RONGAI ROUTE

Your first night in Arusha will be spent at Planet Lodge. If you have chosen to be picked up
from Kilimanjaro International Airport by The Africa Safaris, your driver will be waiting to
greet you and take you to your lodge in Arusha or Moshi to relax after your flight.

Following an early breakfast at your Lodge (07.00), we depart one hour later and arrive at the
Nalemuru Gate around 13.00, where we will have our picnic lunch.
We are ready to begin the trek once we have completed registration, you have met the trekking
team who will accompany you up the mountain, and the porters have loaded up. Our starting
altitude is 2000 meters, and we will climb to 2670 meters today, beginning our approach from
the north-east. The vegetation is initially pine, with some vegetable fields interspersed, but you
soon enter lush forest, where colobus monkeys can be seen. Following the forest, the landscape
transitions to heathland with its massive heathers. We hope to arrive at Simba Camp by 17.00
because our walking distance today is only 6km and our walking time is only 30 minutes,
approximately 3 hours Dinner will be served at 19.00 at Simba Camp.

Your breakfast at 07.00 is followed by your departure at 08.00 today. Our total walking distance
is 16 kilometers, with an ascent of just over 1000 meters.
We expect to walk for 6.5 to 7 hours today, covering a distance of 16 kilometers. At first, notice
how the once-large heathers shrink as you climb, and how the trees become fewer and farther
between. If the weather is clear, you can see over the border into Kenya. The ascent is steady,
steep, and dusty. At 13.00, you stop for a picnic lunch before continuing south-east, with the
craggy peak of Mawenzi in front of you. The path crosses moorland, and there is less ascent
than you had this morning, but this is a long day. You should arrive at Kikelelwa camp around
17.00, with dinner served at 18:00.

You can enjoy a later breakfast (08.00) and a slightly later departure. Today, after leaving
Kikelelwa at 09.00, we have a very short day of walking – just over 3km – but we must ascend
over 600 meters and the stage will take between 3.5 and 4 hours to complete.
The scenery and views along this route are breathtaking. As you climb, you will notice that the
vegetation disappears. It will be time for a hot lunch when you arrive at the campsite around
13.00. Some people prefer to acclimate in the afternoon, and if you're lucky enough to have
clear weather, the views of Kibo can be spectacular. In any case, the setting for this camp is
breathtaking. Dinner is served at 8:00 p.m.

After a 07.00 breakfast and an 08.00 departure from Mawenzi, we begin today's 9km walk,
which will take you from an altitude of 4300 metres up to Kibo's 4720.
Today, plan on walking around the stage for 4.5 to 5 hours. We start the day heading west, then
cross the ridge and descend to The Saddle's edge. There won't be much vegetation today, but
it's not uncommon to see an eland – incredible at this altitude. Today, a favorite day for many
hikers, the views are equally breathtaking. You stop for a picnic lunch along the way at midday
before continuing the climb to Kibo, which we expect to reach by 15.00. Dinner is served at
17.30 p.m., so you should go to bed early to be ready for your summit day.

Our 'Summit Day' agenda is quite different. We get up at 23.00 and have tea and biscuits
(23.30) before our midnight departure. Today, we have approximately 1175 meters to climb on
what will be our most difficult day, with approximately 13 hours of actual walking time and a
distance of 21 kilometers.
We expect to reach the summit around 07.00 a.m. We start on a rocky path and then ascend
through a series of zig-zags that get smaller and smaller. On our way up today, we'll stop at
William's Point (5131 meters), Hans Meyer Cave (5258 meters), and Gillman's Point (5719
metres). Today's emphasis is on walking slowly. When we reach the summit, we take a moment
to celebrate our successful climb, take photos, and congratulate ourselves before beginning the
descent to return to Kibo hut by 11 a.m. Take a well-deserved two-hour break and a delicious
hot lunch. We set out again at 14.00 and continue our descent until we arrive at Horombo camp
at 17.00 for the night. Dinner will be served at 19.00 p.m.

At the 'Tipping Celebration,' we enjoy our breakfast at the now-familiar time of 07.00 and take
the opportunity to thank our hardworking guides and porters.
We leave Horombo and begin our descent towards Marangu Gate, stopping for a hot lunch at
Mandara around midday. Marangu Gate is reached around 16.00, and today's section is
approximately 20km long, taking 6.5 to 7 hours to walk. When you arrive at Marangu Gate,
you will be given your certificate, which will recognize your tremendous effort. We then return
to Arusha or Moshi by vehicle to the comfort of your Lodge for an overnight stay and some
well-deserved relaxation. Or, if you still have some energy, you could celebrate your fantastic
achievement. After all, you've just scaled Africa's highest peak.

After a good night's sleep at your lodge, you'll eat breakfast and be ready to check out by 10
a.m.
(If you wish to stay in the hotel during the day, please notify us when booking your trip, and
we will inform you of the cost for a day room that ends at 18:00hrs, and then make the booking
on your behalf.) If you have booked an airport transfer, you will be picked up from your hotel
and dropped off at the airport. Our The Africa Safaris guide will meet you in the evening to
provide you with a briefing for those travelers who have booked to go on safari.