The Lemosho Route is a camping route that is widely considered to be the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro, the route if famous for its beauty, remoteness and its high summit success rate. In short, it maximizes the chances to reach the summit. The route approaches the mountain from the west giving you a great chance to view the mountain from all angles.
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be met at the airport with our driver holding signboard with group name/ leader name with company logo to avoid confusion and transferred to the hotel in Moshi, if you will be arriving before 4pm then we will conduct thorough pre climb briefing with your mountain guide who will double check the climbing gears and itinerary also will answer all the question you may have.
Hiking distance; 6 km
Hiking time; 3-4hrs
Depart your hotel in Moshi by 8am then we start driving toward the western side of the mountain for almost 3 hours to Simba forest gate make a stop then drive for another 30 minutes to Londorosi gate for registration and weighing luggage, the process can take upto 1hrs so possibly you will have boxed lunch at the gate, drive again for 45min to trail head and start hiking under the rain forest for 3-4 hours before arriving at Big tree campsite (Mti mkubwa).
Hiking distance; 13 km
Hiking time; 7-8hrs
Today we start the climb cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone.Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is One, a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch, we cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau that is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. Today you will get your first close views of Kibo – the dramatic summit of Kilimanjaro.
Hiking distance; 10 km
Hiking time; 6-7hrs
A big acclimatization day, you start a day from Shira two at 8am and trek toward the southern east ridges they you will make a stop at 300m tall volcanic tower for lunch and acclimatization then you proceed down to Barranco camp.
Hiking distance; 5km
Hiking time; 4-5hrs
After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, then you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is and here we will take very fun pictures if clouds won’t be the obstacle. With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite.
Hiking distance; 4km
Hiking time; 4-5hrs
We leave Karanga campsite normally after outdoor breakfast around 8 am hike through rocky and stone scree and pebbles trail until we hit the junction which connects Mweka Trail(Descending trail). We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. After arriving at the camp have lunch and rest and expect an early dinner then you will have final preparation meeting for the night summit hike.
Hiking distance; 6km (Barafu camp to Uhuru peak)
Hiking time; 6-7hrs
Hiking distance; 11km (Uhuru peak via Barafu to Mweka camp)
Hiking time; 4-5hrs
This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek, the ascend normally will start around mid night, the wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short,breaks. Near Stella Point (5,685 m) , you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see , At Stella point will make not long break for pictures and hot drink before we proceed to Uhuru peak, here you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak depending on the weather situation, At Uhuru peak time we spend on top is not more that 10-15min depending with the weather and the crowd but we guarantee you will take your lifetime memorable pictures at the top then you will start your descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, here you will have almost 1hours stopover for resting and branch , collect your gear, and hike down on a step rock trail to Mweka forest Camp (3,100 m).
Hiking distance; 11km
Hiking time; 3-4 hrs
After a well-deserved breakfast, we will conduct tip ceremony sing and dance together
while one representative from the climber will say few words to supporting team and shake hands, hand over the tips money the start descending through the heavy rain forest to Mweka gate. At the gate you will sign out at the park registry book and guide will collect your achievement certificate then load the van drive back to hotel through the nourishing colorfully coffee farms and cheerful villagers, you may stopover for some souvenirs, at the hotel you will meet company representative who will sort out and arrange your next schedule weather its Safari or airport drop-off, and agree pickup time.
If you are catching late evening flight you may arrange some short daytrips with our office representatives, please make sure you leave the hotel 3 hours before your flight.
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