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Tanzania · Trekking
The journey
Embark on an exhilarating 8-day trek to Mount Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route, passing through undisturbed rainforest, open heath, moorland, and alpine desert on one of the mountain's most scenic approaches. Along the way, take in panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley, Mount Meru, Mawenzi, and Kibo, while building acclimatization through the route's gradual ascent profile. Tackle the Great Barranco Wall, push to Uhuru Peak for a magnificent sunrise, and descend through lush rainforest to collect your summit certificate.
Tackle the Great Barranco Wall, push to Uhuru Peak for a magnificent sunrise, and descend through lush rainforest to collect your summit certificate.
From the itinerary
At a glance
Day by day
We depart from Moshi to Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then we drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival at the trailhead, we begin hiking through undisturbed forest, winding our way to the first campsite at Mti Mkubwa.
We continue on the trail leading out of the rainforest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here, we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.
Today, you'll cross the Shira Ridge over rocky ground, low grasses, and shrubs. The terrain is much flatter compared to the previous day, making the hike more leisurely. You'll enjoy fantastic views of the Great Rift Valley and nearby Mount Meru. Beautiful giant Lobelias characterize the moor landscape. Walking across ground once shaped by lava flow, you will reach Shira Hut 2 Camp, where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.
Shira Hut 2 Camp to Lava Tower
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
We continue east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower, a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. From there, we descend to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at nearly the same elevation, the time spent at a higher altitude benefits acclimatization.
We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. We cross a series of hills and valleys from the top of the Barranco Wall until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb leads us up to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day designed for acclimatization.
We leave Karanga and reach the junction connecting with the Mweka Trail. We then continue up the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this position.
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
We begin our push to the summit very early in the morning, around midnight. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours, taking frequent but short breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
From the summit, we descend straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees, so trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.
Where this trip takes you
Shira Ridge plateau, Lava Tower rock formation, Great Barranco Wall, Uhuru Peak sunrise
The route
The fine print
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Your 8 days finish where they began, in Moshi.
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