Guide

A licenced Kilimanjaro Chief Guide is your leader. They will meet you upon arrival and give a briefing at the hotel on Day 1. During the climb, the leader is joined by assistant guides, cooks and porters. Exodus has a high guiding ratio on the mountain: one guide for every two clients. This is especially important on summit day where you may be feeling very tired. The guides are extremely experienced and are well trained in spotting the effects of altitude. Their guidance is often key to maximising your chances of reaching the summit. Please note in the unlikely event this trip runs on one or two, we reserve the right to offer a free transfer to another date or to join a group on the same date made up of international clients from other companies.

Accommodation

On this adventure, we spend five nights camping in three-person tents and two nights in a hotel. Marangu: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort (nights 1 and 7) Before and after the trek, we stay at the Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort. Close to Kilimanjaro National Park, it is tucked deep in the banana and coffee plantations of Kyalla village. It has two restaurants, plus a bar serving the refreshing Kilimanjaro Lager and banana wine. There is also a swimming pool to enjoy when you return from Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro: Full-service camping (nights 2-6) Although conditions are basic on the mountain, the camping we experience is one of the best available on the Rongai Route. We sleep in Vango Halo Pro 300 tents regardless of whether you have made a twin-share or single supplement booking. These are spacious three-person tents that are ideal for the conditions on Kilimanjaro. Our camp life is about as comfortable as it gets on Kili, with a communal mess tent, where we gather as a group and eat breakfast and dinner, and a private toilet tent. We also ensure there is a bowl of hot washing water for you in the morning and again after the walk at an agreed time in the afternoon. The only exception is the highest camp where there is no water source. Worth knowing The campsites on Kilimanjaro are designated by the national park and are mainly stone/dirt. They are not all level and can be crowded in peak season. We always ensure there is a bowl of hot washing water for you in the morning and again after the walk at an agreed time in the afternoon. The only exception is the highest camp where there is no water source. Handwashing water, treated with Dettol, is available along with soap before all meals, and everyone is strongly advised to make use of it. The toilet tent has toilet paper within it, but we recommend you bring your own toilet paper and wet wipes. All camping equipment is provided except for sleeping bags, sleeping mats and pillows.

Others

All transport and listed activities Kilimanjaro Park Fee

Transport

Journeys are by private bus or 4x4 vehicles, depending on the number of people in the group.

Meals

All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners are included. All meals during the climb are included. Please allow about 153,500 Tanzanian shillings (US$65) for the meals not included. On trek, the emphasis is on a varied and well-balanced diet with a greater amount of fresh fruit and soup to maximise the daily intake of fluids. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note that in Tanzania the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets (eg gluten-free or dairy-free) is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home. The menu has a high liquid and carbohydrate content; the two important elements for successful climbing. At higher altitudes, stimulants (such as coffee) and less digestible foods (such as meat) are not recommended. Our evening meal at the highest camp on Kilimanjaro is a meatless stew as our experience shows this to be the ideal preparation for the summit day. At mealtimes a selection of hot drinks is available. Soup is served twice daily. Daily meals Bed tea: Tea or coffee served in your tent. Breakfast: Seasonal fresh fruit (mango/banana/watermelon), porridge, cooked eggs, sausage, bacon and toast. Energy snacks, such as bananas and chocolate bars, are provided for the daily walk. Lunch: Either a packed lunch on longer days or, more usually, a hot lunch served in camp by a small team who have raced ahead of the group. A hot lunch typically consists of soup, bread or pancakes, cheese, tuna, jam, peanut butter, pasta salad and cake. Afternoon tea: Served in late afternoon. It is an opportunity to drink lots of hot drinks and snack on peanuts or popcorn. Dinner: The main meal of the day and always three courses: soup and bread; followed by the main dish, which could be rice, potatoes or pasta with fish, meat or vegetables; and dessert, often of fruit. Summit snacks: While we provide enough food for the climb, we recommend you bring some of your favourite snacks and keep them for the summit day. This is because the summit day is a long and tough climb and having your favourite snacks can give you a very welcome boost. Water While the water we provide on Kilimanjaro is suitable for drinking, you may wish to be extra safe and treat it with your own water purification tablets.

Not included:

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request includes single tent) — Visas or vaccinations

Insurance

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Marangu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Marangu

The adventure starts at our hotel in Marangu. There will be a trip briefing this afternoon/evening. Please bring your passport, insurance and air ticket details. The briefing will cover all aspects of your trip and will include the distribution of any equipment you have booked. Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort or similar
Day 2 Day 2: Begin Ascent Through Rongai Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Begin Ascent Through Rongai Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

After completing the necessary registration formalities, we transfer by road to Nale Moru (6,400ft/1,950m) to begin our climb on this seemingly untouched wilderness route. We start with a half-day walk on a small path that winds through farmland and pine plantations. It is a consistent but gentle climb through forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. We reach our first overnight stop by late afternoon at the edge of the moorland zone (8,530ft/2,600m). Accommodation: Full-service camping
Day 3 Day 3: Climb To Kikelewa Moorland (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Climb To Kikelewa Moorland (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

The morning walk is a steady ascent up to Second Cave (11,320ft/3,450m) with superb views of the eastern icefields on the rim of Kibo, the youngest and highest of the three volcanoes that form the entire mountain. After lunch, we leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, the second of Kilimanjaro’s volcanoes. Our campsite, which we reach in late afternoon, is in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves (11,810ft/3,600m). Accommodation: Full-service camping
Day 4 Day 4: Steady Ascent Beneath Mawenzi; Afternoon Acclimatisation (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Steady Ascent Beneath Mawenzi; Afternoon Acclimatisation (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

A steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb panoramas of the Kenyan plains to the north. We leave vegetation behind close to Mawenzi Tarn (14,200ft/4,330m), spectacularly situated in a cirque beneath the towering cliffs of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or to explore the area as an aid to acclimatisation. Accommodation: Full-service camping
Day 5 Day 5: Cross Lunar Desert Of The Saddle To Kibo, At The Bottom Of Summit Cone (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Cross Lunar Desert Of The Saddle To Kibo, At The Bottom Of Summit Cone (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

We leave our attractive campsite to cross the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite (15,420ft/4,700m) at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall by early afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. Accommodation: Full-service camping
Day 6 Day 6: Early Start To Reach Gillman’S Point In Time For Sunrise Over The Crater Rim; On To Uhuru Peak, The Highest Point In Africa. Descend To Horombo (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Early Start To Reach Gillman’S Point In Time For Sunrise Over The Crater Rim; On To Uhuru Peak, The Highest Point In Africa. Descend To Horombo (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

We start the final (and by far the steepest and most demanding) part of the climb by torchlight at around midnight. It will be extremely cold as we walk very slowly in darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point (18,650ft/5,685m). We rest for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip along the snow-covered rim to the true summit of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (19,340ft/5,895m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Kibo Hut (15,420ft/4,700m) is surprisingly fast and, after refreshments and rest, we continue descending to reach our final campsite at Horombo (12,200ft/3,720m). This is an extremely long and hard day with between 11 and 15 hours of walking at high altitude. Accommodation: Full-service camping
Day 7 Day 7: Continue Descent To Mandara And Marangu (Breakfast,Lunch)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Continue Descent To Mandara And Marangu (Breakfast,Lunch)

A sustained descent with wide views across the moorland takes us into the lovely forest around Mandara (8,860ft/2,700m), the first stopping place on the Marangu route. The trail continues through semi-tropical vegetation to the national park gate at Marangu (6,000ft/1,830m). We leave the local staff to return to our hotel in Marangu by mid-afternoon for a well-earned, shower and beer. Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort or similar
Day 8 Day 8: End Marangu (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: End Marangu (Breakfast)

Depending on the time of your return flight, the day can be spent resting at the hotel or exploring the village for souvenirs. If you’d like the adventure to continue, speak to your sales representative about joining our safari extension, which takes in three national parks over three days, or a chilled post-climb escape to Zanzibar.

8 days tour

Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route

Day 1: Start Marangu

Day 2: Begin Ascent Through Rongai Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 3: Climb To Kikelewa Moorland (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 4: Steady Ascent Beneath Mawenzi; Afternoon Acclimatisation (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 5: Cross Lunar Desert Of The Saddle To Kibo, At The Bottom Of Summit Cone (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: Early Start To Reach Gillman’S Point In Time For Sunrise Over The Crater Rim; On To Uhuru Peak, The Highest Point In Africa. Descend To Horombo (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: Continue Descent To Mandara And Marangu (Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 8: End Marangu (Breakfast)

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