7-Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Trek to Uhuru Peak at Sunrise

Depart from Arusha.

Complete the necessary registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate with your Tanzanian mountain guide.

Drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. The last section of the road is of poor quality and can be difficult to drive after rain; sometimes, the walk begins a kilometre or two below the road head. Lunch is often taken at the road head before starting the trek. It is an easy day of walking along a small path through the beautiful, lush forest.

Camp at Lemosho Big Tree Camp.

Start the climb after breakfast on your trek via Lemosho.

Leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially if the afternoon mists roll in.

Camp in the center of the plateau at Shira One.

Embark on a morning of gentle ascent amid panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach.

Eat lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550 m), then descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley, sheltered by towering cliffs and offering extensive views of the plains far below.

Camp in the Barranco Valley.

Trek up the steep Barranco Wall, which leads to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice Fields. The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of vegetation in a sheltered hollow.

Spend the night at the camp at Karanga (4,000 m), the last water point on the way to the summit.

Start day five on Kilimanjaro by passing through compacted scree with wide views as you gain altitude unrelentingly with your Tanzanian mountain guide.

Reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m) for lunch.

Take a short acclimatisation walk to the plateau at the bottom of the South-East Valley (4,800 m).

Spend the remainder of the day resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.

Start climbing Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route after drinking a cup of hot tea.

Ascend by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so that you can reach the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree follows some well-graded zig-zags, and a slow but steady pace will bring you to Stella Point (5,735 m) in about five or six hours.

Rest at Stella Point for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.

Make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close by spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area, for those who are still feeling strong.

Descend to Barafu, which is surprisingly fast.

Enjoy some refreshment.

Continue descending to reach your final overnight stop at Mweka Forest Camp.

Spend your final day on the trek on the Lemosho Route with a gentle descent through a lovely forest with lush undergrowth.

Reach Mweka National Park Gate.

Drive back to Peace Hotel in Arusha.