Lemosho route: is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and they consistently report that they loved it. Thus, Lemosho is highly recommended.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Arusha to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rain forest to Shira Ridge. The Lemosho route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. Crowds are low until the route joins the Machame route near Lava Tower. Then the route traverses underneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
8 DAY LEMOSHO KILIMANJARO TREK ITINERARY
DAY 01: Arrival at JRO Airport to Arusha
Arrival in Tanzania. After disembarking the plane and collecting your baggage. You’ll proceed to the immigration hall where you will purchase your visa upon arrival (unless you have obtained this in advance). As the visa cost $100 USD per person to be paid in new if your from USA but the other country you would pay $50 USD, crisp bills. After exiting the arrival hall, you will see your driver with a sign reading “Women Adventure Africa” to welcome you to Tanzania. You will be transported to your hotel where you will meet with Levina & Anna, your Kilimanjaro guide to give you a debrief of the climbing schedule, ask about any dietary restrictions or needs, and help prepare you for the climb the following day!
- Meals: Dinner and Overnight.
- Accommodation: Green Mountain Hotel
- Guide: Professional English speaking guide.
DAY 02: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa
Elevation: 7,742 ft to 9,498 ft
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
After early breakfast you depart from Arusha for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival at trailhead, you begin hiking through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site.
DAY 03:Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp
Elevation: 9,498 ft to 11,500 ft
Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
Hiking Time 5-6 hours
Habitat: Health
You continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here you catch your first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.
DAY 04: Shira 1 Camp to Moir Hut
Elevation: 11,500 ft to 13,800 ft
Distance: 11 km/ 7 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Heath
You will explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east on moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then we divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth.
DAY 05: Moir Hut to Lava Tower
Elevation: 13,800 ft to 15,190 ft
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Distance: 3 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
You’ll begin the day climbing up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.
DAY 06: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
You’ll begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then you climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall you we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.
DAY 07:Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
You’ll leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka 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. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.
DAY 08:Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
Very early in the morning (around midnight), you’ll begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. You ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (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 continent of Africa.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for 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.
DAY 09: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
On our last day, you’ll continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate,you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Arusha.
DAY 10: Departure from Arusha to JRO Airport.
OPTIONAL (GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY)
You can also arrange to visit girls center Inuka Tusonge Foundation (ITF) and spent at least one hour with underprivileged girls and share some ideas with them while having a cup of African coffee, which arranged by the company before you leave to the airport.
Or go direct to the JRO Airport.
After tasty breakfast from the hotel in Arusha you will be picked up for the transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) where you’ll board your flight back to your lovely country with good memorable of Africa
Days: 10 – August 2020
Price: US$ 2300
Group size: min 2 people max 6
These prices include:
- Airport transfer to and from JRO
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Arusha (before & after climb)
- Group transport to and from Arusha to the trail head
- Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, rescue fees and Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Expert guide, assistant guides, cook and porters
- Bottled oxygen, for emergency rescue only
- Four season, 3 person mountain tents, double occupancy
- Sleeping pad, foam, 1.5 inches thick
- Mess tents, tables, chairs, lanterns
- 7 nights 8 days hike up the Shire route
- Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain-Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Breakfast at hotel
Not included in price:
- Airfare
- Passport and visa fees
- Lunch or dinner at hotel
- Beverages at hotel
- Excess baggage costs
- Personal gear and equipment
- Tips: – The standard tipping amounts are roughly $20/day for guides, $12/day for assistant guides, $12/day for cooks, and $6/day for porters/group
Costs of additional services:
- Single supplement, for single tent/room, per trip $259
- Extra porter, for excess gear, per day $30
- Extra hotel night in Arusha, check in 2PM, check out 10AM, per double room $119
- Sleeping bag rental, Mountain Hardwear Lamina, synthetic -30F, per trip $50
No rental reservations necessary, payable in Tanzania - Trekking poles rental, telescopic, per trip $20
No rental reservations necessary, payable in Tanzania - Mount Meru climb (4 days/3 nights + 2 nights hotel),
per person $1,600 (2+ climbers), solo climber $1,880 - 2 Days safari for Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater per person $830 (2+ pax), solo pax $1,070
