10-Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Trek to Uhuru Peak with Acclimatization

• Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or another pickup destination, where you will meet the guide and be transferred to the hotel. In the evening, there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also ensure you are prepared to trek Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route for 8 days by checking your gear and giving you a brief trip breakdown.

Note: Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.

• A guide and support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning to meet you and hold another briefing. Then you will travel by vehicle for 3-4 hours to the western entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park, known as Londorossi Gate (2,200 m). After a few hours of formalities with the park rangers at the gate, you will be on the trail. Then you will drive for another hour to Lemosho Gate. The group will stop for a light snack and then start the 3-4 hour hike towards Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m).
• Raincoats are especially necessary on this day, as you will be walking through the rainforest. The trail goes through the lowland forests, where you will likely spot large Colobus monkeys. When you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put up the tents, and cook lunch for you.
• After lunch, the group will depart on an acclimatization hike towards Shira 1 Camp, which features a 300-meter gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Mti Mkubwa Camp, where a hot dinner will be waiting.
• Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude, done to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously.
• At night, you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude. Your body gets less oxygen because of a reduced waking breathing pattern than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp:

Change in Elevation: Londorossi Gate (2,200 m) - Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m)

Hiking distance: 6 km

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m) Destination point en route to Shira 1 Camp (3,095 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

• An early wake-up and breakfast begin the day. The first part of today's trek is a slow, gradual walk that is fairly steep as you climb out of the jungle and into the moorland ecosystem dominated by giant heathers and a variety of grasses and wildflowers.
• After passing several streams, we reach Shira Ridge. At that point, for the first time, you will be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano.
• On the whole, the passage from Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This will allow you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is important for a successful climb. When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will cook lunch for you, and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or walk around the nearby area.

Change in Elevation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m) - Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m)
Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours

• We will explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. Departing from Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m), we have a gentle walk that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m). This trek is not challenging, and you can enjoy spectacular views of the moorland meadows and the surrounding area.
• Shira 2 Camp is the best place to see Mount Meru, the fifth summit of Africa, weather permitting. Then we continue to Moir Hut (4,139 m), a little-used camping site at the base of Lent Hills. There are a variety of short walking trails here, making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity.

Change in Elevation: Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) - Moir Hut (4,139 m)

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5-6 hours

• After breakfast, you will leave Moir Hut (4,139 m) and start towards the critical point of the route, the Lava Tower (4,630 m). Once we reach the Lava Tower, we will stay there for 2 hours and enjoy lunch for proper acclimatization. After lunch, we will pass by the Arrow Glacier (4,876 m).
• Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, rest, and enjoy a warm dinner.
• Note: Although you end the day at nearly the same elevation at which you began, this day is significant for acclimatization and will help you prepare for the summit day.
• If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following the road for porters instead. In this case, you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.

Change in Elevation: Moir Hut (4,139 m) - Barranco Camp (3,960 m)

Hiking distance: 7 km

Hiking time: 4-6 hours

• Early wake-up, breakfast, and the start of summiting Barranco Wall. The climb is on a steep ridge; hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can rest and take photos of Kibo Volcano.
• Then you start a more challenging hike to Karanga Camp (4,035 m), which features numerous ascents and descents along the route. After reaching the camp, you will enjoy a warm lunch.
• Then, after a couple of hours, you will begin a short 1-hour acclimatization hike and return to camp, where you will enjoy a hot dinner.
• Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)) - Karanga Camp (4,035 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) - Chosen Point (4,200 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

• After breakfast, you will begin the trek to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for the night ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so that you can relax.
• We will begin by going through the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. After we reach Barafu Hut, we will have completed the southern circuit.
• After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner and be prepared for the climb to the summit. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping.

Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)) - Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Hiking distance: 4 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) - Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

• Very early wake-up (midnight - 2 am). We depart from Barafu Camp (4,640 m) and begin the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor their physical and mental condition.
• Then we will continue our ascent toward Stella Point (5,669 m). This is the most challenging portion of the climb due to the high altitude. At Stella Point, we will enjoy a short rest, and you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see, unless you are a fast hiker, in which case you may enjoy a fantastic sunrise from Uhuru Peak, weather permitting.
• From Stella Point, you may encounter snow along your 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak - the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the last point of the climb on the Lemosho Route - you will have reached the highest point in all of Africa. Congratulations!
• From the summit, we will begin our descent to Mweka Hut. We will stop at Barafu Camp to rest and enjoy a warm lunch. You will want to wear gaiters and bring a trekking pole for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest, and mist or rain is to be expected. Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) - Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)

Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) - Mweka Hut (3,048 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent

Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent

• When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction in altitude and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park's exit: Mweka Gate (1,650 m). From the gate, it is a 1-hour drive to Mweka village.
• After your descent, the whole group will gather at the hotel, where we will present you with your commemorative certificates.

Change in Elevation: Mweka Camp (3,048 m) - Moshi (1,524 m)

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

• Hotel checkout is at 11 am. The guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight.