RONGAI ROUTE

Day 1   Naremoru gate to first camp. Vehicles take climbers to the gate at 1800 metres at the entrance to the forest. This is a journey of around 2 hours 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 2800 metres.

Day 2   First camp to Kikelewa cave.  The path goes through Alpine moorland, similar to what is found on the Marangu route, to Second Cave at 3500 metres.  After a lunch stop here, the path forks left towards Mawenzi.  After another 3 hours, Kikelewa Cave is reached, at 3690 metres.  Total time is about 6-7 hours.  Total distance is about 15 kilometres, so this is really quite a long day, although most of the altitude gain is achieved in the first half of the day.

Day 3   Kikelewa Cave to Mawenzi Tarn.  The path climbs up a steep ridge directly towards Mawenzi.  At the top of the ridge, the path turns left and traverses across rocky landscape and then descends into the Tarn Valley where camp is made at 4320 metres.  The distance covered is only about 5 kilometres but this usually takes about 3 to 4 hours because of the steepness and altitude.

Day 4   Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut.  Climbers retrace their path of the previous day for a short distance, and then descend to the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo.  There follows a 6 kilometre walk across the gradually ascending high altitude desert to Kibo Hut.  Camp is made close to the hut at 4700 metres.  Total time is about 4 to 5 hours.

Day 5   Climb to Gillmans point, then Uhuru, before descending to Horombo hut (3720 metres).

Day 6   Descend to Marangu.