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Tanzania · Trekking
The journey
The Lemosho route is one of our preferred routes due to its low traffic, beautiful scenery, and high summit success rate. Starting from the west at Lemosho Gate, the route begins with a long drive from Moshi before the first two days of trekking through lush rainforest to the Shira Plateau. We recommend a minimum of 7 days for this route, though 8 days is preferable for better acclimatization and summit success. After Shira 2 Camp, the route joins the Machame route, follows the southern circuit, and descends at Mweka Gate.
We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5,739 m) as the first rays of the sun hit us.
From the itinerary
At a glance
Day by day
You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you will meet your guide, who will brief you on your upcoming trek and carry out an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day.
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00 am and transferred to Lemosho Gate, located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process, you will begin your climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho Glades to reach Big Tree Camp, where you will spend the night.
Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. You will trek through Shira 1 Camp, from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds, as you head towards your destination at Shira 2. You gain a reasonable amount of altitude as you head towards Shira 1, and parts of the route are fairly steep.
As you proceed towards Shira 2, you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice Fields from the western side of the mountain, with some unusual views of Kibo. This steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization, and you will enjoy great panoramic views.
Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into the climatic zone of the upland desert and onto the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4,640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch.
In the afternoon, we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located at the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3,960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It's a climb over rock - not technical, but long and tiring.
Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga Valley. From here, we have a steep climb up from Karanga Valley to our night's camp at Karanga Camp, set at 3,963 m. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4,200 m before descending back to camp for the night.
After a good night's rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu Camp at 4,640 m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It's a tough, steep walk made more difficult by the altitude.
On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep, as we will be getting up between 11 pm and 12 am to start the climb to the summit.
We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours, gaining incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular.
We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5,739 m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us, and the views to jagged Mawenzi Peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour's walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long, well-earned rest.
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride. We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower and then celebrate with cold drinks.
Overnight at your arranged hotel.
If your time in Africa ends today, our transfer team will drive you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure. If you have booked with us a safari or a few days to dissolve into the pristine sandy beaches and tropical waters of Zanzibar, we will be there to help you comfortably transition from your climb into your next Tanzanian adventure.
Where this trip takes you
Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Uhuru Peak
The route
The fine print
Logistics
Your 9 days finish where they began, in Kilimanjaro Airport Rd.
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