Arrivals in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your Hotel in Moshi town. At your hotel, your guide will meet you and brief you on your upcoming trek. There, the guide will and do an equipment check to make sure you have all of the necessary gear required for the hike. If you don’t have all that you need, don’t worry—you can rent equipment at this meeting. 

Climbers will travel through a lovely rain forest, with the possibility of seeing wildlife along the way. Blue monkeys, small lizards, and a variety of birds, as well as black and white colobus monkeys, are common sights in the woodlands. The Kilimanjaro lemosho route then heads out onto the Shira Plateau, crossing it from west to east over reasonably level and easy terrain.

The Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route offers lots of privacy in the early days, since it sees significantly less traffic than the Machame and Marangu routes. This enhances an already stunning trekking journey by giving you the impression that you have the mountain to yourself at times.

However, the kilimanjaro Lemosho route eventually combines with the Machame route, and traffic levels begin to rise. However, if you’re seeking for a little peace and quiet while climbing, this is a terrific alternative.

Climbers will have the opportunity to meander through beautiful rain forests and hike up to the Shira Plateau, where spectacular vistas await once beyond the tree line.

Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route requires a few extra days to travel due to its remote location and longer path. The average person spends seven to eight days on this trail, which increases the success rate significantly.

If you want to increase your chances of reaching the summit, the Kilimanjaro Lemosho route is one of the better routes to choose, especially when compared to the Machame and Marangu routes. Despite the higher success rate, the Kilimanjaro Lemosho route is a longer and more difficult hike than the “Whiskey” and “Coca-Cola” routes.

There are several sections of the trail that are steeper and more difficult, and trekkers usually stay an extra night or two in tents. Nonetheless, the attractions of this route set it apart from the rest, making it a favorite choice among daring visitors.

Climbing Kilimanjaro allows you to ascend Lemosho in 7 or 8 days. The seven-day option combines days five and six, and includes a trip from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp without stopping at Karanga.

The Best Time To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

The months of January through early March, as well as June through October, are ideal to climb mount Kilimanjaro. It provides a comfortable hiking conditions because of the clear skies, great views, and sunshine, however, the weather has the potential to change dramatically.

Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of year, but some months are better than others. We recommend climbing Mount Kilimanjaro during the driest months of the year. We avoid the months of April and November because they are the rainiest, making the trails more dangerous.

Route summary.

Length: 7 or 8 days

Type: Camping

Difficulty: Demanding

Day 1: Londorossi gate to Mti Mkubwa

Trekking time 4 hours

Climatic zone Rainforest

Altitude gained 600 metres / 1,970 feet

Climbers are taken to the gate at 2,000 metres at the entrance to the forest for entrance formalities, and then to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades at 2,200 metres. This is a long drive from Marangu – including the stop for gate formalities it often takes around 5 hours. The forest track to Lemosho Glades is also in poor condition, and vehicles often have to stop short of the trailhead, particularly in wet weather. From the trailhead, there is a 3 to 4 hour walk, ascending quite steeply through the forest, until a camp is made in a forest clearing dominated by a large tree – this is Mti Mkubwa camp at 2,800 metres.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa to Shira One camp

Trekking time 6 hours

Climatic zone Alpine moorland

Altitude gained 700 metres / 2,300 feet

Climbers emerge onto the moorland above the forest after about an hour, then detour northwards around the Shira Ridge, through beautiful and rugged moorland with views northwards and westwards to the plains below the mountain. At the northern edge of the Shira ridge, the path turns eastwards and drops down onto the Shira plateau. Camp is made by a stream at Shira One campsite at 3,500 metres. Total time is about 6 to 7 hours.

Day 3: Shira One camp to Shira Two cam

Trekking time 5 hours via Cone Place hours

Climatic zone Alpine moorland

Altitude gained 300 metres / 985 feet

The trail continues across the plateau towards Kibo. After about 2 hours, the edge of the plateau is reached and the path climbs up for about 40 minutes to Shira hut at 3800 metres. Total time is about 3 hours, therefore, if the direct route is taken. However, this day affords the opportunity to branch off the trail and climb Shira Cathedral and Shira Needle, the imposing hills on the southern side of the plateau, and to look down the Machame ridge from their tops. It is also possible to visit Cone Place, the centre of the extinct Shira volcano, and to look at the highest parts of the Shira plateau - Johnsell Point and Klute Peak on the western Shira ridge.

