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This long, little-used route parallels the lower part of
the Shira Route.
Duration: 8 days trekking; 6 and a half days ascending,
1 and a half days descending
Lenght: 98 km/61 mi total; 60 km/37 mi ascent; 38 km/24
mi descent
Elevation(m): 4,065 m to 3,915 m descent Londorossi Gate
2,250 m to Uhuru Peak 5,895 m and descent to Mweka Gate
1,980m
Elevation(ft): 13,340 ft /12,840 ft descent Londorossi
Gate 7,380 ft to Uhuru Peak 19,340 ft and descent to
Mweka Gate 6,500ft
Description
The Lemosho Route is an unspoiled, remote, little-used,
and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. Above the
plateau, you approach Kilimanjaro’s great western
Breach, then follow the south circuit to reach the
easier Barafu Route. This is one of the few routes where
an armed ranger accompanies our groups, since there are
still animals in the forest around the Lemosho Glades.
Note:
We do not place groups together. This way you are
ensured the full attention of our guide, but with the
added knowledge of our guides’ experiences. It also
means that we can start the climb on the day you prefer.
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Arrival Day:
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You
will be met at the Airport and transferred to the hotel
in Arusha/Moshi for your overnight and briefing by our
mountain guide
Day 1: Moshi/Arusha to Londorossi Gate to Lemosho
Glades to Mkubwa Camp
Elevation(m):915 m/1387 to 2,250 m to 2,000 m to 2,750 m
Elevation(ft): 3,000 ft/4921ft to 7,380 ft to 6,560 ft
to 9,020 ft
Distance: 18 km,
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Londorossi Park Gate.
From here follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for
about 11 km/7 mi (45 minutes) to Lemosho Glades and a
possible campsite. From the
Glades, walk for 3 hours along beautiful forest trails
to the Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
Day 2: Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1
Elevatoin(m): 2,750 m to 3,500 m
Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,485 ft
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
The trail gradually steepens, enters the giant heather
moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600
m/11,810 ft and drops gently to Shira Camp 1 located by
a stream on the Shira
Plateau.
Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2
Elevation(m): 3,500 m to 3,840 m
Elevation(ft): 11,485 ft to 12,600 ft
Distance: 6 km,
Hiking Time: 2 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
A gentle walk across the plateau leads to shira camp 2
on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are
available on the plateau making this an excellent
acclimatization day.
Day 4: Shira Camp 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation(m): 3,840 m to 4,630 m to 3,950 m
Elevation(ft): 12,600 ft to 15,190 ft to 12,960 ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
After breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening path
above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro’s
looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a
rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called
Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of
Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several
hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it.
For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the
top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower,
descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the
Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950
m/12,960 ft. There are numerous photo opportunities on
this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with
ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and
Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a
memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this
day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude
sickness.
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation(m): 3,900 m to 4,200 m
Elevation(ft) : 12,800 ft to 13,780 ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
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.
With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into
the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite.
From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged
peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African sky. After a
hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for
resting or exploring. After two long days, this short
day is very important for your acclimatization, since
your summit push is about to start.
Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation(m): 4,200 m to 4,550 m
Elevation(ft) : 13,780 ft to 14,930 ft
Distance : 13 km
Hiking Time : 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
In the morning, you hike east over intervening ridges
and valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your
descent route. Turn left toward the mountain and hike up
the ridge through asparse landscape for another hour to
the Barafu Hut where you will receive a hot lunch. The
last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there
is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the
Swahili word for “ice.” The famous snows of Kilimanjaro
are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the
mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony,
wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize
yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any
accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for
your summit climb, and drink a lot of fluids. After an
early dinner, go to bed for a few hours of precious
sleep.
Day 7 – Summit Day! Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to
Mweka Camp
Elevation(m): 4, 550m to 5,895 m to 3,100 m
Elevation(ft) : 14,930 ft to 19,340 ft to 19,340 ft
Distance: 7 km up, 23 km down
Hiking Time : 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down
Habitat: Scree and seasonal snow
You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming
tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your
6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between
the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the
crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for
most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you
stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely
sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point you join the top part
of the Marangu Route, but do not stop here too long, as
it will be extremely difficult to start again due to
cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent
storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike
along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can
enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating
a day that you will remember for the rest of your life.
After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu
Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest,
collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path
into the moorland and eventually into the forest to
Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the
upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late
afternoon. Dinner, and washing water will be prepared,
and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks,
chocolates, and beer!
Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi/Arusha
Elevation(m): 3,100 m to 1,980 m to 890 m/ 1387 m
Elevation(ft): 10,170 ft to 6,500 ft to 2,920 ft/ 4921ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic,
3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your
porters any tips until you and all your gear have
reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your
staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name
and add details in a register. This is also where
successful climbers receive their summit certificates.
Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green
certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive
gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will
continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3
km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles.
In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot
lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi/Arusha
for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in a
nice hotel.
Arusha/Moshi:
Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania
or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good
way to recuperate. We can arrange many reasonably priced
trips and safaris to the Tanzania Nothern Parks such as
trips to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater,
Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and
to Arusha National Park. Also we can arrange trips to
Southern Circuit such as trips to Selous game reserve,
Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park.
Extra Day for Acclimatization
You can spend an extra day at Shira Camp 2, Barranco
Camp, or Karanga Camp for acclimatization purposes. If
you want to add this day, and maintain an 8-day
itinerary, you can omit day 3 and walk from Shira Camp 1
to Barranco Camp.
Note if you skip
the rest day, you can visit Mawenzi Tarn on a 6-day
itinerary.
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