Lemosho Route

A three-hours drive from Moshi brings you to the Londorossi Park Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate after registration drive to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades and start your trek through the rain forest.

In places the vegetation is so untouched that it grows right across the narrow track.  The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rain forest. In about 3 - 4 hours you will reach your camp in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).

After breakfast, cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone. Today is a 6 – 7 hour trek with an altitude gain of 2,330 ft.  A great lunch stop is at the beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch you cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau which is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. Today you’ll get your first close views of Kibo - the dramatic summit of Kilimanjaro.

Take it SLOWLY today; your climb is made in the first two days, so you need to get a slow, steady pace going. You will encounter some steep parts on the climb - but generally it’s not too strenuous. The porters walk ahead and sometimes with you - make sure every day that you have all your personal gear needed with you in your daypack, as you will not have access to the bag that the porter will be carrying.

Conditions are difficult on this route, and your guide and the rest of the crew will do everything they can to make your climb pleasant and as comfortable as possible.  Eat well - at higher levels your appetite will diminish.

Camp at Shira – it’s a pretty exposed and cold campsite, you may get rain or sleet, and in the morning the ground and tents could be frozen over. You do, however, get to see some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets as your reward for camping here!

After breakfast continue a short hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira Two Camp. You only gain 700 feet in elevation – this allows you to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular. 

*NOTE the above hike can be done in one day ie: pass by Shira camp 1 and continue on to overnight at Shira Camp 2. We recommend it be done in two days as noted above.

From Shira Camp 2 you will set off to Barranco skirting just below Lava Tower - you are now walking at an approximate altitude of 4,500m, while traversing around the southern side of the mountain. A few steep sections of uphill & valleys, some parts that looks like a 'moon landscape' and quite a steep descent to Barranco – it’s a long and fairly tiring day, about 7 hours of hiking.  

This is one of your most valuable days for acclimatization - walking in height from 3,800m up to 4,500m, and then overnighting back down at 3,900 m. Once again, pace yourself to gain altitude slowly. The night temperature at Barranco, the most spectacular camp, could  be cold (night frosts).

After breakfast, your first obstacle is to breach the Baranco Wall, a 600 foot rock. Once over wall, the climb becomes easier and extremely beautiful with fantastic views of the crags and crevasses of the jagged peaks on your left.  Then you descend to the Karanga Valley.  Dinner and overnight at Karanga Valley Campsite. 

After breakfast continue straight on to Barafu Hut.  The air is starting to get quite thin, and you will be running short of breath as you climb out of the Karanga Valley.   It is a slow tough hike up to Barafu hut and you’ll be glad you stayed at Karanga for the night. Barafu means "ice" in Swahili, and it is extremely cold at this altitude. Go to bed early because we will wake you at midnight for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak – the summit.

Enjoy a slow hike through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. It is not a rare sight to spot Black and White Colobus Monkeys in the trees as well as Blue Monkeys. Take time to enjoy the lush vegetation with the Old Man’s Beard (tree moss) growing on the giant trees as well as some Giant Ferns towering high over the forest bed. The path has many steps leading you down to Mweka Gate where you may find a cold beer or soft-drink to start celebrating your assault of Kilimanjaro.
You will be transferred back to Moshi, Keys Hotel or similar, to overnight and celebrate (breakfast included).

This evening your guides will meet you to hand out your Kilimanjaro Certificates.

Dress warmly, because we start climbing around midnight, on the steepest and most demanding part of the mountain. The moon will provide enough light, and we'll reach Stella Point by sunrise. (About 6 hours)  At dawn, from the Crater rim, rugged Mawenzi is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle still in darkness beneath you, and the crater's ice-walls looming ahead. If you feel strong enough, you should continue to Uhuru Peak (1-2 hours) this is the highest point in Africa, and the world's highest solitary peak (19,340 ft).
This is the toughest day that most trekkers have ever experienced.  You will have ascended 3,600feet and descended 7,200 feet in a period of 12-15 hours.  Although the descent is far less tiring, it's a good idea to have a little rest once in a while as you continue down to Mweka Hut (3-4 hours from the top).

Enjoy a slow hike through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. It is not a rare sight to spot Black and White Colobus Monkeys in the trees as well as Blue Monkeys. Take time to enjoy the lush vegetation with the Old Man’s Beard (tree moss) growing on the giant trees as well as some Giant Ferns towering high over the forest bed. The path has many steps leading you down to Mweka Gate where you may find a cold beer or soft-drink to start celebrating your assault of Kilimanjaro.

You will be transferred back to Moshi, Keys Hotel or similar, to overnight and celebrate (breakfast included).

This evening your guides will meet you to hand out your Kilimanjaro Certificates.