Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route

  ITINERARY

DAY 1. Arrive anytime in Arusha,Or Moshi  Tanzania.

DAY 2. Londorossi National Park

• After completing the neccessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park
• We drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho roadhead. We often have our lunch in the glades before starting to walk.
• It is an easy day of walking up a small path through beautiful and lush forest.
• This area has a variety of game, including buffalo.
• We camp at Lemosho Forest camp(8,700 ft).
  [2-3 hours walking]

 DAY 3. Shira Plateau

• We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather.
• The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau.
• There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in!
• We camp in the center of the plateau at Shira One(11,000 ft).
  [6-7 hours walking]

DAY 4. Shira Cathedral

• An easy day to help acclimatization and to explore the volcanic rock formations of Shira Plateau.
• We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral(12,300 ft) before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut (12,600 ft).
• This campsite has stunning views, close to the glaciated dome of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau.
• The views from here of Mt. Meru floating on the clouds are simply unforgettable.
  [4-5 hours walking]

DAY 5. Campsite at Moir Hut

• In the morning we cross part of the plateau heading north to reach our campsite at Moir Hut(13,800 ft) for lunch.
• After which there is an excellent acclimatization walk up onto the Lent Hills, the summit of which is at 15,400 ft..
  [4-7 hours walking]

DAY 6.  Moorland Plateau

• A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach.
• After lunch near the Lava Tower, we descend to the bottom of the Barranco Valleyto camp at Barranco Camp(12,790 ft), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.
  [7-8 hours walking]

DAY 7. Barranco Wall

• A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields.
• The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to our camp at Karanga(13,100 ft).
• The last water point on the way to the summit.
  [4-5 hours walking]

DAY 8. Barafu Hut

• We follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu Hut(14,800 ft) for lunch.
• There is a short acclimatization walk to the plateau at the bottom of the South-East valley.
• The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent.
  [3-5 hours walking]

DAY 9.  Stella Point

• We start our ascent by torchlight about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the crater rim by sunrise.
• The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point(18,800 ft), in about five or six hours.
• We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.
• Those who are still feeling strong can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak(19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
• The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite, Millenium Camp(12,500 ft).
  [11-15 hours walking]

DAY 10. Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka 

• A sustained descent on a well constructed path takes us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest.
• Our route winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka(5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village, where we are transferred to Arusha.
  [4-6 hours walking]

DAY 11. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO

After breakfast, we can arrange for a private transfer or taxi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO

Pros:

Great scenery

Great acclimation profile

High success rate

Moderate foot traffic