8-Day Kilimanjaro via Lemosho Route

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Moshi to Lemosho gate to Mti mkubwa

After breakfast, we leave Moshi at 9 AM, drive for 2 hours to the Londrossi Gate on the west side of Kilimanjaro, register with the national park.

You will receive a packed lunch, then the final 45 minutes of the drive leading up to the gate will be on a bumpy forest track requiring 4WD vehicles. You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rainforest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys!

Along the way, you will stop for an afternoon lunch break and arrive at Mti Mkubwa (“Big Tree”) Campsite (2750m) in the early evening.

Elevation: 2100m to 2750m
Distance: 8 km
Hicking time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mti mkubwa to Shira 1 camp

You will walk slowly, to help acclimatize, through moorland, an area dotted with giant fern to an altitude of 3500 m. You then cross the Shira Bridge (3,600m) and gently descend to the Shira Plateau. You settle in at Shira 1 Camp by a stream and enjoy the afternoon resting or exploring the area. The camp offers a superb view of Mount Meru.

Similar to the first night, the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef.

Elevation: 2750m to 3610m
Distance: 7 km
Hicking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Moorland.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Shira 1 camp to shira 2 camp

We will explore Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk eastwards of 4 to 5 hours towards Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau, leading to Shira 2 Camp 3640 m on moorland meadows. It's reputed to be one of the most beautiful in Africa, this is an excellent acclimatization opportunity.

Elevation: 3610m to 3840m
Distance: 10 km
Hicking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Shira 2 camp to Barranco camp

Today is a good day for the body to acclimatize for the days to follow. You will climb roughly 700 m but will sleep on a level not much higher than the night before.

We will start at Shira Plateau and make our way up to Lava Tower at around 4600 m, after lunch and a rest we will continue through the Barranco Valley until we reach our destination for the day the beautiful Barranco Camp.

Today’s trek will be approximately 6 – 7 hours, during which time you will experience the alpine desert as well as the Barranco Valley with its small lobelia plants and giant senecio’s.

You will sit down for a well-deserved dinner before it’s time to rest in preparation for the next day.

Elevation: 3840m to 3900m
Distance: 10 km
Hicking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Barranco camp to karanga camp

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall.

At Karanga Camp, we have a well-earned lunch break and enjoy fantastic views of Barafu and Mount Meru. We continue across the ridges and valleys to the Karanga Valley campsite.

You will sit down for dinner before it’s time to rest in preparation for the next day. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Elevation: 3900m to 3995m
Distance: 6 km
Hicking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Karanga camp to Barafu camp

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and then we continue up to Barafu Hut. At this point, we have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.

Here we make camp, rest, enjoy an early dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this site.

Elevation: 3995m to 4673m
Distance: 4 km
Hicking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Barafu camp to Summit to Mweka camp

Very early in the morning (midnight), we put on many layers of clothing and begin our climb to the summit.

We head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

Elevation: 4673m to 5895m
Distance: 5 km
Hicking time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic

From Uhuru Peak to Mweka Hut
Elevation: 5895m to 3100m
Distance: 12 km
Hicking time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Heath.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mweka camp to Moshi

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate.

The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella’s Point (5756m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

After signing, you will stop at the restaurant to share a last meal with all the team (it could also be the time to give tips to them) and then, you will drive back to the hotel in Moshi for long overdue showers and celebrations.

Elevation: 3100m to 1860m
Distance: 10 km
Hicking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.