Lemosho Route is regarded as one of the prettiest routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. You begin the trek from the west, climbing in the fertile rainforest until we reach the wildflowers on the heath ecosystem. Approaching from the west, we cross on of the most beautiful areas on Mount Kilimanjaro, the Shira Plateau before traversing the mountain along the southern circuit.
The total time during the mountain climbing will be 6 nights 7 days. While Lemosho Route can be done in 7 days, we highly recommend the Lemosho Route for 8 nights 9 days climbing. Just to let you know that our trip start and end up at our lodge based in Arusha town.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will drive two hours and a half from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2150m). At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).
You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rain forest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys! At the gate, we will have hot lunch, and then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site. The porters, who arrive at the campsite before the clients, will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing.
The chef will prepare a snack then dinner for the clients. At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
Early in the morning after breakfast, the day is spent to reach Shira campsite (3610 m). After arrival at shira camp, you will have hot lunch.
The trail take us for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for about two hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone.
Hiking to this point you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its spectacular glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite.
Today you will cross Shira Ridge with its rocky ground, low grasses, and shrubs. As the terrain is much flatter than the day before, your hike will seem more leisurely and you will enjoy fantastic views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Meru.
Beautiful and distinctive giant lobelias still dot the moor landscape. Before reaching Shira 2, you will reach cathedral point which is 3872m which is good for acclimatization. Walking on the ground where lava used to flow, you will reach Shira Camp 2, where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.”
Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco camp at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight.
The famous Barranco Wall, which is probably the steepest part of the entire route, awaits you after breakfast. Although no technical climbing is necessary, some spots do require you to use your hands for a better grip and to pull yourself up.
Your guide will be close by to help you if necessary. After you have pulled yourself around the Kissing Rock, you will make your way along the mountain ridge and through the Karanga Valley. You will also pass the last water spot as you finally reach Karanga Camp. After a well-deserved meal, it is off to bed.
Today you will make your way to Barafu Camp. The landscape is very dry and the ground cracks like glass under your boots. As you make your way through the afro-alpine dessert to the rocky Barafu Camp, a sense of excitement sweeps over you as your final stretch is only a few hours away.
The Barafu Camp with its rocky scenery allows for a stunning view of Mawenzi Peak and the summit path ahead. After an early dinner and last-minute preparation for tomorrow, you will go to bed.
You will wake up around 2300hrs, and after some tea and biscuits you start climbing to Uhuru peak into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
This 6-hour walks to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5757m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.
The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours.
Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared.
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates.
Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5757m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. At the Mweka Gate, you will have lunch and celebration with your mountain crew.
After that, you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi or Arusha 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.
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