Kilimanjaro - Rongai Trek

Our Kilimanjaro adventure starts today in the town of Moshi, the capital of the Kilimanjaro region. We'll meet our trek leader in the reception of our hotel - the Weru Weru Lodge - at 5pm for a welcome meeting, including full trekking details. We'll also spend time checking our kit and making sure we're fully prepared for the challenge ahead - this can take several hours but it's essential to make sure we're all safe and happy as we set off on our trek. Afterwards, we'll sit down for a group dinner (included) at the lodge. There are no other activities planned for today but it's important that you arrive in time for the welcome meeting. If you do miss it, our trek leader will catch you up as soon as possible. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is around a 45-minute drive from our hotel. If you arrive earlier today, the Weru Weru Lodge has a swimming pool and garden where you can relax with views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This morning, we'll drive to the village of Nalemoru, located at an altitude of 1,990 metres/6,529 feet near the Kenyan border (a three-hour drive), the starting point of the Rongai route. Our trek starts with a gentle incline, taking us through farmland and pine forests. Keep your eyes peeled for Colobus monkeys along the way - we might even be lucky enough to spot elephants and buffalos. Our destination for today is the Simba Camp located at the edge of the moorland zone at (2,625 metres/8,612 feet). This evening we'll gather in the mess tent for a well-earned dinner cooked by our camp staff. All meals are prepared by our team of cooks who will provide us with varied, hearty meals, as well as daytime snacks, fruits and sandwiches to make sure we have the energy needed for our treks. The camps we use throughout our trek are simple but adequate. Each has a long-drop toilet and we also carry a toilet tent with a portable chemical toilet. Porters will assist us throughout our trek and will carry your trek kitbag, so you only need to carry what you need for the day - waterproofs, camera, water bottle, extra fleece, sunhat, packed lunch and three litres of drinking water. Please note, drones are not permitted in Kilimanjaro National Park without a permit. Refer to the equipment section of the trip notes for more information. Today's 8-kilometre/5-mile trek is expected to take approximately four to five hours with an ascent of 635 metres/2,083 feet.

After a filling breakfast, we'll head out on our hike to Second Cave Camp. We'll continue to steadily ascend through the rainforest before the terrain gives way to the lower moorland. Here, you'll see a noticeable difference with shrubs and grassland. We'll take it slowly, giving ourselves time to acclimatise to the change in altitude before reaching our camp at 3,480 metres/11,417 feet. Today's 5-kilometre/3.1-mile trek is expected to take approximately three to four hours with an ascent of 855 metres/2,805 feet.

We continue our ascent through the moorland zone today, trekking from Second Cave Camp to Kikelewa Camp. Along the way, we'll have views of the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim of Kibo, the highest of the three volcanoes which form the mountain. We'll leave the main trail and strike out across the heathland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, the second of Kilimanjaro's volcanoes. Although today is a fairly short day of walking it's essential as part of the acclimatisation process, helping our bodies to prepare for the higher altitudes. We'll set up camp in the sheltered valley near the Kikelewa caves at 3,630 metres/11,910 feet. Today's 5-kilometre/3.1-mile trek is expected to take approximately three to four hours with an ascent of 150 metres/492 feet.

This morning, we have a short but steep ascent up grassy slopes which, weather permitting, is rewarded with a panoramic view of the Kenyan plains down below. We'll leave the vegetation zone behind before reaching our next camp at Mawenzi Tarn Hut, directly below the towering cliffs of Mawenzi. This afternoon you have the option to rest or to head out on an acclimatising walk in the local area. Today's 8-kilometre/5-mile trek is expected to take approximately four to five hours with an ascent of 680 metres/2,230 feet.

Today, we cross the lunar-esque desert of the 'saddle' between Mawenzi and Kibo. After a couple hours of trekking, we'll reach this spectacular desert-like space, with the summit of Kilimanjaro in the background and our trail to the high camp stretched out before us. Upon reaching our camp near the Kibo Hut (4,700 metres/15,420 feet) we'll spend the rest of the day getting ready for our midnight ascent - prepare your pack, load up on carbs and water and settle down for a very early night. Today's 8-kilometre/5-mile trek is expected to take approximately five to six hours with an ascent of 150 metres/1,280 feet.

We set out at midnight on our final ascent to the summit. It's going to be a long and strenuous day but well worth it. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5,220 metres/17,126 feet, the climb slowly but surely ascends. At sunrise, we'll reach Gillman's Point at 5,681 metres/18,638 feet - the crater rim of Kilimanjaro - where the sun will start to warm the land. We'll soon forget the cold of the night and after a further hike of one to two hours, we'll reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres/19,431 feet. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal will be waiting for us followed by a one to two-hour rest before we start to make our way back down to Horombo Hut where we'll spend the night. Today's walking totals 22 kilometres/13.7 miles and is expected to take up to 15 hours. The total ascent today is 1,195 metres/3,920 feet and the total descent from the summit down to the Horombo Hut will be 2,195 metres/7,201 feet.

The last stage of the trek passes through the heath and moorland zone to the Mandara Hut (2,700 metres/8,858 feet) where a warm lunch will be waiting for us. Soon, we'll once again pass through the tropical rainforest and after a total trekking time of around six to seven hours, we'll arrive at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1,860 metres/6,102 feet). After saying goodbye to our mountain guides, porters and kitchen crew, it's a short drive back to the comforts of our lodge in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. Today's 19-kilometres/11.8-mile trek is expected to take approximately six to seven hours.

This morning there is the option to head out on a game drive around the Momella Lakes area in the nearby Arusha National Park. The park is well known for its giraffe population, as well as elephants, hippos and buffalos. The game drive will run from approximately 6.30am to 1pm and requires a minimum of two participants to run (this optional costs between $122-328 depending on numbers). If you don't want to take part in the game drive, you're free to depart from the hotel in Moshi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at the lodge. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is around a 45-minute drive from our hotel. Customers who are joining our Zanzibar Extension (trip code: ZI) will be transferred to Arusha Airport (around a two-hour drive away) for the flight to Zanzibar. Our tour leader will advise you of your departure time.