7 Day Mt Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

First Cave Campsite (Simba Camp) – Gentle First Night on the Rongai Route (≈2,620 m)

First Cave Campsite, often referred to as Rongai First Cave or simply Simba Camp, is the first overnight stop on the Rongai Route up Mount Kilimanjaro. Sitting at around 2,600–2,620 metres above sea level, this campsite lies on the northern flank of the mountain, reached after a steady half-day hike from the Rongai (Nalemoru) Gate through maize fields, pine forest and into the lush edge of the montane zone.

The camp takes its name from a shallow lava cave nearby and offers:

• Tent-only camping on gently sloping, grassy / heath ground

• Basic pit latrine toilets and a ranger area

• Wide views up towards Kibo and out over the plains towards Kenya

Because day one on Rongai is relatively gentle, First Cave / Simba Camp is all about easing into the trek: settling into camp routine, enjoying your first dinner on the mountain and beginning the acclimatisation process at a moderate altitude before heading higher to Second Cave and Kikelewa. On clear evenings, you’ll often get beautiful views of Kibo’s snow-capped dome glowing above camp.

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Second Cave Camp – Classic Acclimatisation Stop on the Rongai Route (3,450 m)

The Second Cave Camp sits at an altitude of around 3,450 metres on the Rongai Route of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Reached after a steady climb from First Cave / Simba Camp, it marks your entry into the higher moorland zone, with low shrubs, rocky outcrops and increasingly open views towards Kibo’s snow-capped dome.

Named after the small lava cave nearby, this overnight rest camp offers designated tent sites where climbers pitch their own tents, along with basic pit latrine toilets and a ranger area. It’s a key acclimatisation stop on the way to Kikelelwa Camp and Mawenzi Tarn, giving your body time to adjust to the thinner air while you enjoy panoramic views and the quieter, less-crowded feel of the northern slopes.

For trekkers on the Rongai Route, Second Cave Camp is a memorable milestone: a comfortable altitude step, a chance to rest and refuel, and a great vantage point for sunrise and sunset over the plains below and the summit above.

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Rongai Second Cave Campsite SafariHQ Rongai Second Cave Campsite SafariHQ

Rongai Second Cave Campsite Rongai Second Cave Campsite

Kikelelwa Camp – Quiet High-Moorland Stop on the Rongai Route (3,660 m)

Kikelelwa Camp (often written Kikelelwa or Kikelewa) sits at an elevation of about 3,660 metres on the Rongai Route of Mount Kilimanjaro. Reached after passing Second Cave, this camp marks your transition from the heath zone into the higher alpine moorland, with low shrubs, rocky slopes and increasingly open views towards the jagged spires of Mawenzi.

Camping here is fully tent-based and self-sufficient: hikers pitch their tents on designated sites, with basic pit latrine toilets and a ranger area providing the only fixed infrastructure. The setting is wonderfully peaceful and slightly tucked into the hillside, making it a great place for acclimatisation, sunset photography and stargazing once night falls.

For trekkers on the Rongai Route, Kikelelwa Camp is a memorable staging point before heading up to Mawenzi Tarn Hut, combining a real sense of remoteness with big-sky vistas and a comfortable altitude step on the way to Kilimanjaro’s summit.

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Kikelelwa Camp Mt Kilimanjaro Kikelelwa Camp Mt Kilimanjaro

Kikelelwa Camp Mt Kilimanjaro Kikelelwa Camp Mt Kilimanjaro

Kikelelwa Camp Mt Kilimanjaro Kikelelwa Camp Mt Kilimanjaro

The Mawenzi Tarn Camp is located near the base of Mwenzi, which is the second-highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. The camp features tents and is the perfect site for climbers taking the Rongai Route.

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Kibo is a basecamp set in the Kilimanjaro National Park. Climbers set camp here before leaving for Uhuru Peak. Accommodation at Kibo is provided in lodge-like housing that caters to 60 people. All rooms feature bunk beds, accommodating up to 6 people. Other services and facilities include a dining room, shared toilets, a ranger's hut, and a guides' hut.

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Credit: MountKilimanjaroClimbinghttps://www.tranquilkilimanjaro.com/

Credit: MountKilimanjaroClimbinghttps://www.tranquilkilimanjaro.com/

Credit: MountKilimanjaroClimbinghttps://www.tranquilkilimanjaro.com/

Horombo Huts – Classic Marangu Route Acclimatisation Camp on Kilimanjaro (≈3,720 m)

Horombo Huts is a well-established and bustling campsite on Mount Kilimanjaro’s Marangu Route in Tanzania, sitting at an elevation of around 3,720 metres above sea level. Serving both ascending and descending trekkers, it’s a key acclimatisation point for those aiming to reach the summit via the “Coca-Cola Route”. Many climbers spend an extra night here to let their bodies adjust to the altitude before heading higher to Kibo Huts.

The camp is instantly recognisable by its rows of A-frame wooden huts, each typically accommodating up to eight people in dormitory-style bunks. These solid structures offer welcome shelter from Kilimanjaro’s rapidly changing weather – from mist and rain to strong wind and cold nights.

Horombo Huts provides a range of basic but practical amenities, including:

• Shared dining huts where meals are served and trekkers can socialise

• Toilets (a mix of pit latrines and sometimes flush facilities, depending on current infrastructure)

• Access to fresh water, usually sourced from nearby springs and treated by your trekking crew

Set in the heath and moorland zone, with views up towards Kibo and down across the lower slopes, Horombo Huts offers a lively, communal atmosphere and a crucial chance to rest, rehydrate and acclimatise before the tougher days ahead on your Kilimanjaro climb.

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Horombo Hut Mt Kilimanjaro Horombu Hut Mt Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Horombo Hut Mt Kilimanjaro Horombo Hut Mt Kilimanjaro

Horombo Hut Mt Kilimanjaro Horombo Hut Mt Kilimanjaro