Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route

Arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where you’ll be met by our representative and transferred to your booked accommodation in Moshi town.

After breakfast drive to Londorossi park gate (2250m/7380ft, 2.5 hours). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2390m/7380ft, 11km, and 45minutes) and a possible campsite (park fees are not paid to camp here). Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (Big tree) campsite for an overnight stay.

Today you’ll cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. You’ll trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as you head towards our destination which is Shira 2 camp for dinner and overnight.

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You’ll reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our 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 in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m).

Your day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine.  Then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides 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, you head towards the Karanga valley. From here you have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to your night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong you’ll go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, set off on your walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take you across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp you eat and spend the afternoon resting as you get prepared for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm.

You have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as you’ll be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

You start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You’ll be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. You should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit you. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround you and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breath-taking.

Another hour’s walking takes you to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). You begin your descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before final heading down to Millennium Camp.

A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! You’ll be met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi.

End of the 7-days Kilimanjaro Lemosho route, get ready for the next day flight back home or proceed with the wildlife safaris to other destinations.