7-Day Mt Kilimanjaro Trek Via Lemosho Route

Arrival day: Kilimanjaro airport – Transfer to Arusha.

Upon arrival you will be picked up and drive to Mt Meru Hotel for overnight and this day you will receive a Kilimanjaro climb briefing and gear check. (Bed and breakfast).

Day 1: Lemosho Trailhead (2,000m/6,600ft) to Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft)

• Elevation Gain: 800 metres / 2,500 feet

This morning you will drive from Arusha to the Londorossi gate. Here you will complete entry formalities. From Londorossi your drive continues for around 1 hour to the Lemosho trailhead along 4WD track. Upon arrival at the trailhead you will eat lunch and then commence trekking through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys. The path undulates, steeply in places, to arrive at the first camp after 3-4 hours of trekking. Overnight at Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa Camp).

Day 2: Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft)

• Elevation Gain:  1000 metres / 3,400 feet

Today your trek will begin in the forest; however you will soon leave this ecosystem behind taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock.  This is a full day ascending through the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau.  Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from Kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action.  The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira 2 Camp.  Today is one of your longest days and could take 7-8 hours.

Day 3: Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m/14,900ft)

• Elevation Gain: 750 metres / 2,400 feet
• Elevation Loss: 700 metres / 2,250 feet

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours.  This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic plug.  If time and energy allow, you can scramble to the top of Lava Tower for fabulous panoramic views.  From Lava Tower we begin our steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants which actually look like trees, the scenecios.  This is good practice for your descent from the summit in a few days time and will take 1-2 hours.  Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day.  Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via the Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,800ft)

• Elevation Gain: 350 metres / 1,150 feet
• Elevation Loss: 250 metres / 820 feet

After breakfast, we leave Barranco Camp and begin our climb up the Barranco Wall. This is an impressive scramble where you will be rewarded with fantastic views back towards camp. The porters climbing the wall are also an impressive sight. From the top, at 4,200m, you will follow an undulating path around the mountain side. On a clear day there are spectacular views of Kibo to your left and Mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karranga Valley your climb takes you up a short steep path to Karranga Camp. Walking time approximately 3-4 hours.

Day 5: Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)

• Elevation Gain: 650 metres / 2,150 feet

Today you will spend the morning climbing steadily on to Barafu, which is Swahili for ice! This camp is located on the ridge below the summit cone. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. This walk will take around 3 hours meaning that you will arrive at Barafu in time to spend the afternoon resting and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for the summit climb. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then

• Descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)
• Elevation Gain: 1,295 metres / 4,200 feet
• Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet

In the early hours of the morning you will begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak. This part of the climb takes approximately 6-8 hours. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes. Just when you think you’ve had enough of climbing in the dark the sun will rise and you will be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point (5,750m) you join the crater rim. From here, climb less steeply to Uhuru Peak which is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit the descent will take you straight down to Mweka Hut, with lunch served on the way. This part of the descent takes about 6 hours. Later in the evening enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Beer and soda may be available for purchase at Mweka Hut, the only place it is available on this route.

Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)

• Elevation Loss: 1,280 metres / 4,220 feet

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest (2-3 hours), looking for monkeys along the way. Return to Moshi from Mweka Village and proceed to Arusha for overnight at Mt Meru Hotel (Breakfast& Lunch).

Day 8: Departure

Final transfer to Kilimanjaro airport in time for your departure flight.