs…! Finally, I would advise that you should do enough walking that you are sufficiently aware of how you “normally” feel and react when hiking strenuously (maybe a trip or two up to 2000-3000m) - this means that you are better placed to spot when things may not be ok - dehydration/ potential symptoms of altitude sickness etc. Hiking the last 1000m of altitude up Kilimanjaro under clear night skies and standing at the summit under amazing blue skies (after 7 hours of final effort following 5 days of endurance) was the most magical physical experience of my life. If you have even half an inkling of doing it…
By Sean from CATTLE | 14 April 2023

Kilimanjaro summit via Rongai route

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By Sean from CATTLE | 14 April 2023

Kilimanjaro - The Majestic mountain ★★★★

Very good trip. KE's management faultless as always. The route itself is good for acclimatization. Veg food is available everyday, and you would appreciate what you are getting considering where you are. The hotel selection was good as well. For the route, I believe the Lemosho route is better though. On Rongai route - be prepared for the final climb. It is brutal. first 6 days are very easy (Walk in the park really). Final day starts at 1.00 am in cold and scree. It is steep and very very demanding. By the time you reach Gillmans point, you are only hoping for it to be the summit. And then you have 2 more hours to go :-). Again, KE's management, crew selection cannot be faulted. They are easy 5*. I have given overall trip 4* only for the route compared to Lemosho .
By Binoy from Leamington Spa | 22 March 2022

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review Binoy. It's good to know you would have given us five stars if you had chosen our Lemosho option. For details of the different routes we offer, check out our 'Which route to climb Kilimanjaro?' page.


Amazing! ★★★★★

Could not recommend more!

By David from Leyland | 18 December 2021

Top of Africa! Rongai Route. ★★★★★

Fantastic journey to Top of Africa. Well organised and well led trip. I selected the Rongai trip as it was 7 days including an acclimatisation day and also because this route is generally quieter and drier than the others. It met all my expectations. 13 in group, 6 guides and 41 porters. Plenty of time to adjust to the thin air. The summit day was very challenging, midnight start and we reached summit just after 6am (5km, up 4,000ft). It was very cold that morning and I would definitely recommen d being prepared to layer up. The other days walking were all taken at a gentle pace to adjust. Being fit at the start will certainly help in the enjoyment of this trip. The Moyoni Airport Lodge at start and end is a little oasis not far from airport and a perfect place to start and end the trip. There is nothing around the lodge so when u are there, u are there. If you want to have time to explore Arusha you would need to add an extra day and use a taxi. Have done several KE trips and as always it was very well organised. From booking, to arranging transfers and the actual trip I cannot fault their services.
By William from Banbury | 18 October 2019

