KILIMANJARO CLIMB LEMOSHO ROUTE

The Lemosho route is one of our preferred routes due to its low traffic, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. The Lemosho route starts off from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the lush rainforest to Shira Plateau. We recommend a minimum of 7 days to attempt this route but 8 days is preferable for better acclimatization and summit success. The Lemosho route joins the Machame route at Shira 2 Camp and then follows the same route through the southern circuit and descending at Mweka Gate.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in TanzaniaYou will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day. Overnight at Weru Weru River Lodge (or alternative).Day 2: Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)

You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.

Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi

Approx. time taken: 4 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 3: Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)

Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.

Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi

Approx. time taken: 7 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 4: Shira 1 Camp (3500m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)

Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.

Distance covered: 8km / 5mi

Approx. time taken: 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 5: Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.

Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi

Approx. time taken: 7 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 6: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi

Approx. time taken: 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 7: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi

Approx. time taken: 3 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 8: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)

We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi

Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 9: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before our big celebration. Overnight at the Weru Weru River Lodge (or alternative)

Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi

Approx. time taken: 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included

Day 10: Depart Tanzania

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.

*We also welcome you spare an hour of your day to plant a tree, as part of our environmental conservation efforts in the Kilimanjaro region.

*Safari and Zanzibar add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring

Tanzania

Best time to travel:All year around
Day 00: Arrival Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha at your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 1: Arusha (1400m)- Londorossi (2100m)- Mti Mkubwa camp (2750)
Hiking time: 3gours
Habitat: Mntane forest
After eating breakfast at your hotel, your guide will brief you on the day. you will drive 2 hours from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi park gate (1200m). In the village near Londorossi gate, you will receive a parked lunch and can buy mineral water for the hike. Then the final 45 minutes of the drive leading up to the gate will be on a bumpy forest track requiring 4WD vehicles. At the entrance gate the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA). You are now ready to begin your 3-hours hike into the rain forest. Be on the look out for colobus monkeys! Along the way you will stop for an afternoon lunch break and arrive at Mti mkubwa (Big tree) Campsite (2750m) in early evening. The porters who arrive at the campsite before the clients, will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing. The chef will prepare a snack then dinner for the clients. At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa camp(27500- Shira 2 Camp(3840)
Hiking time: 5.6-hours
Habitat: Moorland
After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent out of the rain forest and into the heather moorland zone. You will cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 camp (3840). At this campsite, you be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

Day 3: Shira(3840)- Lava Tower(4630)- Barranco camp (3950)
Hiking time: 7-hours
Habitat: Semi desert
Following an early morning after breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5-hours of walking east, you will be come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.
After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower(4630m) to the Barrranco Campsite Wall (3950m). the 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (Breakfast Wall). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the setting.

Day 4: Barranco Camp(3950m)- Karanga Camp(3950m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert
This is short hiking day for acclimatization. After early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail winds up and down in the Karanga valley. you will spend the night at Karanga camp(3950m) and enjoy dinner and washing at the site.

Day 5; Karanga camp(3959m)- Barafu Hut (4600m)
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used do descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word "barafu" in swahili means "Ice" and this camp located on a rocky exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocky so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!

Day 6: Summit attempt Barafu Camp(4600m)- Uhuru Peak(5895m)- Mweka(3100m)

Hiking time: 8-hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kilometers ascent and 23 kilometers descent.
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will the begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers fell that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hour, you reach stella point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt.Kilimanjaro is a life time accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu camp takes about 3 hours.
At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have a dinner, wash and rest soundly at camp.

Day 7: Mweka Camp (3100m)-Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Forest
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s) and porters. After celebrating you will descend for 3 hours back to Mweka Gate. The National park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru peak (5895m) received gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

Items included.
>Quality waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents.
>Professional experience mountain guides.
>All park fees
>Rescue fees
>All meals while on the mountain
>Guides, porters, cook salaries and park fees.
>Quality Mess tents with table and chairs.
>Large portion of fresh healthy nutritious food.
>Clean purified drinking water.
>Crisis management and safety procedures.
>Fair and ethical treatment of porters.
>Airport transfer.
>Accommodation in Arusha.

Items not included
>Tanzania Visa.
>Gratuity
>Personal Expenses (e.g laundry, telephone and beverages)
>Meals not listed above.
>Optional Tours (short safaris after your climbing.)

Tours Review & Rating
    Not rated
/ 5

Leave a Review

Related Tours

7 DAYS SELOUS, MIKUMI & RUAHA

Destination

Need Help Booking?

Calls anytime

+255 787 528 550

Open chat