Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking, Lemosho Route - 7 Days

Day 1: Arusha (1,400 m) – Londorosi Gate at (2,100 m) – Big Tree Camp at (2,750 m)

Walking distance: approx. 7 km in a duration of 3 to 4 hrs, Vegetation zone is the rain forest

After breakfast at your lodge/hotel in Moshi, we pick up and drive all the way to the town of Boma N’gombe and across the village of Sanya Juu, You will have 15 minutes break at Boma Ng’ombe for the crew to have breakfast if you wish you can do some grocery shopping here. Then you will drive along the bumpy road up to the Londorossi gate. At the gate, the usual paperwork will be done, and you will lastly sign the KINAPA book before you start your first day of ascent Kilimanjaro. You will have your picnic lunch prior to the start, you will need about 3 hours of walking to make your day.

The route leads you mostly across the rain forest, large tree roots, and a lavish nature so you man expects rain, mad & sometimes fog. Reach your camp in the late afternoon. Porters are much faster so by the time you reach the camp they have been there already & have done all the arrangements. You will have water to wash, coffee or tea with some snakes before going to your tent to change clothes that you have been hiking with, on the mountain we say stay warm all the time. Hang around the camp until dinner time.

Overnight at Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa Camp) 2,780 m.

All meals included.

Day 2: Big Tree Camp at (2,750 m) – Shira Camp 2 at (3,840 m)

Walking distance: approx. 14 km in 7-8 hours, Vegetation zone is heather and moorland

After breakfast leave Mti Mkubwa Camp, after trekking for 30 minutes nature will transform into heather and moorland. You will cross many streams and trek over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp standing at (3,840 m). The camp is next to a stream & it offers a stunning view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East.

Arriving at the camp similar procedure will follow as per the first day. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below the freezing point at this exposed camp.

Overnight at Shira 2 Camp (3,840 m).

All meals included.

Day 3: Shira Camp at (3,840 m) – Lava Tower at (4,630 m) – Barranco Camp at (3,950 m)

Walking distance: approx. 10 km in 6 to 7 hours, vegetation zone is Moorland/Alpine desert

After breakfast your third stage of Kilimanjaro trekking will start, firstly you will trek South of the Shira/Lemosho route. The route tracks over a black lava desert through millions of heavy rocks that sometimes reminds of cairns, all in all, the route is passable. During the ascent and descent past Lava Tower, the climb is about 1,4700 meters but you will be sleeping at about 100 meters higher than the last day.

Your today’s goal will be reached at an altitude of 4,630 meters at Lava Tower. It is very silent up here thus you can easily hear your heartbeat and the wind in your ears. During lunchtime, you can sight the snowline above the Lava Tower and the temperatures are almost to the freezing point. Move on to Barranco valley after lunch. Kilimanjaro trekking on Lemosho Route 7 days continues on the track runs along with the series over the Kibo circuit, slowly, slowly the stone desert disappears and furthermore, you find again the tropical giants cross herbs accompanied with heather and moorland. Your destination will be reached after about 7 hours. From the Barranco Camp, you can observe the Great Barraco Wall, the West Breach of Kibo as well as the window and the south glacier. Evening time the sun gives a wonderful play of colors. Enjoy a similar evening as of the previous day.

Overnight at Barranco Camp (3,950 m).

All meals included.

Day 4: Barranco Camp at (3,950 m) – Karanga Camp at (3,950 m)

The day for acclimatization

After breakfast, there is a big challenge ahead waiting for you “climbing the Great Barranco Wall” Therefore it is nice that you start a bit early to avoid a traffic jam at the wall, 1 to 1.5 hours needed to climb the Great Barranco Wall. As you gaze behind the wall you will see a barren wall and the rocky plateau. The view of Kibo and the three southern glaciers are awesome. The route then continues on sand and gravel through the rocky moors. Again and again, you will pass across streams, grasslands, and the giant stone cross herbs.

After a distance of about 2 to 3 hours, you will reach Karanga camp at an altitude of 3,950 meters, as you go up the hill after hill, you will have a good view of upcoming routes. Enjoy your lunch at the camp and use the rest of the day to rest and gather the strength for the following day.

Overnight at Karanga Camp (3,950 m).

All meals including.

Walking distance: approx. 3-4 km in 6 hours, vegetation zone is Alpine desert.

Day 5: Karanga Camp at (3,950 m) – Barafu Camp at (4,600 m)

After breakfast, you will start ascending the most difficult part of this mountain for the entire crew “The Barafu camp”. The first still-existing moorland gradually vanishes and the landscape becomes rocky. Stones and boulders are ruling this landscape. This is the last water stop for porters because they can’t access water at Barafu Camp (4,600 m). Barafu means ice in Swahili, this camp is situated on a rocky, exposed ridge.

Tents are much exposed to the wind as well as rocks so it is important for trekkers to be familiarized themselves with the environment around before dark. Spend the rest of the day having snacks and dinner later on. You should go to bed early enough and get a good sleep as you will be attempting the summit tonight. After dinner, your guide will give you a detailed briefing on how to prepare for the summit night.

Overnight at Barafu Camp (4,600 m).

All meals included.

Day 6: Summit Day. Barafu Camp at (4,600 m) – Uhuru Peak at (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp at (3,100 m)

Trekking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka

Distance: approx: 7 kilometers ascent and 23 kilometers descent

Vegetation type: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Night ascend to the summit and then descend to Mweka Camp. Spend a short night at this camp & before midnight at around 23:00 or 23:30, your guide will wake you up, you will have tea & biscuits, after, Kilimanjaro trekking the final push to the summit will begin. The night is silent and freezing cold when you and your guide set out for the summit. The route to the summit is on the northwest & the scent is over the stone scree. It is at this point where the majority of trekkers feel that this is the most physical & mentally challenging part of their trek.

Steeply up step by step and over the shoulders your path will lead you to the crater rim, to be reached after 5 to 6 hours and thus the Stella Point (5740 m). Now, you only have 150 meters left to reach your goal. As the first rays of the day emerged you pass the Rebmann Glacier and proceed to Hans Mayer point.

Enjoy the sunrise that occurs with an amazing play of lights through the ice formations. Soon the summit sign of Mount Kilimanjaro will appear…you have done it. Congratulations on reaching the highest point of the African Continent at an altitude of 5,895 meters. You will be rewarded with the magnificent view of the hardship and you can now proudly make the typical summit photos. Take a short break, then descent along the crater rim back to Stella Point and then continue down to Rebmann Glacier.

Your descending is via the same route of ascending so proceed down to Barafu camp where you will have a hot lunch.

After lunch and some rest, you go down to Mweka camp, downward the vegetation is attractive, reach your camp later afternoon. Get hot water to wash, tea or coffee & snacks will be served before you get to the dry clothes. Spend the rest of the day at the camp while relaxing and accumulate some strength for the next day.

Overnight at Mweka Camp (3,080 m).

All meals included.

Day 7: Descent: Mweka Camp at (3,100 m) – Mweka Gate at (1,980 m) – Moshi

Walking distance: approx.10 km in 3 to 4 hours, vegetation zone is moorland and rain forest.

Start with a good breakfast on this last day of your Kilimanjaro trekking. Take last team photos for a souvenir before start your way down to Mweka Gate. The trial is well-developed, a forest road and in the second half, it is mostly characterized by rain forest. You will reach the Mweka gate after 10 kilometers. Celebration, Tipping, and farewell will be at Mweka gate, and at the very end your guide will present to you a Green certificate for hikers who reached Stella Point & gold certificates for those made to Uhuru peak the actual summit of Kilimanjaro Mountain.

At the gate meet your driver who has already be there and drive back to your Lodge in Moshi possibly for a long overdue hot shower before dinner & overnight.