• Mount Kilimanjaro makes up one of the Seven Summits (i.e. highest mountains on each of the seven continents). There are seven routes to the summit and the climb can be done in as little as five days (with major altitude issues) upto 9 days.  We are planning to do a conservative eight day climb on the remote RONGAI route with few other trekkers. The most popular routes are the Marangu and the Machame route which are very crowded and we will avoid them.

    The RONGAI route around 74 km is done in 8 days and other than the summit day all walks are within 5-7 hours. It  is a longer  route on Kilimanjaro and allows  for optimum acclimatisation time for the summit itself.   The additional time on the mountain means that success rates for  the RONGAI route trekkers are relatively high.  We also attempt a daylight summit of Kilimanjaro starting at 4 am in the morning as opposed to a night climb which starts at 12 midnight. Our summit day is also shorter 8-9  hours to the top and 4-5 hours descent as opposed to a midnight climb which often results in a 16 hour day.
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  • Approx. 35,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year. The chances of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro is highly dependent on the number of days taken to trek the mountain. The more days, the higher the probability of success as your body has more time to adapt and acclimatize. Here are the success rate figures as published by the Kilimanjaro National Park. These numbers are admittedly quite old and success rates are most likely higher as route configurations have improved and the number of people taking 5 day treks has almost ended.
  • All climbers, all routes 45% (we estimate this figure is closer to 65% today)
  • All climbers, all 5 day routes 27%
  • All climbers, all 6 day routes 44%
  • All climbers, all 7 days routes 64%

All climbers, all 8 day routes 85-90%


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  • DAY 1 ARRIVE KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

  • Airport collection and transfer to overnight in www.babylonlodge.com or Ilboru Safari Lodge depending on the arrival of the flight  D

  • DAY 2 REST DAY for jetlag and long flight into Kilimanjaro

  • overnight in www.babylonlodge.com or Ilboru Safari Lodge   BLD

  • DAY 3 DRIVE TO RONGAI GATE AND WALK TO SIMBA CAMPSITE 3-4 hours trek

  • After breakfast around 08:30 hours you drive to the start of the Rongai route a distance of 58 km. It takes about four hours due to the rough road.  On arrival at the gate a short rest whilst formalities are completed.  After around 3-4 hours walk you reach Simba Camp  where you have  tea and Libor rest. • Overnight stay at Simba Campsite . • BLD

  • Attitude: 1950m – 2830M 3-4 Hours Distance:  7 km  Habitat: Montane Forest

  • DAY 4 SIMBA CAMPSITE TO KIKELEWA CAVE 6-7 HOURS

  • The hiking starts at 08:30 hours again after breakfast, you then continue hiking to the 2nd Cave in about 3-4 hours where we take an early lunch stop. After lunch we take a south easterly turn to the peak of Mawenzi . From here it is about 3 hours  up and down over moorland to  Kikelewa Cave where you will overnight.  Circa 6-7  hours hiking for this day magnificent views of the Kenyan plains below and Mawenzi tarn above. You can also see beautiful views of Kibo • BLD.

  • Elevation: 2830m – 3600m 6-7 hours Distance: 11 km Habitat: Moorland

  • DAY 5 KIKELEWA CAVE TO MAWENZI TARN 4-5 HOURS

  • The hiking starts at 08:30 after breakfast. Though the distance is short on this day  there is  about a 600 metre hike in altitude which takes about  4-5 hours to complete.  Mawenzi tarn  BLD

  • Elevation 3600m – 4315m 5-6 hours Distance 5km. Habitat: Semi-desert

  • DAY 6 ACCLIMATISATION DAY AT MAWENZI TARN

  • We spend this day doing a short day hike above the Tarn and reaching an altitude of around 4600-4700 metres. Acclimatization day BLD


Elevation: 4315m Distance 5 km Habitat: Semi- desert



  • DAY 7 MAWENZI TARN TO KIBO HUTS 5-6 HOURS

  • The hiking begins through the high alpine desert, between Mawenzi tarn and Kibo huts lunch is served between School Hut and Kibo Hut• Ultimately you arrive at Kibo Hut and camp over night near Kibo Hut. BLD

  • Elevation: 4315m - 4714m 5-6 hours Distance: 9 km Habitat: Alpine Desert

  • DAY 8 KIBO HUTS TO UHURU PEAK AND BACK TO KIBO HUTS 8-9 hours up and 4 ours down

  • We attempt a daylight climb of Kilimanjaro leaving at around 4am. Breakfast is served at the mess tent at 3.30 am and we head off to the summit walking the first hour with headlamps until the sun comes up. The uphill climb is quite relentless and needs to be paced slowly.  The time and stages are given below. The uphill conservative timings are below – it should take 8-9 hours to the top and 4 hours down.

