8-Day The Best Route - Mt Kilimanjaro Trekking (Lemosho)

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Trekking From Londorosi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

Elevation: From 2,200M to 2,780M
Distance: 3.7 Miles / 6KM
Trekking Time: 3-4 HRS
Habitat: Afromontane Forest

After breakfast from your hotel/lodge, our mountain crew will arrive to meet you and hold a quick briefing. Then, you will be transferred by vehicle (roughly 3-4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park’s western entrance: Londorosi Gate (2,200 m). Once the permits are settled, you return to your vehicle for another 45 minutes or so until you arrive at the Lemosho Trailhead. Here we will have a short break for the picnic lunch before we start trekking towards the first camp of the route: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m). Raincoats are necessary at this stage in particular, as you will be walking through rainforest. The hike will be steep in some places. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife.

Main Destination:

West Kilimanjaro (Area)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp

Elevation: From 2,780M to 3,505M
Distance: 3 Miles / 5KM
Trekking Time: 5-6 HRS
Habitat: Afromontane Forest / Moorland

Day two begins with an early start. After breakfast, we ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest. A gradual trek upwards until 3,505 meters we arrive at Shira 1 Camp where you will be able to see a stunning views of Shira Plateau and Kibo peak floating on the clouds.

the trekking is not very difficult (takes about 5-6 hours), but you may feel the changes in altitude as the temperature begins to drop. Parts of the route are fairly steep, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. We arrive at Shira 1 Camp in time for a hot lunch and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatizing to the new environment.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Elevation: From 3,505M to 3,900M
Distance: 4 Miles / 7KM
Trekking Time: 3-4 HRS
Habitat: Moorland

On day three we explore the Shira plateau, one of the most scenic trek of the trip. A gentle hike (around 3-4 hours) across the plateau leads to Shira 2 Camp on moorland meadows by a stream. On the way, we will cross Shira Ridge which allows for great views of the Rift Valley and Mt Meru. The ever changing landscape will again surprise you with a different terrain, you will walk on ground where lava once flowed.

When we arrive to Shira 2 Camp we will have a hot lunch. The afternoon is spent acclimatizing and for those with the energy a hike towards Lava Tower Camp that features a 300 meter gain in altitude is highly recommended to keep the blood flowing.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Via Lava Tower

Elevation: From 3,900M to 4,630M to 3,960M
Distance: 7.5 Miles / 12KM
Trekking Time: 6-8 HRS
Habitat: Semi desert

Day four is a “walk high sleep low” day, giving you a good idea of how your body reacts to altitude. After breakfast, our trek starts with an ascent with far reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone. We reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4,630 m), our high point for the day. In order to successfully acclimate to the altitude, you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be.

After lunch break, we descend gradually towards Barranco Camp at (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! The crew will be there waiting with a well deserve evening meal.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation: From 3960M to 4,035M
Distance: 3 Miles / 5KM
Trekking Time: 4-5 HRS
Habitat: Moorland

Day five will test your mountain climbing power, agility, and strength, as you’ll tackle Barranco Wall for a bit of old-fashioned rock climbing. We make an early start to avoid crowding on the way up Barranco Wall. After breakfast, we start by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Safety is very important to us so please follow the guideline of your guides who will get you to the top safely. You might have to use your hands every now and then to get a better grip.

The afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatizing. In the evening a practice walk for the summit is taken to make sure you are completely comfortable with the kit you are going to summit in.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: From 4,035M to 4,673M
Distance: 2.5 Miles / 4KM
Trekking Time: 4-5 HRS
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day six is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Your hike takes you across an alpine desert, making for a truly otherworldly day of hiking. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. As you’ll be summiting tomorrow, it’s important that you eat a full meal and drink plenty of fluids. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the rest of the evening.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking to Uhuru Peak and Descend to Mweka Camp

Elevation: From 4673M to 5895M / 5895M to 3100M
Distance: 11 Miles / 18KM
Trekking Time: 14-16 HRS
Habitat: Arctic, Alpine Desert, Heath

Day seven is summit night. Excitement is building up as we make an early start from Barafu Camp (4,673M) at midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m). Technically the climb is relatively simple; however, the most challenging part is the high altitude. You’ll be hiking in utter darkness for the next 5 hours, so take it slow and you’ll arrive at Stella Point on the crater rim before dawn. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa.
We then begin our long hike downhill to Mweka Camp with some stops on the way.

Main Destination:

Mt Kilimanjaro Summit

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation: From 3100M to 1640M
Distance: 6 Miles / 10KM
Trekking Time: 3-4 HRS
Habitat: Afromontane Forest

Day Eight is a day of celebration, our final day of trekking. After a warm breakfast, a gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,640 m). As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. Around midday you will be already at Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! Here, you’ll get to celebrate with your porters and guides, provide them with their tips for their hard work.

After saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by our Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.