Lemosho Route
Lemosho Route offers the smoothest acclimatization and the highest success rates of 85%, 90% and 95% for 6, 7 and 8-day programs, respectively.
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Day 1-9 | Tanzania
Day 2
Start: Lemosho Gate (2,385m)
Finish: Big Tree Camp (2,780 m)
Altitude: ↑ 395 m
Walking Time: 2-3h
Day 3
Start: Big Tree Camp (2,780 m)
Finish: Shira Camp 2 (3,900 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1,120 m
Walking Time: 7-8h
Day 4
Start: Shira Camp 2 (3,900 m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Altitude: ↑ 740 m ↓ 680 m
Walking Time: 6-7h
Day 5
Start: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Finish: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Altitude: ↑ 75 m
Walking Time: 3-4h
Day 6
Start: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Altitude: ↑ 605m
Walking Time: 3-4h
Day 7
Start: Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Finish:
Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1,255 m ↓ 2,815 m
Walking Time: 10-14h
Day 8
Start: Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1,630 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1,450 m
Walking Time: 2-3h
On arrival you will overnight at Parkview inn Hotel in Moshi Town
During trek you will sleep in tents.
This is a private tour and hence there won’t be any other climbers joining you. Your group will only consist of the people you chose to travel with and your mountain crew.
- Meals are included as mentioned in the itinerary.
- For breakfast there will be a choice of fruit, scrambled eggs, porridge, toast, jam, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Lunch will be provided in form of a lunch box containing sandwiches, boiled eggs, chicken etc.
- For dinner you will enjoy soup and bread followed by meat or poultry along with starch (i.e. chips, mashed potatoes, pasta or rice) as well as vegetables.
- While breakfast and dinner are served in a mess tent equipped with a table and chairs, lunch is enjoyed en-route.
- Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements or food allergies and we will do our outmost to cater for them (only possible with advanced notification).
- There are a few things you should pack for a Kilimanjaro climb and as the list is quite extensive, you will receive a detailed packing list from us once you have confirmed the booking.
- For your convenience we also rent out all essential clothing items and other gear.
- The Lemosho Route starts off on the remote western side but meets up with the Machame Route on day 3. Although this route is comparable to the Machame Route when it comes to the changes in altitude, it offers an extra acclimatization day at Karranga Camp to recover from the strains of the first three days. After a hopefully successful summit night, you will descend on the Mweka Route.
Kilimanjaro Trek
8 days lemosho route
The Lemosho Route starts off on the western flank of Kilimanjaro, offering spectacular views of Mt Meru and the plains of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. Your first day takes you through a dense rainforest, that gradually thins out with each upward step and by day two you can already see the summit of Kilimanjaro, glistening in the distance. On the third day, the route joins the Machame Route and a long, but rewarding, road lies ahead until you reach the summit. The extra day on this 8 day trek gives you the opportunity to better acclimatise, thus increasing your chances of reaching the top.
Day 1 Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha/Moshi
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure. You may opt to visit the town of Arusha/Moshi (taxi required) or spend the day lounging around the lodge pool. In the early evening, you will attend a briefing to prepare you for your upcoming trek.
Day 2 Arusha/Moshi– Lemosho Gate (2,385m) – Big Tree Camp (2,780 m)
After breakfast you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to the Lemosho Gate at the height of 2,385 m. Here you will be registered by the national park authorities and your trek through a dense rainforest begins. The moderately steep track makes its way through an unspoilt 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 trek as wild game can be found in the area. You will spend the night in tents at Big Tree Camp.
Day 3 Big Tree Camp (2,780 m) – Shira Camp 2 (3,900 m)
You have a long trek ahead today on a small trail, passing through the rainforest. As you ascend, the forest gradually thins out and the landscape becomes more dry and bare. On the moorland you will find lobelia and ericas dotting the landscape. You will pass Shira ridge before reaching Shira Camp 1 after 4 to 5 hours. Here you will have your lunch break and rest your limbs, 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.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 4 Shira Camp 2 (3,900 m) – Lava Tower (4,640 m) – Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Today’s stretch will allow your body to acclimatise to the ever increasing altitude. Your destination for the day is the Barranco Camp, only slightly higher than the previous night’s stay, but it will be reached through a detour to Lava Tower at 4,640 m in height. The ascent begins with a long trek above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower. The landscape slowly changes to alpine desert and the vegetation becomes less and less. Passing through the lobelia and senecio filled Barranco Valley, you will reach your camp after 6 – 7 hours of walking. Your camp for the evening is the Barranco Camp, said to be one of the most beautiful camps on the mountain.
Day 5 Barranco Camp (3,960 m) – Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Many ascents and descents are on the agenda for today. You will start the journey tackling the steepest part of the entire route – the Barranco Wall. As you climb you might need to use your hands, but your guides will always be close by to offer assistance. At the top of the Barranco wall you will walk along the mountain ridge, which offers spectacular views of the southern glacier of Kibo as well as the summit itself. Around lunch time you will arrive at Karanga Camp, where a well-deserved rest is the order of the day.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 6 Karanga Camp (4,035 m) – Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
After breakfast you will continue through the alpine desert until you have reached the Barafu Camp, situated at an altitude of 4,640 m. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours giving you enough time to relax and prepare for the summit night ahead. An early dinner will be followed by an early bedtime, before being awoken at around midnight.
Day 7 Barafu Camp (4,640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
After a light snack and some hot tea, you will be ready to start the dark ascent to Uhuru Peak at around midnight. You will walk on frozen lava ash, using your headlamp to light the way. After 5 to 7 hours you will arrive at the crater rim of Mt Kilimanjaro, Stella Point. You will continue along the crater ridge which will lead you to the “Roof of Africa”, the summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). The landscape shimmers and shines in the light of the rising sun before you. After all the necessary photos have been taken, you will return to a smiling crew at Barafu Camp. After a hot lunch and well-deserved break, you will make your way to Mweka Camp, where you will camp for the night.
Day 8 Mweka Camp (3,080 m) – Mweka Gate (1,630 m) – Arusha/Moshi
Your amazing adventure comes to an end with a traditional farewell ceremony by your mountain crew before a gentle descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Your driver will be waiting for you and he will take you back to the Lodge, where you can enjoy a shower and celebrate your wonderful achievement.
Day 9 Arusha/Moshi – Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast, you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport or you can opt to extend your stay in Tanzania with a safari or beach holiday.
Items included:
Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
Professional, English-speaking guide
Mountain crew (cook & porters)
Overnight stays in hotels and mountain tents
Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, chairs, tables etc.)
Portable toilet and toilet tent
Meals according to the itinerary
Drinking water
All national park fees
All mentioned transfers
Items excluded:
Sleeping bag
Flights
Optional activities
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Visa fees
Tips
Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Travel insurance