Lemosho Route

As you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver will be there to greet you and transport you to your accommodation in Arusha. When you arrive, our salesperson will be happy to give you a briefing on the trip, and then your guide will check your equipment to make sure nothing is lacking for a successful walk. (Depending on when you arrive)

Overnight stay at Karama Lodge on Bed and Breakfast

Driving distance: 2hrs
Walking distance: 7kms/3-4hrs excluding resting time
Elevation at the gate: 2100meters AML
Nature of trail: gradual walk
Vegetation: Rain Forest zone

After breakfast, we go from the inn and take a 2-hour drive to the Londorosi gate, which is situated 2,100 meters above sea level. We drive to the beginning of our today’s walk, which is less than an hour away after the preliminaries are over.

The peak is approached from the west, providing us with a stunning perspective of the summit and its surroundings. First, we might be fortunate enough to spot some colobus or blue monkeys, as well as several bird species that reside in the nearby forests.

It was a wonderful experience, with a great artificial and natural forest full of vibrant flowers, and our rise was slow. Dinner is usually given when hikers arrive at Mkubwa Camp (also known as “Big Tree Camp”) (2,700m).

Overnight stay at Mti Mkubwa campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 10kms/ 5-6hrs exclude breaks
Starting elevation: 2700mters AML
Destination elevation: 3600meters AML
Nature of Trail: gradual walk
Vegetation: Moorland

We start off on our journey, which we anticipate would be longer than the previous day, after a leisurely breakfast at the campsite. The Shira Plateau and Kibo’s glaciated summits are visible from the moorland where we eventually exit the forest.

The day will include a picnic lunch to allow for adequate acclimatization.

Overnight stay at Shira 1 Cave Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 7km/4hrs excluding breaks
Starting elevation: 3600metres AML
Destination elevation: 3850meters AML

We left the Shira Plateau’s moor and heathland after breakfast and headed southeast. Here, buffalo, dik-dik, and klipspringer graze and are occasionally spotted. By 13:00, we want to be in Shira 2 Camp (3,850m), in time for a delicious lunch. Dinner tonight is at 8:00.

Overnight stay at Shira 2 Cave Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 10kms: 6-7hrs excluding breaks
Starting Elevation: 3850meters AML through 4600m at Lava Tower
Destination elevation: 3900meters AML
Nature of trail: gentle walking to Lava Tower then steep-scree down to Barranco campsite.
Nature of weather: Moorland to Alpine desert

In order to leave the camp by 08.30 a.m., we became used to eating breakfast at 7 a.m. Despite the fact that today’s trip is longer than yesterday’s, we have only gained a small amount of elevation.

You can experience symptoms including a severe headache, an upset stomach, dizziness, loss of appetite, and vomiting today. An elevation change is the result of everything. It is referred to as acute mountain sickness in medicine.

Due to its advantage in altitude, we will purposefully adjust when we get to Lava Tower -4,600m for lunch in the late afternoon. Our overnight campground, “Barranco Camp -3,900 m,” is where we will descend later.

Overnight stay at Barranco Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 6kms 4 hrs excluding breaks
Starting elevation: 3900meters AML
Destination elevation: 3995meters AML
Nature of trail: steep-up to the top of Barranco wall then down to Karanga valley campsite.
Nature of weather: Alpine desert

Around 7:30 a.m., we have breakfast before starting the hike to the Karanga campground. The Barranco Wall’s nearly vertical face, popularly known as the “Breakfast Wall” since you climb it straight after breakfast, is the most challenging aspect.

The Heim Glacier will be seen when we take a brief pause to gaze about at the top of the wall. When we descend to the valley below and enter the chilly but stunning Karanga Valley, the remaining portion of today’s hike gets easier. After there, we continue climbing a difficult set of zigzags until we reach Karanga Camp (3,995m).

Overnight stay at Karanga Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 4kms 3.5 – 4hrs excluding breaks
Starting elevation: 3995meters AML
Destination elevation: 4673meters AML
Nature of trail: Gentle slope 2.5 hr and steep slope 1 hr
Nature of weather: Desert

We leave the Karanga camp after a leisurely breakfast and climb up to the Barafu campground through the Mweka trail’s intersection at 4,673 meters. Today, we began the Northern Circuit, enjoying amazing views of the top from all directions.

Our base camp, Barafu, is where we make our last-minute summiting preparations. Everything is completed early at this campsite. We eat an early hot lunch when we get there, go to Knapp after early dinner, and wake up early for hot tea and biscuits at 23:30 before heading to the summit.

This camp offers views of the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Our tour guide will brief us on the next steps before dinner.

Overnight stay at Barafu Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 17km 14-15hrs
Elevation: 4673m AML – 5895m AML then 3100m AML at Mweka hut.

Despite the fact that today is the hardest, we are confident that we will succeed in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Of course, the timetable for our “Summiting Day” is completely different. We wake up at 2:00 and have tea and cookies at 2:30 before leaving at midnight. Beginning with a long and challenging climb from Barafu camp to Stella Point 5756m over a steep and zigzag switchback, the seven-hour hike begins.

Stella made a note. After a brief break, we’ll be rewarded with the most amazing view you’ll ever see. The sunrise might be visible from the summit for those that trek quickly (weather depending).

The full hour-long ascent from Stela point to the summit may involve snow. We will rejoice and take pictures at the top of Uhuru to show our loved ones back home before beginning the descent to Mweka camp (3,100m), pausing at Barafu (4673m) for lunch. For the loose gravel coming down, gaiters and trekking poles can be useful.

Going down is quick and simple if we keep in mind that we’ve accomplished our goal and that our body is benefiting from leaving the lower oxygen zone for the higher oxygen and fresh air zones.

When we know we’ve completed our task and that by leaving a less-oxygenated zone, our bodies are receiving more oxygen and fresh air, winding down is quicker and simpler.

We’ll eat at the forest-nestled Mweka hut for our last meal in the mountains. This is the day you can give your crew a tip or other reward for the entire experience.

Overnight stay at Mweka hut on Full Board

Walking distance: 3hrs excluding breaks
Elevation at the gate: 1650meters AML
Vegetation cover: Rain Forest.

We continued our celebration after breakfast by making our way to the Mweka Gate to collect our summit certificate and leave the park. Although gaiters and trekking poles might help, the rainforest can be muddy and rainy. The best option for “keeping rain gear and warmer apparel handy” is probably shorts and t-shirts.

To get us back to our accommodation in Arusha city so we can unwind and have a hot shower, the Tecomate Tours and Safari truck will be waiting for us at Mweka gate.

Overnight stay at Karama Lodge on Bed and Breakfast

After a restful night and breakfast, you’ll check out of your lodge, normally by 10:00 a.m., in order to get to the airport in time for your trip home. If you have an evening flight, you can hang out in the lounge until pick-up time or, if your trip is later in the evening, you can pay for a day room. A salesperson and driver-guide will meet you for a safari briefing if you ordered a safari extension.

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