Traveller Reviews
4.7 out of 5 from 10 reviews

Summiting Kili as a “mature” novice high-altitude trekker - plus some safari-ing
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Due to the pandemic, I undertook this trip after two cancellations and three years after originally booking it… this meant that my “new” walking boots were very well broken in and that I was a couple of years older than I’d intended. I’ve walked/ trekked all of my adult life as a casual, infrequent walker - including a couple of excellent trips in the Balkans with KE,, one of which was preparation for Kilimanjaro. So this review is mainly aimed at someone who wouldn’t consider themse lves as a “serious” or experienced trekker. Our guide, Onex, and his team were exceptional throughout the trek - couldn’t fault them on any aspect. Food was good especially considering that we were camping on a mountain and everything had to be carried with us and we we very well looked after at all times both when walking and when in camp. Onex is a very experienced lead guide who has an unbelievable 100% record when it comes to getting folks to the summit. That being said, safety is the foremost consideration and during the briefing for “summit night” it was made very clear that significant symptoms of altitude sickness or intervention with oxygen would mean immediate evacuation to lower altitude and an end to the summit attempt. Basic tips: Do your research and reading on climbing Kilimanjaro but don’t necessarily be put off by the potential issues related to the altitude. Random physical factors over which you have no control appear to play a part in how high altitude affects you. I consider myself as only reasonable walking fit but by adhering to the main pieces of advice I had no issues directly related to being at altitude - having an excellent guide and taking the Rongai route with its extra acclimatisation day obviously helped. I took altitude tablets as directed and would absolutely recommend doing this - they are preventative and therefore are intended to stop symptoms from starting. I also made sure I that stayed hydrated - a tip I picked up from our guide on my Balkan trip was to attach a 500ml bottle to the front strap of my rucksack using a carabiner (topping it up at every break) … rather than constantly trying to reach round and grab a drink from my 1 litre bottles round the back of my pack… this worked for me and I drank a lot more - little and often - than I usually did. Definitely pack layers - we had great weather and it was warm at lower level and during the middle of the day but very cold in the tent at night and obviously during our summit night; when we left camp at 11.30 pm and returned back down to camp at 9.30 am. The temperature got way down below zero (double digits). Pack good thermal gloves! Walking poles are a must. Tents are functional and space was ok for me, my rucksack and hold-all, but appeared very tight for the couples on our trip. Another tip that I picked up from a previous trip was to compartmentalise all of my kit and pack it in travel zip-lock bags in my hold-all: this allowed me to locate and organise everything very easily in the crowded tent. You spend about 10 hours a night in the tent so pack two or three torches and plenty of spare batteries. Tents are closely pitched and snoring carries at night so I’d highly advise taking ear plugs…! Finally, I would advise that you should do enough walking that you are sufficiently aware of how you “normally” feel and react when hiking strenuously (maybe a trip or two up to 2000-3000m) - this means that you are better placed to spot when things may not be ok - dehydration/ potential symptoms of altitude sickness etc. Hiking the last 1000m of altitude up Kilimanjaro under clear night skies and standing at the summit under amazing blue skies (after 7 hours of final effort following 5 days of endurance) was the most magical physical experience of my life. If you have even half an inkling of doing it…
By Sean from CATTLE | 14 April 2023

Kilimanjaro summit via Rongai route

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View all (10)
By Sean from CATTLE | 14 April 2023

Kilimanjaro - The Majestic mountain
★ ★ ★ ★
Very good trip. KE's management faultless as always. The route itself is good for acclimatization. Veg food is available everyday, and you would appreciate what you are getting considering where you are. The hotel selection was good as well. For the route, I believe the Lemosho route is better though. On Rongai route - be prepared for the final climb. It is brutal. first 6 days are very easy (Walk in the park really). Final day starts at 1.00 am in cold and scree. It is steep and very very demanding. By the time you reach Gillmans point, you are only hoping for it to be the summit. And then you have 2 more hours to go :-). Again, KE's management, crew selection cannot be faulted. They are easy 5*. I have given overall trip 4* only for the route compared to Lemosho .
By Binoy from Leamington Spa | 22 March 2022

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review Binoy. It's good to know you would have given us five stars if you had chosen our Lemosho option. For details of the different routes we offer, check out our 'Which route to climb Kilimanjaro?' page.


Amazing!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Could not recommend more!

By David from Leyland | 18 December 2021

Top of Africa! Rongai Route.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Fantastic journey to Top of Africa. Well organised and well led trip. I selected the Rongai trip as it was 7 days including an acclimatisation day and also because this route is generally quieter and drier than the others. It met all my expectations. 13 in group, 6 guides and 41 porters. Plenty of time to adjust to the thin air. The summit day was very challenging, midnight start and we reached summit just after 6am (5km, up 4,000ft). It was very cold that morning and I would definitely recommen d being prepared to layer up. The other days walking were all taken at a gentle pace to adjust. Being fit at the start will certainly help in the enjoyment of this trip. The Moyoni Airport Lodge at start and end is a little oasis not far from airport and a perfect place to start and end the trip. There is nothing around the lodge so when u are there, u are there. If you want to have time to explore Arusha you would need to add an extra day and use a taxi. Have done several KE trips and as always it was very well organised. From booking, to arranging transfers and the actual trip I cannot fault their services.
By William from Banbury | 18 October 2019

Top of Africa! Rongai route.

