Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Climb 5,895m Mount Kilimanjaro by the unique TK Rongai route, an exclusive route with unparalleled successful summit rates. The traditional Rongai route has its drawbacks, but this variant offers a compelling combination of superb climb high sleep low differential and quiet trails to make it one of our favourites on the mountain.

TK Rongai is one of several routes up Kilimanjaro, but along with TK Lemosho, it is the route we find ourselves recommending more than any other. It offers phenomenally good summit success rates and a good chance of quiet trails. Climbers benefit from a gentle approach to high camp and the best climb high sleep low differentials on the mountain (a crucial factor in avoiding altitude sickness). Of course, all routes must converge at some point, and TK Rongai climbers either attempt the final ascent from Barafu High Camp or School Huts.

The route chosen depends on the weather, condition of the group and the avoidance of potential crowding and is left to the judgement of your experienced guide. What makes TK Rongai unique (as opposed to the traditional Rongai route in particular) is the phenomenally high summit success rates. Rongai is not possible during the rainy months (April, May, and November) when the conditions of roads make vehicle passage to the start point unsafe. This trek includes airport transfers and a night’s accommodation either end of the trek in Arusha.

Adventurous trekkers can choose the outstanding Excel crater camp option, which includes an extra night after summiting, camping in the crater. It will be cold and the effects of altitude are strong, but the reward is a once in a lifetime experience in a truly alien environment of glaciers, ash-pits and wilderness. Details and photos from crater camp are available here.

TK Rongai is a great option for anyone wanting to maximise their chances of reaching the summit and minimise their chances of encountering crowing on the trail. The physical demands are no greater or lesser than any of the other routes on the mountain.

TK Rongai is primarily a camping route, so if you prefer the comforts of sleeping in huts then Marangu may be a better choice. It is also worth noting that not everybody is after mountain wilderness and some would relish the opportunity to meet trekkers from all nations of the earth. Marangu and Machame both experience far more trekkers than Rongai and the epic human drama of scores of groups dragging themselves up an essentially inhospitable mountain can be fascinating.

The usual rules that apply to Kilimanjaro apply similarly to RK Rongai. See our advice on health requirements for Kilimanjaro.