Rongai

MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMBING RONGAI ROUTE

Rongai route is the only route that approaches mount Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border. Though gaining popularity amongst climbers, Rongai has low traffic.

It is the preferred route for those looking for an alternative to the crowded Marangu route. For those who would like a more remote hike, and for those who are climbing during the rainy season (the north side receives less precipitation).

The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, and seven days are recommended.

Although the scenery is not as varied as the western routes, Rongai makes up for this by passing through true wilderness areas for days before joining the Marangu route at Kibo camp.

Rongai  descends down the Marangu route. Rongai is a moderately difficult route, and is highly recommended, especially for those with less backpacking experience

This route is one of the lovely, and again, pretty peaceful, at least when compared to Machame and Marangu. If I had to pick holes in it, well it doesn’t have a great stretch of forest – you walk through it in about half an hour.

This is mainly due to the depredations of the locals who forest the lower slopes of Kili (Rongai route is the only route where you actually start off by walking past farms, rather than in forest).

The northern side of mount Kilimanjaro is also the driest side, which is why the forest is less impressive on this side.

But other than that, it’s a great route, particularly if you opt for the diversion up to Mawenzi Tarn.  This adds a day or two to the itinerary but is worth it for both the views and for the acclimatization.