Lemosho Route – 8 Day Trekking + 2 Day Hotel

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport / Other Pickup Destination, where you will meet a Majali guide, and be transferred to the hotel. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers,  who will also make sure you are prepared to trek Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route for 8 days by checking your gear and giving you a brief breakdown of the trip.

Note: Check-in starts at 2:00 PM

A guide and support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold another briefing. Then you will travel by vehicle for  3-4 hours to the western entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park, known as Londorossi Gate (2,200 m). After another few hours of formalities with the park rangers at the gate and you will be on the trail. Then you will drive for another hour to the Lemosho Gate. The group will stop for a light snack then start the 3-4 hour hike towards the Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m). Raincoats are necessary on this day in particular, as you will be walking through the rainforest. The trail goes through the lowland forests where you’re likely to spot the large Colobus monkeys which are fairly common .By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents up and cook lunch for you. After lunch the group will depart on an acclimatization hike towards Shira 1 Camp that features a 300 meter gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Mti Mkubwa Camp, where a hot dinner will be waiting.

Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously.

At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp:

Change in Elevation: Londorossi Gate (2,200 m) — Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m)

Hiking distance: 6 km

Hiking time: 3-4 hour

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m) Destination point en route to Shira 1 Camp (3,095 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

An early wakeup and breakfast. The first part of today’s trek is a slow gradual walk that is fairly steep as you climb up out of the jungle and into the moorland ecosystem dominated by Giant Heathers and a variety of grasses and wildflowers. ; After passing several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge. At that point for the first time you will be able to see stunning views of Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano. On the whole, the passage from Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This will allow you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is important to have a successful climb. When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will cook you lunch and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or walk around the nearby area.

Change in Elevation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m) — Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m)

Hiking distance:5 km

Hiking time: 5-6 hours

We will explore the Shira plateau for a full day. Departing from Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) we have a gentle walk that leads to the Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m). This trek is not difficult and you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the moreland meadows of  and the surrounding area. Shira 2 Camp is the best place on the trip to see Mount Meru (the fifth summit of Africa), weather permitting. Then we continue to Moir Hut  (4139m), a little used camping site on the base of Lent Hills, there are a variety of short walking trails making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity.

Change in Elevation: Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) — Moir Hut (4,139 m)

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5-6 hours

After breakfast you will leave Moir Hut (4,139 m) and start your way to the key point of the route, the Lava Tower (4,630 m). Once we reach the Lava Tower we will stay here for 2 hours and enjoy lunch for proper acclimatization.  After lunch we will pass by the Arrow Glacier (4876m)

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, and get to rest and enjoy a warm dinner.

Note:

Although you end the day at the same elevation you began at, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help you prepare for the summit day.

If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following instead the road for porters. In this case you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.

Change in Elevation: Moir Hut (4,139 m) — Barranco Camp(3,960 m)

Hiking distance: 7 km

Hiking time: 4-6 hours

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall. The climb is on a steep ridge, hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp (4,035 m) , which features numerous ascents and descents during the route. After reaching the camp you will enjoy a warm lunch. Then, after a couple of hours you will begin a short 1 hour acclimatization hike and return to camp where you will enjoy a hot dinner.

Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)) — Karanga Camp (4,035 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Chosen Point (4,200 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

After Breakfast, you will begin the trek to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax. We will begin by going through the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. After we reach the Barafu Hut, we will have completed the southern circuit. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner and be prepared for the climb to the summit. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping.

Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Hiking distance: 4 km

Hiking time: 4-5  hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

Very Early wakeup ( midnight – 2am), We depart from Barafu Camp ( 4,640 m) and begin the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. Then we will continue our accent toward Stella Point (5,669 m). This is the most challenging portion of the climb to the high altitude. At Stella Point we will enjoy a short rest and you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see ( unless you are a fast hiker, then you enjoy an amazing sunrise from Uhuru Peak) ( weather permitting). From Stella Point you may encounter snow along your 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). . After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak – the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the last point of the climb on the Lemosho Route, you will have reached the highest point in all of Africa — CONGRATULATIONS!

From the Summit, we will begin our descent to Mweka Hut. We will stop at Barafu Camp to rest, and enjoy a warm lunch. You will want to wear gaiters and bring a trekking pole for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is  located in the upper forest and mist or rain is to be expected. Later in the evening we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well earned sleep.

Change in Elevation:  Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)

          Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Mweka Hut(3,048 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent

Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent

When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park’s exit: Mweka Gate (1,650 m). From the gate it is an hour drive to Mweka village. After your descent the whole group will gather at the hotel where we will present you with your commemorative certificates.

Change in Elevation: Mweka Camp (3,048 m)  — Moshi ( 1,524 m )

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Hotel checkout is at 11am.  From there a Majali guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight.