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Tanzania · Trekking
The journey
The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas across different mountainsides. As one of the newer routes, it is a superb choice for your climb, offering an ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate. This 8-day trek also includes the challenging Crater Camp extension, giving adventurous climbers the rare chance to sleep overnight in the bowl of the crater near Furtwangler Glacier.
This 8-day trek also includes the challenging Crater Camp extension, giving adventurous climbers the rare chance to sleep overnight in the bowl of the crater near Furtwangler Glacier.
From the itinerary
At a glance
Day by 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 pass through Shira 1 Camp, from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds, as you continue towards your destination at Shira 2.
You gain a reasonable altitude as you head towards Shira 1, and parts of the route are fairly steep. As you proceed towards Shira 2, you will have the chance to view the Northern Ice Fields from the western side of the mountain, along with some unusual views of Kibo. The steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau helps with acclimatization, and you can enjoy great panoramic views along the way.
Your trek starts with an ascent offering far-reaching panoramic views as you walk 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 Lava Tower (4640 m), the high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch.
In the afternoon, you make a steep descent to your camp for the night, located at the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m). The camp is sheltered by towering cliffs and offers extensive views of the plains below.
Your day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. You then climb steeply up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It is a climb over rock - not technical, but long and tiring.
You continue towards the Karanga Valley, passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers. From the valley, there is a steep climb to your night's camp at Karanga Camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong, there is a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before returning to camp for the night.
After a good night's rest and breakfast, you set off on your walk to Barafu Camp at 4640m. The climb takes you across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around you at all. It is a tough, steep walk made more difficult by the altitude.
On arriving at camp, you eat and spend the afternoon resting as you prepare for the long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. You will have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep, as you will get up between 11 pm and 12 pm to climb to the summit.
Begin in the early afternoon when only a few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier.
Crater Camp is not a route in its own right, but a challenging extension which, in principle, can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater - an amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers.
In the morning, after an early breakfast, you begin your descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on a scree slope. You will pass Barafu Camp for a short break before continuing down to Millennium Camp for a long, well-earned rest.
Today, you walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you complete park formalities and receive certificates that you can hang up with pride. You are then met by your vehicles and return to your arranged hotel in Moshi.
Where this trip takes you
Shira Plateau, Lava Tower beneath the Western Breach, Crater Camp by Furtwangler Glacier
The route
The fine print
Logistics
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