9-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via Lemosho Route to Uhuru Peak

• Drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. Lunch is often taken in the glades before starting the walk. It is an easy day of hiking along a small path through a beautiful, lush forest. This area has a variety of game, including buffalo. Camp at Lemosho Forest Camp, known as Big Tree Camp, at 7,800 ft.

Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp.

Elevation (ft): 7,800 ft to 9,500 ft.

Distance: 6 km.

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours.

Habitat: Rain Forest.

• 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, especially if the afternoon mists roll in. Camp in the centre of the plateau at Shira One Camp, at 11,500 ft.

Forest Camp to Shira One Camp.

Elevation (ft): 9,500 ft to 11,500 ft.

Distance: 8 km.

Hiking Time: 5-6 hours.

Habitat: Moorland.

Full board at Shira One Camp.

• Explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo's glaciered peak across the plateau, leading to Shira 2 Camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
• Stay at Shira 2 Camp or continue to Moir Hut, a little-used site at the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills, making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.
• Spend the night at Shira 2 Camp or Moir Hut. Although there is a significant altitude gain, this is a relatively short day, and you arrive at Shira 2 Camp in time for lunch. It is a good day for acclimatization, with the option of afternoon walks with your guides.

Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 to Moir Hut.

Elevation (ft): 11,500 ft to 13,800 ft.

Distance: 14 km.

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.

Habitat: Moorland.

Full board at Shira 2 Camp.

• Leave the moorland plateau behind and walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach, stopping for lunch near Lava Tower at 14,900 ft.
• Descend to the bottom of the Barranco Valley to camp at Barranco Camp, at 12,790 ft, sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.

Elevation (ft): 13,800 ft to 13,000 ft.

Distance: 7 km.

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours.

Habitat: Semi Desert.

Full board at Shira 2 or Moir Hut Camp.

• Climb the 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 lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to Karanga Camp, at 13,100 ft, the last water point on the way to the summit.

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp.

Elevation (ft): 13,000 ft to 13,100 ft.

Distance: 5 km.

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours.

Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Full board at Karanga Camp.

• Follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views, gaining altitude steadily to reach Barafu Hut, at 14,800 ft, in time for lunch. There is a short acclimatization walk to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley. The rest of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp.

Elevation (ft): 13,100 ft to 15,300 ft.

Distance: 4 km.

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours.

Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Full board at Barafu Hut Camp.

• Unlike other night-time ascent routes, this hike selection affords a daytime ascent to Kibo Crater. The pace is slow, but with constant encouragement from your climb team, the rim of Kibo is reached before descending a little way into the caldera to Crater Camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and taking short walks with one of your guides.

Barafu Camp to Crater Camp.

Elevation (ft): 15,300 ft to 19,345 ft.

Distance: 6 km ascent / 12 km descent.

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent.

Habitat: Arctic.

Full board at Mweka Hut Camp.

• Take on the shortest final summit push on the route after a night in the crater. The short distance from the crater to the summit, around 1 hour, makes it much easier to time your arrival with the sunrise, which is quite spectacular. The summit of Kilimanjaro is the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world.
• Descend for a final night on the mountain at Mweka Camp, passing back through the heath zone. Endemic proteas, pollinated by Malachite Sunbirds, are plentiful.

Overnight stay in Mweka Camp (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

• After breakfast, continue the descent to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. It can be wet and muddy at lower elevations, and gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be enough to wear, but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy.
• The vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka Gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.

Mweka Camp to Arusha or Moshi.

Elevation (ft): 10,000 ft to 5,400 ft.

Distance: 10 km.

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours.

Habitat: Rain Forest.

Half board.