8-Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Trek with Uhuru Peak Summit

• Meet your tour guide at your hotel at around 08:00 am and transfer to Lemosho Gate, located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. The registration process takes place here.
• Start the climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree Camp, where you will be spending the night.

Distance covered: 7 km

Time to be used: 4 hours

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Big Tree Camp

• Cover a lot of ground today as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations.
• Trek through Shira 1 Camp and head towards your destination, Shira 2. Gain a reasonable amount of altitude as you head towards Shira 1, and note that parts of the route are fairly steep.
• As you proceed towards Shira 2, you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice Fields from the western side of the mountain, along with unusual views of Kibo. The steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization, and you will enjoy great panoramic views.

Overnight stay at Shira Campsite (full board).

Distance Covered: 16.5 kms

Time to be used: 9 - 11 hours

• Head for a moderate walk across the plateau, which leads you 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.

Overnight stay at Shira Campsite (full board).

Distance Covered: 10 km

Time to be used: 7 hrs

• Have breakfast and proceed hiking east up a steepening path above the vegetation toward Kilimanjaro's looming mass.
• Walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft after several hours of walking. 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.
• Stop for lunch 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 plentiful 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 become aware of any signs of altitude sickness.

Overnight stay at Barranco Camp (full board).

Distance Covered: 5.5 km

Time to be used: 5 hrs

• Have a good night's rest and breakfast, then set off on your walk to Barafu Camp at 4,640 m. The climb will take you across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around. It's a tough, steep walk made more difficult by the altitude.
• Arrive at the camp and spend the afternoon resting as you prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm.
• Have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep, as you will be getting up between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit.

Overnight stay at Barafu Camp (full board).

Distance Covered: 3 km

Time to be used: 3 hours

• Hike east over intervening ridges and valley to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route.
• Turn left towards the mountain and hike up the ridge through a sparse landscape for another hour to Barafu Hut, where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water point on this route is Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu Camp. 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.
• Have an early dinner and go to bed for a few hours of valued sleep.

Overnight stay at Millenium Campsite.

Distance Covered: 13.4 km

Time to be used: 12-15 hrs

• Wake up around 11:30 PM and, after some hot tea and biscuits, drag your feet off into the night. The 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.
• Stop for a short rest at Stella Point, 5,685 m/18,650 ft, and get 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 exhaustion. Depending on the time of year and current storms, you may stumble upon snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak.
• Enjoy your accomplishment on the summit.
• Descend from the summit back to Barafu Camp (3 hours).
• Have a short rest to collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and, sooner or later, into the forest to Mweka Camp at 3,100 m/10,170 ft. This camp is in the upper forest, so you can anticipate 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 beers.

Distance Covered: 12.5 km

Time to be used: 6.5 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Have a refreshing breakfast.
• Hike back to the park gate (3 hours). Please note that no tips are given on the way until all your gear and the rest of the crew have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you will sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers normally receive their summit certificates and may be followed by a bottle of champagne. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates, and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates.
• Continue down to Mweka Village (3 km), where you will be served a delicious hot lunch, after which you are driven back to Moshi.

Distance Covered: 12.5 km

Time to be used: 6.5 hrs

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch