Climb Kilimanjaro – Lemosho Route

Introduction

 This is the longest and most remote route to Kilimanjaro. After beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira Plateau to meet up with the Machame Route. Groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other game. We will do Pre- Trip briefing and equipment check a day before, our guide will meet you anywhere within an hour of Arusha/Moshi for the briefing and equipment check.

Kilimanjaro is a snow-covered mountain 19,710 feet high, and is said to be the highest mountain in Africa. Its western summit is called the Masai ‘Ngaje Ngai’, the House of God. Close to the western summit there is a dried and frozen carcas of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.
-Hemingway Ernest, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories-

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to the Londorossi Gate

After completing the necessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. The last section of the road is of poor quality and difficult to drive after rain, and the drive there should be considered as part of the adventure, sometimes we start walking a kilometer or two below the road head. We often have our lunch at the road head before starting to walk. It is easy of walking up a small path through beautiful and lush forest. We camp at Lemosho Big Tree Camp (2,650 m); [2-3 hours walking]

Remember you are on holidays, enjoy yourself!

Day 2: Shira One (3,550 m), (6-7 hours walking)

We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in. We camp in the center of the plateau at “Shira One” (3,550 m). [6-7 hours walking]. 

Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.

-Barry Finlay, Kilimanjaro and Beyond- 

Day 3: Shira Hut (3,840 m), (4-5 hours walking)

An easy day to help acclimatization and to explore the volcanic rock formations of Shira Plateau. We walk to the summit of Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut (3,840 m). This campsite has stunning views, close to the glaciated dome of and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau. The views from here of Mt. Meru floating on the clouds are simply unforgettable. [4-5 hours walking].

Kilimanjaro is a pretty tricky climb you know, most of it’s up until you reach the very very top, and then it tends to slope away rather sharply.

–Monty Python-

Day 4     Great Barranco valley (3,900 m), (5-7 hours walking)

A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550 m) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below. [5-7 hours walking]

Kilimanjaro lies just 205 miles from the equator

Day 5: Karanga (4,000 m), (4-5 hours walking)

A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields. The terrain changes to screen, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to our camp at Karanga (4,000 m), the last water point on the way to the summit. [4-5 hours walking]

The oldest person to successfully climb Kilimanjaro is 88-year-old Dr. Fred Distelhorst, a retired American orthodontist who broke the world record in 2017

Day 6: South-East valley (4,800 m). (3-5 hours walking)

Within this day we follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m) for lunch. There is a short acclimatization walk to the plateau at the bottom of the South-East valley (4,800 m). The remainder of the day is spent in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. [3-5 hours of walking].

Last Eruption? 360,000 years ago 

Day 7: Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), Millenium campsite (3,800 m) (11-15 hours walking)

We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,800 m) Millenium. [11-15 hours walking]

Day 8: Mweka gate (1,650 m) (4-6 hours walking)

A sustained descent through lovely forest with lush undergrowth takes us to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m) and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. (4-6 hours walking).

Congratulations, you have just done it!

Price in US$ per person:

Price includes:

• Transfers from the hotel at Moshi to the Climbing route Gate
• Climbing and camping fees
• Rescue fee
• Porters (3porters per person), cooker and guide/s
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) while climbing.
• Accommodations on the Mountain
• Transfers to and from the airport
• Sleeping gears

Price does not include:

• Camping and Climbing gear,
• Accommodation before and after the climb
• Items of personal nature, laundry, tips, and gratuities,
• Travel insurance.
• Tips and gratuities