6-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek via Lemosho Route to Uhuru Peak

• After breakfast at your hotel, your Tanzania tour guide will brief you on the day ahead.
• Drive for two hours from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). In the village near Londorossi Gate, receive a packed lunch and mineral water for the hike. Then continue with the final 45 minutes of driving on a bumpy forest track that requires 4WD vehicles. At the entrance gate, the guides and porters will distribute supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).
• Begin your 3-hour hike into the rainforest and keep an eye out for Colobus monkeys. Along the way, stop for an afternoon lunch break before arriving at Mti Mkubwa ("Big Tree") Campsite (2750m) in the early evening.

Hiking time: 3 hours

Habitat: Montane forest

• After an early morning breakfast, begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather moorland zone. Cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and enjoy a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers to the east.

Enjoy evening snacks and then dinner prepared by the chef. Be prepared for a cold night, as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

Hiking time: 6.5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

• Following an early morning breakfast, leave the moorland environment and enter the semi-desert and rocky landscape.
• After 5 hours of walking east, come face to face with Lava Tower (4630m). Eat packed lunches served at the Tower, and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower, weather permitting.
• Following lunch, descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 680m descent gives hikers a huge advantage by allowing their bodies to adjust to the conditions of the high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours. The campsite is located in a valley below the Breach and the Great Barranco Wall ("Breakfast Wall").

Enjoy dinner as you view the sunset.

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: Approximately 15 kilometres

Habitat: Semi-desert

• After an early morning breakfast, it is time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall. Although it may look intimidating at first glance, hikers say that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, enjoy a view of Heim Glacier and find yourself above the clouds.
• Follow the trail as it winds up and down through the Karanga Valley and intersects with the Mweka Route.
• Continue hiking for an hour to reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). Eat an early dinner so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night.
• Receive a detailed briefing on how to prepare for summit night, then go to sleep by 7 pm.

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: Approximately 13 kilometres

Habitat: Alpine desert

• Wake up at around 11:30 pm for tea and biscuits and begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and ascends over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim.
• After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment.
• Spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before beginning the descent to Barafu. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours. At camp, rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun.
• After eating, continue descending to Mweka Hut (3100m).
• Hike on the Mweka Trail, which leads through scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rainforest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rainforest, so fog and rain should be expected.
• Relish dinner and rest soundly at camp.

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

Distance: Approximately 7 kilometres ascent and 23 kilometres descent

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

• Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will hold a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters.
• After celebrating, descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates, and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
• After receiving your certificate, descend into Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometres).
• Be served a hot lunch and then drive back to Moshi for long-overdue showers and more celebrations.

Hiking time: 3 hours

Distance: Approximately 15 kilometres

Habitat: Forest