Rongai Route

Vehicles take climbers to the gate at 2,200 metres at the entrance to the forest on the north eastern side of the mountain.

This is a journey of a little over an hour from Marangu. From here, a 3 to 4 hour walk, gradually ascending through the forest to the camp which is just clear of the forest at 2,600 metres.

After breakfast, ascend through alpine moorland towards Second Cave (3,500 m) for lunch. Afterwards the trail veers toward Mawenzi, climbing a rocky path for another 3 hours to reach Kikelewa Cave at about 3,690 m. This is a long day of roughly 6‑7 hours, with most of the altitude gain early in the day.

Climb steeply up a grassy ridge towards Mawenzi, then traverse a rocky landscape towards the base of the peak. After about 3–4 hours and a short descent you reach Mawenzi Tarn at roughly 4,320 m. Spend the afternoon relaxing at camp or explore the north corrie of Mawenzi for acclimatisation and views over the Saddle.

Retrace your steps slightly before descending into a valley and climbing up onto the Saddle – a high-altitude desert between Mawenzi and Kibo. Walk across this lunar landscape with fine views of both peaks to reach Kibo Hut at about 4,700 m. The hike takes around 5–6 hours, allowing plenty of time to rest and prepare for the summit attempt.

You will be woken around 11 p.m. to begin the long summit push. Climb gradually on a winding path of volcanic scree to Hans Meyer Cave and then steeply up to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim (5,700 m). From there it’s another 1 – 1.5 hours around the rim to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m. After photos and celebrations descend back to Kibo Hut (3 – 4 hours) for a short rest, then continue down the Marangu route to Horombo Hut at 3,720 m – a long day of 12 – 14 hours on the trail.

Descend from Horombo Hut through moorland and heath to Mandara Hut (about 3 hours). After a short break, continue through montane forest to Marangu Gate (another 2 hours). Collect your summit certificates at the gate and return to the hotel by vehicle.

This route can be extended by adding an extra day early in the trek: either camp at Second Cave before Kikelewa or spend a rest day at Mawenzi Tarn. This allows for improved acclimatisation and exploration of the surrounding landscape with panoramic views of Kibo and Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.