Day 4: Shira Two to Barranco camp

Trekking time 7 hours

Climatic zone Alpine moorland

Altitude gained 200 metres / 660 feet

The path continues through high altitude desert directly up the ridge towards Kibo. After about 4 hours, Lava Tower is reached at 4,500 metres. Climbers are now directly at the foot of the Great Western Breach of Kibo, the scene of a massive avalanche in prehistoric days which formed the Umbwe Valley. The path now forks to the right and descends into the Umbwe Valley, also called the Barranco Valley, and the night is spent at Barranco camp on the valley floor at 3985 metres. This is an interesting day, since climbers ascend to 4500 metres at lunchtime, but then descend to a camp which is only slightly higher than where they were in the morning.

Day 5: Barranco camp to Barafu camp

Trekking time 8 hours

Climatic zone High altitude desert

Altitude gained 700 metres / 2,300 feet

The path climbs out of the Barranco Valley via the Barranco wall. This is a steep 1 to 2 hour climb, ascending about 300 metres. The path then follows the gently undulating Kibo South Circuit. Wonderful views are to be had of Kibo's Southern glaciers if the weather is clear. After about 3 hours the Karanga valley is reached. There is a short but steep descent into the valley, which has a small stream running through it, and then a short climb up the eastern valley wall. At the top of the wall, at 4000 metres, is the Karanga Valley camp. Lunch is usually had here, and then the path climbs for about 3 hours to Barafu camp at 4600 metres.

Optional 8 day climb is achieved by splitting day 5 into 2 days

Day 5: Barranco camp to Karanga Valley

Trekking time 4 hours

Climatic zone High altitude desert

Altitude gained 100 metres / 330 feet

As described above in day 4

Day 6: Karanga Valley to Barafu camp

Trekking time 3 hours

Climatic zone High altitude desert

Altitude gained 600 metres / 1,970 feet

Although Barafu camp is visible from early on in the trek, as one nears the ridge upon which it is located it disappears from view. You are walking in high altitude over slate type scree with interesting views of the final ascent route and as one nears Barafu camp on the opposite side of the valley are terrific views of the ridge known as The Red Wall.

Day 6/7: Barafu camp to summit then down to Millennium or Mweka camp

Trekking time 16 hours

Climatic zone Arctic zone

Altitude gained 1,300 metres / 4,265 feet

Climbers are woken at about 11pm. After dressing in all their warm clothing, they have a hot drink and then set off at midnight. The first part of the ascent is on a rocky ridge. This then turns into scree. The surface is loose and can be hard going. On its steepest sections, the path zig zags up the scree. It takes an average of 7 hours to reach StellaPoint on the crater rim. On a fine morning, the views of the sun rising from behind Mawenzi are spectacular. Stella Point is at 5,750 metres. From here, the path goes around the crater rim for a further hour to the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5896 metres. The descent back to Barafu Camp can take a further 3 or 4 hours. After a rest and a meal, the descent continues to Mweka Camp at 3100 metres, a further trek of around 4 hours. If climbers are very tired, or if it is late, camp can be made at Millennium Camp at 3800 metres – this simply increases the length of the following walking day by around an hour.

Day 7/8: Mweka camp to Mweka gate

Trekking time 4 hours

Climatic zone Rainforest

The path descends for around 3 hours through the forest to Mweka gate. Vehicles will be waiting to transport climbers and crew back to Hotel.

Included and Excluded;

Included In Package:

Private Transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your Accommodation in Moshi

2 Nights of your Accommodation in Moshi (Before and After the Trek)

Transport to & from the Kilimanjaro Gate

Park Entry Fee

Camping Fee

Team Kilimanjaro Rescue Fee

18% Vat on your Fee and Services

Mountain Tents for camping

Friendly and Professional Mountain Guides and Porters

Three Meals Daily While on the Mountain

Enough Treated and Filtered Drinking Water for entire Duration of Trek

Hot Water for Washing

Fair Wages for the Mountain Crews as Approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour operators (KIATO)

Government Taxes

Portable Oxygen Tank and Oxymeter

Emergency First Aid Kit

Not Included:

Lunches Dinners and Drinks at Your Hotel before and after Climb

Travel Insurance

Portable Flush Toilet Tents are Available for Extra Charge of USD 70 for the Entire Trek

Flights

Laundry (Available at Hotel)

Personal Items and Toiletries

Tips for Guides porters and cook

How to tip link down here; 👇 

https://africanexperiences360.com/update/tipping-on-kilimanjaro/1022532