Rongai "alias" Loitoktok or Nalemuru was a special route designated exclusively for East African Scouts and Military expeditions to challenge Mt Kilimanjaro summit. It was and still used by the African Wildlife Management College, Mweka for training in solo expeditions and summit. From Colonial time and there after, Outbound School Hut was specific to exclude climbers from this route with other climbers from Marangu route.
Rongai/ Loitoktok/ Nalemuru route and its entry main gate is located in the northern frontier with Kenya in Rongai village in Tanzania side. All climbing fees are payable at Marangu Gate; and descend by Marangu route.
It has recently gain popularity due to improvement in transportation- good tarmac road from Arusha. This road will go around Mt Kilimanjaro reaching various useful and potential tourists spots and villages famous for good agricultural produce in high demand from big cities of Arusha, Dar-Es-Salaam, Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya.
Rongai route is the best for trekkers of all levels from novice to well experienced ones. It is gentle, clean, not crowded and it just takes 4 hours to reach the first camp-Simba river. Scenery wise is excellent both big peaks Kibo Mawenzi are on view from Simba river camp; the good thing about this route one can opt to get around Mawenzi and camp in two camps then proceed to Kibo peak base camp/ Hut.
Kibo Expeditions trekkers summit from the Outbound School Hut/ Camp. From the summit descend by Marangu/ Tourist route and last night is Horombo Hut but still use tents and not huts.
Itinerary
transfer to lodge for ovn
Rest, recover from jetlag, trip briefing, map orientation, familiarization with everybody including guides, Ovn Lodge.
After lunch from the gate we sign in and start the climb. The trail passes through farms before it enters into natural forest. Half of the hike is through the mountain rain forest of indigenous hard wood trees and bushes.
Game found on this side are such as Elephants, Cape buffalo, spotted hyenas, bush duikers, African Lynx and Bushbuck. Others are Common eland, Serval cat, lots of birds and some colourful butterflies. It is hard to sport big game due to thick vegetation but lots of signs indicating their presence. Hiking hours is 4-5. Ovn Simba river camp 2880 m ( 9,449 ft )
The camp is located in heather vegetation type. Hot lunch in camp. The rest of the day is spent resting or take short acclimatization hike by climbing higher.
If the weather is clear one can view, Mawenzi peak 5150 m (16,897 ft )
It is 06:30 am wake up call hot drink is served to your tent. It is hot drink of coffee, tea, chocolate and water
This is to wake you up and getting organized for the day. Shortly followed by warm water for washing before full break fast.
Break camp and departure to cave III camp 3900m (12,796 ft ). Lunch at cave II 3450 m (11, 319 ft ) As we continue ascending there is gradual vegetation change into light heather and moorland zone. Hike is 7-9 hours including lunch break. Depending with weather of the day Kibo peak is beautifully viewed from cave II 3450 m.
Takes 4-5 hours hike to reach Kibo hut from cave III. The hike is through the beautiful and scenic alpine desert, and Kibo hut is located within this zone with few signs of large wildlife except plenty of white napped ravens, few lammergeyers and some mountain chats, little and alpine swifts. During the hike you will be viewing both big peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro Mawenzi and Kibo to the East and West respectively.
Hot lunch in camp, siesta and evening short acclimatization hike if everyone feels good and the weather is conducive. Eat early dinner and get back to tents to organize ourselves ready for the summit duel from 12:30 am.
Get up around 11:30 pm, dress proper and pack extra warm layers, trail foods, water, camera, hard candies etc for the summit.
The rest of personal stuff is left in tents till after summit. We eat break fast and leave 12:30 am. Takes 5-6 hours to reach Gillman's point 5685 m and another 2-3 hours to reach "UHURU" the summit point at 5895 m ( 19,341 ft ).
After summit descend 3 hours to our tents at Kibo hut for some sleep and rest. Pack everything before taking lunch. Refill water bottles and ready for another 3 - 4 hours descend to Horombo hut 3720 m ( 12, 205 ft ) our last camp and night in Mount Kilimanjaro. At descending Kibo peak is left behind while Mawenzi peak 5150 m stays right in front, and later kept on the left as ascend further to Horombo hut.