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By William from Banbury | 18 October 2019

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Highly recommend the Rongai Route over 6 nights/7 days. We travelled in October (early) and we hardly met another group climbing until we reached Base Camp. The weather was good until the morning we began the final summit climb, when we had snow, winds and minus 16 degrees. However, this did not deter us and 10 of our 13 group reached the summit. I had never climbed at this altitude (5895 metres ) before and I only got a mild headache and a little nausea on the summit climb, however, others suff ered earlier. I do think drinking plenty of water helps as well having the extra day to acclimatise, I also took diamox. We had a team of 47 porters/guides led by Emmanuel. The whole team where fantastic and couldn’t have looked after us any better. I can highly recommend KE Travel as the whole holiday ran smoothly and all the staff from the KE office to the team leading the trek in Tanzania were helpful and professional. Can’t wait to book my next holiday.
By Rosemary from Banbury | 14 October 2019

Tough but fantastic trekking adventure
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We had a great time on the Rongai Route. The KE local agents were fantastic. Our leader, guides and porters were friendly, hard working and very knowledgeable about the local area and the mountain. We were very well looked after throughout our stay. I would say though that you need to do some decent preparation to get fit to climb Kili. Much of the trip is straightforward but the final ascent is very challenging so if you're going to do this, do read up on what to expect so you can make the most of it. Overall an amazing trip.
By Jacqueline from ST. ALBANS | 23 February 2016

Good way to get up Kilimanjaro with limited time available
★ ★ ★ ★
A well organised trip with good leaders and support crew, and a good schedule which made good use of the time available whilst giving the best chance of acclimatization to altitude. On a more negative point the tents were well worn and 'past there best'. Ground sheets seeped water and the underside of my thermarest was often wet. Also in heavy rain most tent fly sheets leaked on the seams allowing drips onto the inner tent and through to anything touching the inside. The trek notes als o need revising. Tanzania shillings are not really required on this trip. There is nowhere on the mountain to spend any money, and any pre spending on drink/food items for the trek and post trek spending (including tips) can be made in US Dollars. A yellow fever certificate was demanded at Kilimanjaro airport immigration. Fortunately I had one, but the trek notes indicate that this is not required unless transiting through a risk area for more than 12 hours.
By Michael from LEEDS | 09 February 2016

KE Adventure reply

Thank you Michael for your review and for your detailed feedback. We are sorry you experienced some heavy rain on your trip and that your flysheet leaked at the seams. Our tent stock for Kilimanjaro is inspected and replaced on a regular basis and each year our ground agent acquires a substantial amount of Mountain Hardware Trango 3 tents. Your group should have had access to the newest tents and we are investigating this issue following your feedback. It is possible to spend US dollars on this holiday but we recommend that you obtain some Tanzanian Shillings on arrival at the airport. This is especially useful if you are making small purchases such as snacks or drinks from the supermarket. We are unsure why you were asked to produce a Yellow Fever certificate on arrival and this is a departure from the norm. The current advice of the 'International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers' is that "a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is only required for travellers coming from – or who are in airport transit for more than 12 hours within – a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission". It is good to know that the trip was well organised with good leaders and support crew and that the trekking schedule gave the best chance of acclimatisation - the secret of success on Kilimanjaro! Feedback such as yours plays a vital part in this as it enables us to chase up any problems and is much appreciated.


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By Sarah from UK | 25 September 2015

DATES & PRICES

Private Departure?

Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.

2025

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

Status

More Information

  • Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: KRR /01/25/
  • This trip begins on Sat 11 Jan and ends on Sun 19 Jan
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$550
  • Single Supplement Price: US$105 - For the 2 hotel nights in Arusha
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$115
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: KRR /02/25/
  • This trip begins on Sat 8 Mar and ends on Sun 16 Mar
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$550
  • Single Supplement Price: US$105 - For the 2 hotel nights in Arusha
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$115
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: KRR /03/25/
  • This trip begins on Sat 16 Aug and ends on Sun 24 Aug
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$550
  • Single Supplement Price: US$105 - For the 2 hotel nights in Arusha
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$115
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: KRR /04/25/
  • This trip begins on Sat 20 Sep and ends on Sun 28 Sep
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$550
  • Single Supplement Price: US$105 - For the 2 hotel nights in Arusha
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$115
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: KRR /05/25/
  • This trip begins on Fri 12 Dec and ends on Sat 20 Dec
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$550
  • Single Supplement Price: US$105 - For the 2 hotel nights in Arusha
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$115
  • Download Trip Notes

Land Only Information

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining at the hotel in Arusha, Tanzania. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Kilimanjaro International Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel.

ZEN_HOLIDAY_DATES_PRICES_LAND_ONLY_USD_NOTICE

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)


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