Lemosho Route
Arusha,Tanzania
Duration
7 Days 6 Nights TripTour Code
TP8902Description
Lemosho route is one of the best routes for acclimatization. The route is less used and a beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. The route is one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are inhabited by buffalo, elephant and other wildlife.
Highlights
- Lemosho route is one of the best routes for acclimatization. The route is less used and a beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau
Included
- Large portions of fresh,healthy,nutritious food Sleeping Mattress Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees) VAT (18% charged by the Government) Professional,experienced,mountain guides Kilimanjaro summit certificate All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel Clean,purified drinking water Quality,waterproof,four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis) Emergency Oxygen Cylinder Conservation fees (part of park fees) Rescue fees (part of park fees) Quality Mess tents with table and chairs All meals while on the Mountain Guides,Porters,Cook salaries and park fees
Not Included
- Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags,hiking boots,clothes,etc (available for renting) Meals not listed in the itinerary Liquors,beers and bottled beverages Tanzania Visa Transfers (available as an optional addon) International and domestic flights Travel insurance Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment) Tips and gratuities Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry,telephone,beverages,etc.) Hotel (available as an optional addon)
Itinerary
Day 1
- After breakfast and briefing, drive to Lemosho Park Gate.
- From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades.
- Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
- Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft Distance: 6km/4mi Hiking Time: 2-3 hours Habitat: Montane Forest Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2
- After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone.
- After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge past the Shira 1 camp and on to the Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
- Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3850m/12,600ft Distance: 16km/10mi Hiking Time: 7-8 hours Habitat: Moorland Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3
- 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” (elev 4650m/15,250ft).
- Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier.
- We now continue down to the Barranco Camp.
- Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
- Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft Distance: 8km/5mi Walking Time: 5-6 hours Habitat: Semi-desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4
- After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
- Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft Distance: 5km/3mi Climbing Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5
- We continue up to the Barafu Camp.
- You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
- Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft Distance: 4km/2mi Climbing Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6
- Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.
- You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
- This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
- At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see.
- Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
- From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit.
- Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch.
- You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down.
- We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7
- After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
- At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.
- Gaiters and trekking poles will help.
- Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
- Kilimanjaro Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).
- Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft Distance: 10km/6mi Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Forest Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
- After breakfast and briefing, drive to Lemosho Park Gate.
- From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades.
- Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
- Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft Distance: 6km/4mi Hiking Time: 2-3 hours Habitat: Montane Forest Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 9
- After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone.
- After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge past the Shira 1 camp and on to the Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
- Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3850m/12,600ft Distance: 16km/10mi Hiking Time: 7-8 hours Habitat: Moorland Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10
- 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” (elev 4650m/15,250ft).
- Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier.
- We now continue down to the Barranco Camp.
- Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
- Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft Distance: 8km/5mi Walking Time: 5-6 hours Habitat: Semi-desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11
- After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
- Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft Distance: 5km/3mi Climbing Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12
- We continue up to the Barafu Camp.
- You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
- Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft Distance: 4km/2mi Climbing Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13
- Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.
- You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
- This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
- At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see.
- Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
- From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit.
- Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch.
- You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down.
- We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14
- After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
- At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.
- Gaiters and trekking poles will help.
- Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
- Kilimanjaro Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).
- Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft Distance: 10km/6mi Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Forest Meals: Breakfast
Day 15
- After breakfast and briefing, drive to Lemosho Park Gate.
- From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades.
- Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
- Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft Distance: 6km/4mi Hiking Time: 2-3 hours Habitat: Montane Forest Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 16
- After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone.
- After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge past the Shira 1 camp and on to the Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
- Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3850m/12,600ft Distance: 16km/10mi Hiking Time: 7-8 hours Habitat: Moorland Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 17
- 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” (elev 4650m/15,250ft).
- Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier.
- We now continue down to the Barranco Camp.
- Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
- Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft Distance: 8km/5mi Walking Time: 5-6 hours Habitat: Semi-desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 18
- After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
- Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft Distance: 5km/3mi Climbing Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 19
- We continue up to the Barafu Camp.
- You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
- Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft Distance: 4km/2mi Climbing Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 20
- Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.
- You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
- This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
- At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see.
- Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
- From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit.
- Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch.
- You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down.
- We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 21
- After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
- At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.
- Gaiters and trekking poles will help.
- Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
- Kilimanjaro Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).
- Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft Distance: 10km/6mi Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Forest Meals: Breakfast
Faq's
It is possible to trek Kilimanjaro all-year-round. However, certain months are characterized by colder weather, more rain and potentially loads of snow on the summit.
There are two distinct trekking seasons that constitute the best time to climb Kilimanjaro. They are January-March and June-October.
January-March is generally colder than June-October and there is a higher probability of encountering snow on the summit. For some this might be seen as a negative, but the benefits of a January-March trek is that the slopes are often quieter at this time of the year.
The June-October trekking season coincides with the summer holidays in Europe and N.America and hence certain routes are often quite busy. March, April, and November are the wettest months on Kilimanjaro, and not ideal of trekking. Snowfall and cold temperatures are common during December-May.
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