8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Trek with Uhuru Peak Summit

We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, a drive of about 4 hours, where you will complete the entry formalities. Then, we continue to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival, we begin hiking through undisturbed forest that winds to the first campsite.

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.

We explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east across moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then, we have the option to spot and acclimatize at Shira Cathedral, a little-used site at the base of the Lent Hills. Various walks are available on the Lent Hills, making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. The Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

We begin the day by climbing up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower - a 300-foot-tall volcanic rock formation. 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 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 meant for acclimatization.

We leave Karanga and reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section of Barafu Camp and then hike one more hour to Cossovo Camp. The reason we use Cossovo Camp is to simplify the summit climb. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many angles. Here, we make camp, rest, and enjoy an early lunch and dinner to prepare for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

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 while taking frequent but short breaks.

Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will ever see coming 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 and continue straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The rocky trail can be challenging 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 and drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.