  • Kibo Huts to Williams Point 5131m 2 to 2.5 hours; Williams Point to Hans Meyer Cave  5259m 45 min to 1 hour; Hans Meyer Cave to Gillmans Point  5719m 3 to 3.5 hours; Gillmans Point to  Stella Point  5745m  45 min Stella Point to Uhuru Peak 5895m   45 min to 50 min.  Distance 6.25 km up and 6.25 km down  Overnight  Kibo huts – camp  BLD

  • Elevation: 4703m- 5895m then Down 4703m Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak 7-9 hours; Uhuru Peak down to Kibo Huts 3 hours Distance 6km up then 6 km down. Habitat: Alpine Desert

  • DAY 9 KIBO HUTS TO HOROMBO HUTS 4 hours

  • This is a short day of about 4 hours down. We stay in Horombo as camping is not allowed at Mandara Huts so we get the afternoon free to rest and relax after our long summit day.

  • Kibo Huts to Horombo Huts 3720 metres 10 km 3.5 hours; Elevation: 4703m - then Down 3720 to Horombo huts –BLD

  • DAY 10 HOROMBO HUTS TO MANDARA HUTS TO MARANGU GATE  LONG DOWNHILL

  • It is a long downhill and hard on the knees all the way to the gate. We stop for lunch at the Mandara huts and then continue further down to the Marangu gate. On arrival at the gate, you will receive your Certificate of Accomplishment and be taken by our vehicle back to your lodge for a much-needed hot shower and rest.

  • Horombo Huts to Mandara Huts 2700m 12 km 4 hours Mandara Huts to Marangu gate Elevation: 2700m – 1843m  Distance- 8 km 3 hours  Habitat: Forest  Night Ilboru Safari Lodge Arusha https://ilborusafarilodge.net/ BLD

  • DAY 11    Departure Day Breakfast only


  • USD 3600 per person

  • Add on costs Single Tents on the trek add $100 USD per person; Single Rooms in Arusha/ Moshi for three nights add USD 40 per night. Extra meals in Arusha/Moshi lunch add USD 15 per person per meal if needed.

  • The cost is per person Kilimanjaro airport to Kilimanjaro airport  11 days as per the itinerary given

  • Costs given above are at current rates of 2024 and may change without notice in case park fees, other costs go up.

  • Costs include:

  • All transport including airport pick up, drop, to the start and from the finish of the trek. 

  • Three nights hotel with breakfast and dinner in Arusha/Moshi on twin sharing basis. Tents on the trek on twin sharing basis.

  • All meals on trek.

  • Cost of guides and porters for your duffle bag on the trek. Please keep the duffle bag within 12-14 kgs as possible.  Experienced Tanzania guide team English speaking - one guide for three clients – the guides have more than 100 plus ascents on Kilimanjaro.

  • Kilimanjaro per day park fees, porter and guide fees, flying doctor fees and other permit costs to climb the mountain are included. 

  • Payments – USD 300 to be paid as deposit on signing up for the trek to South Col Expeditions – balance amount to be paid directly to our partner in Tanzania by credit card/ bank swift transfer within 30 days of the date of starting the trek.

contact [email protected] for a detailed gear list

[email protected]


whatsapp +919831054569


  • CANCELLATION POLICY

  • The cancellation policy and refunds available are given below:

  • 0-7 days before the start of the tour = no refund 

  • 8 -15 days before the start of the tour = 25% refund

  • 16-30 days before the start of the tour = 50% refund

  • 31-45 days before the start of the tour = 70% refund

  • 46 days and above = 80% refund

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  • IN CASE OF LEAVING THE GROUP

  • If due to illness or any other reason a client has to leave the group and go down or wait at a lodge for the group to pick him/her up on the way back or return to Kathmandu, all expenses including lodging, fooding, transport and any porter/guide related expenses if any are to be borne by the individual client over and above the trek fees paid for the trek. There are also no refunds for leaving a trek before completion.

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  • EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER

  • In the eventuality of not being covered by emergency helicopter evacuation insurance and an evacuation is considered necessary, the cost of the evacuation will be paid by the client in advance to the helicopter company/travel agent etc as deemed necessary.+



  • DELAYS DUE TO BANDHS, STRIKES AND OTHER FORCE MAJEURE EVENTS

  • In the event of a delay in starting or ending the trek due to issues beyond the control of South Col, additional costs if any arising out of the same would have to be borne by the clients.

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  • LODGES ON THE TREK /CAMPING

  • The choice of lodges to be used on the trek will be decided by South Col and clients will have to stay at these designated lodges. Clients are not permitted to choose their own lodges on the route. In case of camping treks, two person tents will be provided. Designated camp spots as selected by South Col will be used for camping treks.

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  • TREK ROUTE

  • The trek route and day wise schedule will be fixed by South Col and will have to be followed by the client. This may be discussed with the group prior to starting the trek.

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  • RISKS AND LIABILITY

  • The trek is in a remote mountain area and has certain additional dangers and risks, some of which include: physical exertion for which the client should be prepared; weather extremes subject to sudden and unexpected changes; remoteness from normal medical services; evacuation difficulties.

  • In the event of injury or illness South Col Expeditions (Sujoy Das) or its Staff can, at the clients cost arrange any medical treatment and emergency evacuation service as it or they deem necessary for the health and safety of the client. . Waiver of liability form as per link attached to be signed by the client. https://www.southcol.com/waiver-of-liability-release/