Incredible 6-Days Kilimanjaro Climbing via Lemosho Route up to Summit

About Dakado Lemosho Route

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge with Tanzania Dakado Adventures. The Lemosho route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. Crowds are low until the route joins the Machame route near Lava Tower. Then the route travers’s underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern ice field on a path known as the Southern circuit before summiting from Barafu, descent is made via the Mweka route.

DAY 0: ARRIVAL AT ARUSHA/KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – MOSHI

When you arrive at Arusha /Kilimanjaro Airport, your Tanzania Dakado Adventuress guide will be there to pick up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we propose Kilimanjaro White House Hotel). Settle into your accommodation, relax and enjoy African atmosphere ready to start your 6 Days Dakado Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour Via Lemosho Route the next day.

DAY 1: MOSHI-LONDOROSSI-MTI MKUBWA CAMP

• Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft

• Distance: 6 km & height: 2,250 m

• Hiking Time:3-4 hours

• Habitat: Rain Forest

• overnight at Mti mkubwa Camp

After breakfast your Tanzania Dakado Adventures Guide will pick up you from the lodge to the Londorossi Gate and simple registration will take place, after complete necessary registration, Dakado drive will take you to dense rainforest. The moderately steep track makes its way through an unpolite natural forest to the Big Tree Camp (2,780 m). You will be accompanied by an armed ranger for the first 2 days of your Dakado trek as wild game can be found in the area. You will spend the Dakado night in tents at Big Tree Camp.

DAY 2: MTI MKUBWA CAMP -SHIRA 2 CAMP

• Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 12,500ft

• Altitude: 3,010 m to 3,845m

• Distance: 18 km

• Hiking Time 8-9hours

• Habitat: Moorland

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Barranco camp

You’ll have a long Dakado trek ahead on a small trail, passing through the rainforest, the forest is gradually thinning out and the landscape becomes drier and barer, on the moorland you will see lobelia and Erica’s dotting the landscape and pass Shira ridge before reaching Shira Camp 1 after 4 to 5 hours. Here you will have your Dakado lunch, break and get rest, enjoying the views of Mt Meru and the Rift Valley in the distance. You will trek for about another 3 hours, ascending 250 m. Walking on solidified lava, you will pass giant senecios, almost 9 meters in height, before finally reaching your destination of the day, the Shira Camp 2. You will enjoy an evening meal and with a little bit of luck you will be able to see the summit basking in the orange glow of the sunset.

DAY 3: SHIRA 2 CAMP – LAVA TOWER - BARRANCO CAMP

• Altitude: 3,845m to 3,960m

• Distance Covered: 10 km

• Time to be used: 6-8 hours.

• Habitat: Semi Desert

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Barranco camp

In this day you will climb about 800 m while camping at an elevation only slightly higher than the previous night for body acclimatization as a height of over 4,500 m will be reached over the next two days.

The Dakado trek will begin a long ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower. From Shira Plateau to the east ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo, our direction will change to South East towards Lava Tower, known as “Shark’s Tooth.” At the moment after the tower, you’ll shift to the second junction which chance us the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

The vegetation becomes sparser as the landscape changes to an afro-alpine desert. The route passes through the sweeping Barranco Valley with its lobelia and giant senecio plants. After 6 to 7 hours, you will arrive at the most beautiful Barranco mountain camp

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP - BARAFU CAMP

# Barranco camp to Barafu Camp

• Altitude: 3,960 m to 4,640 m

• Elevation: 13,044 ft to 15,331ft

• Distance Covered: 5km

• Hiking time 4-5 hours

• Time to be used: 4- 5 hours

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Accommodation: Barafu camp

Today’s stretch starts with the climb of the Barranco Wall. We leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. Safety is paramount and your guides will assist you wherever necessary. Following the ridge as it traverses up and down, you can enjoy the splendid views of the south glacier of Kibo. In the Karanga Valley you will have lunch, followed by a 2 to 3 hours climb to Barafu Camp.

At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. Once at the camp, you can relax, have dinner and call it an early night.

DAY 5: BARAFU CAMP – UHURU PEAK – MWEKA CAMP

• Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

• Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft

• Distance: 5 km/3 miles & 12 km/7 miles

• Altitude: 4,640 m to 5,895 m & 5,895 m to 3,080 m

• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours & 4-6 hours

• Habitat: Arctic & Rain Forest

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Mweka Camp

After a cup of hot Dakado tea and a light snack, Dakado climbing will begin around midnight to summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short and rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you’ll likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

Stopping at Barafu for lunch, you will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we’ll enjoy our last Dakado dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

DAY 6: MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE - BACK TO MOSHI

• Altitude: 3,080 m to 1,630m

• Distance Covered: 9.3km km down

• Time to be used: 2 - 3 hrs.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

The final leg of your amazing adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. Then a gentle 2 to 3 hours’ descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to relax, relax at the pool or celebrate your achievement

Note: Remember to tip your guides and porters to succeed time of Dakado celebration!