8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek to Uhuru Peak via the Lemosho Route

• 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.
• Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Campsite.

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft

Distance: 6km/4mi

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

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

Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft

Distance: 8km/5mi

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• After breakfast, enjoy a gentle hike across the plateau to Shira 2 Camp, set on moorland meadows beside a stream.
• A variety of hikes are available on the plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.

Elevation: 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft

Distance: 8km/5mi

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• From the Shira Plateau, continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo.
• As the trek continues, the direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth" (elev. 4650m/15,250ft).
• Shortly after the tower, reach the second junction that leads to the Arrow Glacier.
• Continue down to Barranco Camp.
• Although the day ends at nearly the same elevation as it began, this stage is very important for acclimatization and helps prepare your body for summit day.

Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft

Distance: 8km/5mi

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• After breakfast, leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.

Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft

Distance: 5km/3mi

Climbing Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Continue up to Barafu Camp, completing the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
• Here, make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for summit day.

Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft

Distance: 4km/2mi

Climbing Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Very early in the morning, between midnight and 2 am, continue to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.
• Head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
• At Stella Point, stop for a short rest and be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
• From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way during the 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
• From the summit, begin the descent by continuing straight down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel on the way down. Arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy your last evening on the mountain.

Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft (up) / Down to 3090m/10,150ft

Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• After breakfast, continue the descent to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
• At lower elevations, conditions can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be enough to wear, but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy.
• A Horizon Seeker Adventures vehicle will be waiting at Mweka Gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi, around 60 minutes away.

Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

Distance: 10km/6mi

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

Meals: Breakfast