7 days lemosho route

From Arusha we drive for 3 hours to Lendorossi gate, after completing the necessary registration formalities at the Lendorossi gate, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. We often have our lunch in the glades before starting to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through beautiful and lush forest. This area has a variety of game, including buffalo.

• Elevation: 2100m (7,742 ft) to 2800m (9,498 ft)
• Distance: 6 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather moorland zone. You will cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

• Elevation: 2800m (9,498 ft) to 3850m (12,600 ft)
• Distance: 18 km/11 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Heather and Moorlands

Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will be come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.

After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 680m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the sun set.

• Elevation: 3850m (12,600ft) to 3950m (13,000ft)
• Distance: 10km/6mi
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Semi-desert

This is a short hiking day meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. You will spend the night at Karanga Camp (3950m) and enjoy dinner and washing at the site.

• Elevation: 3950m (13,000 ft) to 3995m (13,106 ft)
• Distance: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!

• Elevation: 3995m (13,106 ft) to 4667m (15,331 ft)
• Distance: 4 km/2 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Your guide will wake you around 23:00 for tea, biscuits and porridge. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short breaks. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. Near Stella Point (5756m/18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the Africa continent, (5895m/19,341ft). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment!

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for short break and lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

• Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
• Elevation: 4667m (15,331 ft) to 5895m (19,341 ft)
• Distance: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
• Habitat: Arctic zone
• Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
• Elevation: 5895m (19,341 ft) to 3100m (10,065 ft)
• Distance: 12 km/7 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return and drive to the hotel, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower and cold Kilimanjaro or Safari beer..!

• Elevation: 3100m (10,065 ft) to 1650m (5,180 ft)
• Distance: 7 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest