Lemosho route crosses the entirety of the plain from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low traffic, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. Most of our clients use this route and love it, is preferred by reputable operators due to its beauty, remoteness and success rate. In short, it maximizes the chances that a climber will reach the summit, and enjoy the experience.
Day 1: Arusha to Londorosi gate (2100M) to Forest camp (2750M)
Hiking time: about 4 hours
Distance covered: 6.5 km
Climate: Montane forest
Early after breakfast at your hotel guide will drive you to Kilimanjaro lendorosi gate for trekking registration, about 81 kilometers to be covered for barely 2 hours, and then proceeding on ascending to Forest camp. At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority. You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rain forest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys! Along the way, you will stop for an afternoon lunch break and arrive at MtiMkubwa (“Big Tree”) Campsite (2750m) in the early evening. 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.
Day 2: Forest Camp (2750m) to Shira Camp 2 (3840m)
Hiking time: 7-9 hours
Distance covered: 17kilometers
Climate: Moorland
Rise up early in the morning at Mtimkubwa camp; enjoy delicious breakfast and then continuing with trekking ascending to Shira camp. 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.
Day 3: Shira Camp 2 (3840m) to Lava tower (4630m) to Burranco Camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance covered: 15 km
Climate: semi desert
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. Following lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m 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 setting.
Day 4: Burranco Camp (3950M) to Barafu camp (4550M)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance covered: 13 km
Climate: Alpine desert
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 and 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!
Day 5: Summit attempt, Barafu Camp (4550M) to Uhuru Peak (5895M) to Mweka (3100M)
Hiking time: 7 hours to uhuru peak, 8 hours to mweka
Distance covered: 10 kms ascend, 23 kms descending
Climate: stone scree and ice-caped summit
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours. At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.
Day 6: Meka Camp (3100M) to Mweka gate (1980M)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance covered: 15 kms
Climate: Montane 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. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers).