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Summary Itineraries
This long, little-used route parallels the lower part of the
Shira Route.
Price: USD $1,876 person.
Duration: 8 days trekking; 6 and a half days ascending, 1
and a half days descending
Lenght: 98 km/61 mi total; 60 km/37 mi ascent; 38 km/24 mi
descent
Elevation(m): 4,065 m to 3,915 m descent Londorossi Gate
2,250 m to Uhuru Peak 5,895 m and descent to Mweka Gate
1,980m
Elevation(ft): 13,340 ft /12,840 ft descent Londorossi Gate
7,380 ft to Uhuru Peak 19,340 ft and descent to Mweka Gate
6,500ft
Description
The Lemosho Route is an unspoiled, remote, little-used, and
beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. Above the plateau,
you approach Kilimanjaro’s great western Breach, then follow
the south circuit to reach the easier Barafu Route. This is
one of the few routes where an armed ranger accompanies our
groups, since there are still animals in the forest around
the Lemosho Glades.
Note:
We do not place groups together. This way you are ensured
the full attention of our guide, but with the added
knowledge of our guides’ experiences. It also means that we
can start the climb on the day you prefer.
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Detailed Itineraries
Arrival Day:
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be
met at the Airport and transferred to the hotel in
Arusha/Moshi for your overnight and briefing by our mountain
guide
Day 1: Moshi/Arusha to Londorossi Gate to Lemosho Glades
to Mkubwa Camp
Elevation(m):915 m/1387 to 2,250 m to 2,000 m to 2,750 m
Elevation(ft): 3,000 ft/4921ft to 7,380 ft to 6,560 ft to
9,020 ft
Distance: 18 km,
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Londorossi Park Gate. From
here follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for about 11
km/7 mi (45 minutes) to Lemosho Glades and a possible
campsite. From the
Glades, walk for 3 hours along beautiful forest trails to
the Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
Day 2: Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1
Elevatoin(m): 2,750 m to 3,500 m
Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,485 ft
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
The trail gradually steepens, enters the giant heather
moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600
m/11,810 ft and drops gently to Shira Camp 1 located by a
stream on the Shira
Plateau.
Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2
Elevation(m): 3,500 m to 3,840 m
Elevation(ft): 11,485 ft to 12,600 ft
Distance: 6 km,
Hiking Time: 2 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
A gentle walk across the plateau leads to shira camp 2 on
moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are
available on the plateau making this an excellent
acclimatization day.
Day 4: Shira Camp 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation(m): 3,840 m to 4,630 m to 3,950 m
Elevation(ft): 12,600 ft to 15,190 ft to 12,960 ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
After breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening path
above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro’s looming
mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky
landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower
at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s
earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and
the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the
sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a
lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the
lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to
Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft. There are numerous photo
opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are
festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the
Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you
with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On
this day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude
sickness.
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation(m): 3,900 m to 4,200 m
Elevation(ft) : 12,800 ft to 13,780 ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to the great
Barranco Wall, then you climb this imposing obstacle, which
turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below
the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful
Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo’s glaciers soaring
overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the
Karanga Valley campsite. From the camp, you can look east
and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African
sky. After a hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure
for resting or exploring. After two long days, this short
day is very important for your acclimatization, since your
summit push is about to start.
Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation(m): 4,200 m to 4,550 m
Elevation(ft) : 13,780 ft to 14,930 ft
Distance : 13 km
Hiking Time : 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
In the morning, you hike east over intervening ridges and
valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent
route. Turn left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge
through asparse landscape for another hour to the Barafu Hut
where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water on the
route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu
Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice.” The
famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near
the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a
narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you
familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid
any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for
your summit climb, and drink a lot of fluids. After an early
dinner, go to bed for a few hours of precious sleep.
Day 7 – Summit Day! Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka
Camp
Elevation(m): 4, 550m to 5,895 m to 3,100 m
Elevation(ft) : 14,930 ft to 19,340 ft to 19,340 ft
Distance: 7 km up, 23 km down
Hiking Time : 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down
Habitat: Scree and seasonal snow
You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming tea
and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6-hour
climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann
and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the
most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At
Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest
and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella
Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not
stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to
start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season
and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining
hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can
enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a
day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After
your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you
will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear,
and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and
eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170
ft). This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect
mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing
water will be prepared, and the camp office sells drinking
water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beer!
Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi/Arusha
Elevation(m): 3,100 m to 1,980 m to 890 m/ 1387 m
Elevation(ft): 10,170 ft to 6,500 ft to 2,920 ft/ 4921ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic,
3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your porters
any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate
safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At
Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a
register. This is also where successful climbers receive
their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point
are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru
Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you
will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3
km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In
the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot lunch
after which you are driven back to Moshi/Arusha for an
overdue hot shower and comfortable night in a nice hotel.
Arusha/Moshi:
Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania or
Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to
recuperate. We can arrange many reasonably priced trips and
safaris to the Tanzania Nothern Parks such as trips to
Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara
National Park, Tarangire National Park and to Arusha
National Park. Also we can arrange trips to Southern Circuit
such as trips to Selous game reserve, Mikumi National Park
and Ruaha National Park.
Extra Day for Acclimatization
You can spend an extra day at Shira Camp 2, Barranco Camp,
or Karanga Camp for acclimatization purposes. If you want to
add this day, and maintain an 8-day itinerary, you can omit
day 3 and walk from Shira Camp 1 to Barranco Camp.
Note if you skip the
rest day, you can visit Mawenzi Tarn on a 6-day itinerary.
Price:
US $1,876 per person sharing (minimum 2pax) - 8 days
climb
Extra days on the Mountain: US $235 per person per day
* Discounts available for groups of 4 persons and above
Price above Includes:
- Transport to and from mountain gates.
- All parks entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- Rescue fees.
- Guide and porters fees.
- Guide and porters salaries.
- All accommodations on the mountain based on three meals a
day.
- Cook and all kitchen utensils.
Price Above Excludes:
- International and domestic flights (we can arrange on
request)
- Accommodation on the first night upon your arrival before
climb and on the last day after climb (book with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Tips, drinks and all items of personal nature
- Hard and soft drinks and tips
- Sleeping bags but we can provide for hire on request.
- All Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
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