Kilimanjaro - The Rongai Route, including an ascent of Mount Meru
Duration: 14 days airport to airport with 11 days challenging trekking
Previous Experience Required: Suitable for keen walkers who are able to walk for 4 - 5 hours per day. The walking feels more strenuous at altitude and you will carry a light rucksack.
Group Size: 8
Maximum Altitude: 5896 metres

The Highest Mountain on the African Continent
Kilimanjaro is the most straightforward of the worlds 7 summits. (The highest summit on each of the worlds 7 continents) There are several routes to choose from and some of them are famously busy. We will be using the Rongai Route which is a straightforward trek and is one of the quietest routes on the mountain.  

Rob has chosen this route, and will be leading the trek himself, because a quieter route will be a more enjoyable one. Lots of people choose the other routes because they are shorter and can be crammed into a 1 week holiday. This often results in failure to reach the summit or worse due to altitude sickness. A recent report to the UIAA Medicine Symposium warned that many charity trekkers heading to Kili could be putting their lives at risk by not acclimatising properly.

For this reason we will enjoy a 14 day trip with the first 4 days being spent climbing nearby Mount Meru (4566m) to acclimatise, followed by a rest day in our luxury hotel with swimming pool before heading off to climb Kili nicely acclimatised and refreshed.  

There are only 8 spaces on the expedition so this will be a true wildness experience. We will use local park rangers, guides and porters and during the Mount Meru trek especially stand a good chance of seeing some of the famous African wildlife.

Mount Meru is the fifth highest on the African continent and is an impressive freestanding volcano. The trek involves walking through forest and grassland on the lower slopes before an exhilarating ridge walk to the summit. Over 400 species of birds and animals make their home on these slopes and Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo, Baboon, Warthog and monkeys can all be seen.

Our ascent of Kilimanjaro itself is via the Rongai Route. This is the quietest route to the summit and was established in the 1960's. The local chief, Salakana, set up facilities on his tribal land and charged visitors to use the huts, campsites etc. This money was ploughed back into the local community. The route has spectacular views and is one of the longest which aids acclimatisation.

Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive JRO (Kili) airport. We will be met by out local operator and transferred to Springlands Hotel, near Moshi where we will stay the night.
Day 2: We will drive to Arusha Park gates and walk through a game filled parkland to Miriakamba Hut, 2470m, escorted by a park ranger and guide.
Day 3: Climb steeply through the forests and heather to the Saddle Hut, 3500m.
Day 4: Walk to a view point on the crater rim and then follow the ridge to the summit of Mount Meru, 4566m. Down to Miriakamba Hut.
Day 5: Walk back to the park gates and return to the Springlands Hotel.
Length of Trek for Mount Meru: 38km Height Gain: 3066m

Day 6: Rest day at the Springlands Hotel.
Day 7: Drive to the park gate of the Rongai Route, walk to Camp 1 and camp overnight.
The climb begins by ambling gently through an area of deforested land before entering a small copse of natural forest. Beyond this we emerge amidst scrub and heather close to the First Camp from where we will have exceptional views of the serrated summit of Mawenzi and Kibo's (Kilimanjaro) snow capped dome.
Day 8: Walk to Kikelewa Cave and camp overnight. 3600m
Day 9: Acclimatisation day. Walk to a higher altitude or viewpoint and return to Kikelewa Cave and camp overnight.
Day 10: Walk to Mawenzi tarn hut and camp overnight.
This is a shortish day that elevates you quickly on a relatively steep trail. The effort is well rewarded with fantastic views and an exceptional campsite beneath the jagged spires of Mawenzi that offers a true sense of wilderness.
Day 11: Walk to Kibo hut and camp overnight which places us ideally for our summit bid the following morning.
Day 12: Summit Day with descent to Horombo Hut and an overnight camp. We will have an early start, setting off in the dark and hopefully enjoying a spectacular sunshine over Africa from the summit. Length of day approx 12 hours.
Day 13: Final descent to park gate and return to hotel.
Length of Trek for Kilimanjaro: 54km Height Gain: 2750m
Day 14: Transfer to JRO airport after breakfast. 

Dates of next trip: We run this trip for group bookings only. You will need a minimum of 6 people. Please email rob@expeditionguide.com

Cost: £1895 per person Download Course Notes

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Course type	Location	Price
Kilimanjaro & Mount Meru	Tanzania	£1895 pp	Add to
Deposit if more than 8 weeks to course	Tanzania	£400 pp	Add to
Balance due	Tanzania	£1495 pp	Add to