10-Day Kilimanjaro Trek on the Lemosho Route to Uhuru Peak

You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you will meet your guide for a briefing on your upcoming trek and an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day.

After breakfast and a briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate, about a 3-hour journey. From here, a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2390 m), where you will begin your trek through the rainforest to Big Tree Camp.

After breakfast, continue as the trail gradually becomes steeper and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After crossing several streams, continue over the Shira Ridge, then descend gently to Shira 1 Camp (3505 m), located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

A gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 Camp (3810 m), set on moorland meadows beside a stream. A variety of short hikes are available on the plateau, making this a good acclimatization day.

From the Shira Plateau, continue east, passing the junction near the peak of Kibo. As you go on, the route turns southeast toward the Lava Tower, known as the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after the tower, reach the second junction that leads up to Arrow Glacier (4876 m). Then continue down to Barranco Hut (3860 m). Although you end the day at about the same elevation as when you began, this is another important day for acclimatization.

Start the day by descending into the beginning of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. Then climb steeply up what is known as the Breakfast Wall. It is a rocky climb that is not technical, but it is long and tiring.

After a good night's rest and breakfast, set off on the walk to Barafu Camp at 4640 m. The climb takes you across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation at all. It is a tough, steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arrival at camp, eat and spend the afternoon resting as you prepare for the long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. Have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep, as you will get up between 11 pm and 12 pm to begin the summit climb.

You will be awoken around 23:30 with hot tea and biscuits. Hopefully, you have managed to get a few hours of sleep; do not worry if you have not, as most people struggle to sleep before summit night. Make sure that all your kit, including warm clothes, headlamps, insulated water reserves, and snacks, is ready for a sharp departure at 24:00.

The trek up Kibo is steep and slow. The trick is to keep your momentum moving forward, one step at a time. It takes about 6-8 hours to reach the top of the crater rim, where you will see the sign for Stella Point (5,739 meters). From there, you still have another 156 meters of altitude to walk around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters).

After reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, a 4.5 km / 3-mile ascent, you still have an 11 km / 7-mile descent to Mweka Camp (3,100 meters). Mweka is situated in the upper part of the rainforest zone, and the richness of oxygen and moisture in the air will be a very welcome surprise.

In the morning after breakfast, you will trek down to Mweka Gate. The descent is pleasant through the lower rainforested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). Although you cover 9 km / 5.5 miles, the trek only takes 3-4 hours.

Assuming you successfully reach Stella Point or Uhuru Peak, you will be presented with official certificates - a green certificate for the former and a gold certificate for the latter. Tipping your trekking crew before being transported back to your hotel in Arusha is customary.

The end of 8 Days Lemosho Route.

Enjoy breakfast and morning sightseeing in the city, or join one of our safari adventures. If you are returning home, our driver will take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight.