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Tanzania · Trekking
The journey
Embark on a thrilling journey to Mount Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route, traditionally one of the quieter and lesser-known routes on the mountain and probably the most diverse in terms of ecological systems and landscapes. The first two days take you through lush rainforest before you emerge into heath and moorland, then join the Machame Route on the third day. Beginning on the western side of Kilimanjaro, this narrow trail has some very steep and undulating sections before descending toward Barranco Valley via the Southern Circuit. You may be lucky enough to see buffalo, elephants, and other game, and because this route is done over a longer period for acclimatization, it has a higher summit success rate.
You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here.
From the itinerary
At a glance
Day by day
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or your advised pick-up point, you will be met and greeted by a representative and transferred to your booked hotel for briefing, dinner, and overnight. Your head mountain guide will meet you for your briefing and gear check.
Departing from Moshi or Arusha, the drive takes you through welcoming mountainside villages to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and winding trails while your guide tells you about the local flora, fauna, and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
Elevation: 2780m
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path. We leave the forest behind, and the trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Temperatures begin to drop.
Elevation: 3610m
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
You will wake up early in the morning and have breakfast, then continue on an ascending path. We leave the camp behind, and the trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Temperatures begin to drop. On arrival at Shira 2 Camp, you will be served a hot lunch, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Elevation: 3900m
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Although you end the day at around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau, we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward Kibo Peak before continuing southeast toward the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth" (elevation: 4600m). Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier. We then continue descending to overnight at Barranco Camp. Dinner and overnight.
Elevation: 3950m
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears to be such ease. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Camp.
Elevation: 3930m
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once reached, you have now completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. We have an early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.
Elevation: 4672m
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Excitement builds as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction, we ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here, on your remaining 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.
Congratulations - one step at a time, you have now reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!
After photos, celebrations, and maybe a few tears of joy, we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for the uncooperative loose gravel and volcanic ash terrain. A well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 5895m
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 15 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it's time to say goodbye through tipping. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy, and steep, and we highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles.
From the gate, a vehicle will meet you and drive to Mweka village for lunch, then continue the drive to your booked hotel in Moshi or Arusha. Enjoy a long-overdue hot shower, dinner, and overnight.
Elevation: 1850m
Where this trip takes you
Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Uhuru Peak, Barranco Wall
The route
The fine print
About Mount Kilimanjaro:
Mount Kilimanjaro is within Kilimanjaro National Park. It was Johann Rebmann, a German, who announced in 1848 that he had travelled inland from the East African coast and sighted, at the level of the equator, a vast mountain capped in snow. This is the highest mountain in Africa and one of the highest volcanoes in the world. The extinct volcano has two peaks.
Mount Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m, consists of 6 established trekking routes. These are Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe routes all approach from the south of the mountain. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach from the west. The Rongai route approaches from the northeast. All routes except Marangu and Rongai descend via the Mweka Route.
About Us:
Please stay in touch with us if you are interested in coming to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or enjoy any other exciting adventure you wish to experience. Our company was established with the aim of promoting both local and global tourism. Years of experience have taught us to prepare special programs that take you off the beaten track, such as Rubondo National Park, Gombe National Park, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater Highland, Lake Natron, Oldonyo Lengai Mountains, Longido Mountains, and Monduli Mountains.
This, of course, is in addition to the already popular places of Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro in the north, and Selous, Mikumi, Ruaha, and Udzungwa in the south. Last but not least, beach holidays on the islands of Zanzibar, Mafia, and Pemba are also among our programs. Some national park extension trips in Kenya and gorilla tracking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda are coordinated as well.
We have something to satisfy anyone's budget, from single seats on a vehicle safari to exclusive safaris, incentive tours, educational and cultural safaris, ecological tours, and face-to-face safaris. You have the option to choose our basic
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