8 Days Lemosho Route

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the hotel in Moshi town. This day you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary trekking gear. If happens that you are missing a gear, it can be rented on this day.

• Driving distance: 55km/ 58miles,
• Driving Time: 1 hour
• Habitat: Cultivated zone
• Hotel: Bed and Breakfast

Londorossi Gate (2000 m) to Mti Mkubwa (2650 m)

In the morning after breakfast you will meet your mountain guide for briefing about the mountain climbing and thereafter transferred from Moshi town to Marangu gate for park formalities before been transferred to Lemosho gate for starting climbing. A three hour drive from Moshi, around the mountain, brings you to the Londorossi Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate, you pick up a game ranger who will protect you from elephants and buffalo during the trek. After a short drive to the trail head at Lemosho Glades you will start your trek through the pristine rain forest. Today you will hike to Mti Mkubwa, which means 'Big Tree; in Kiswahili. In the evening dinner and overnight at the camp.

Mti Mkubwa (2650 m) to Shira One (3610 m)

After a good breakfast, you start the climb through the remaining rain forest toward the giant Erica moorland zone. You will enjoy a great lunch stop in a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater. Today you will get your first close views of the summit. Dinner and overnight at Shira one campsite.

Shira One (3610 m) to Shira Two (3850 m)

After an early breakfast, you hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral toward Shira Two camp. We only gain 240m in elevation which allows you to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are spectacular. Dinner and overnight at Shira Two Camp.

Shira Two (3610 m) to Lava Tower (4650 m)

You will head up to Lava Tower, traversing the southern flank of Kibo. This is one of the most valuable days for acclimatization. If you prefer we can substitute Lava Tower for Barranco Camp, but this makes the walk a few hours longer.

Lava Tower (4650 m) to Karanga Valley (4000 m)

After leaving Lava Tower, you descend into the stunning Barranco Valley which is adorned with giant lobelia and senecia plants. There are good views of Kibo peak from here. After the Barranco Wall, we descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest for the night before the hard climb to Barafu Hut

Karanga Valley (4000 m) to Barafu Camp (4600 m)

This is a tough, steep, climb uphill to the rocky, craggy slopes at the camp. 'Barafu' means, 'Ice' in Swahili and it is extremely cold at this altitude. You will get a half day rest before you begin the final summit ascent at midnight.

Barafu to Uhuru Peak (Summit) to Mweka Camp

This is a 17 hour day, commencing at midnight and hiking until the next afternoon. You will begin your summit ascent around midnight, and will arrive at the Kilimanjaro summit before sunrise. After the sunrise, you will head back down the mountain, stopping at Barafu Camp to rest, and heading to Mweka Camp, just a few hours from the gate.

Mweka Camp to Moshi

In the morning you will hike for about 3 hours through lush forest to the gate. After a welcome lunch, you will get your climb certificate and say goodbye to your crew and porters. After sign out to the park gate you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi for hot shower probably dinner and overnight or otherwise in the evening you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to connect with your flight back home.