Kilimanjaro Trek Lemosho Route
Days: 8
Overview
The Lemosho route is also the camping Route, it is an unspoilt, remote, little used and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. The route is one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are inhabited by buffalo, elephant and other wildlife. The minimum duration for the Lemosho route is 6 days, however we strongly recommend hiking the route in 7 days. The additional 7th day will give your body more time to acclimatize, reducing the effects of altitude sickness and give you more time to rest before attempting the summit
Itinerary
Our guide will pick you up in the morning after breakfast at your Hotel and drive towards Machame Village where there is Machame Gate which is the starting point to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route.
Day 1.
Londorossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa camp (2 821m)
Hiking time: 3 ½ hours
Distance: Approximately 5.4 km
Habitat: Montane forest
Lemosho forest Your day starts early with a briefing, Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 2-hour drive from Moshi (910m) to the Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. Following registration we continue by vehicle, a further 12km on a forest track that leads to the Lemosho starting point (2244m). This can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 ½ hours, depending road conditions. The road to the Lemosho starting point is particularly inaccessible during the wet season and climbers should be prepared to walk the final 2-5 kilometres of the road, following heavy rains. The journey time to reach the start point is quite long and joined with the possibility of not reaching the end of the road by vehicle, head torches may well be needed to reach Forest camp on day 1.Trek from the Lemosho start point (2424m) to the Forest camp (2821m) where you spend your first night in the mountain. You are advised to stop regularly today and to move quietly in the hope of sighting wildlife near the trail. Sightings of small antelope are virtually unique to the Lemosho and Rongai routes.Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have your tent set up on your arrival. In the evening the porters will bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.
Day 2. Forest camp(Mtimkubwa (2821m) – Shira 1 camp (3,505 m)
Hiking time: 8 hours
Distance: 15.6 km
Habitat: Moorland
You rise early at Forest camp and, after breakfast, you trek a hour or so to the end of the forest and then the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed. After 8.1 km we reach Shira 1 camp (3504m) located on the Western edge of the Shira Plateau where we stop for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 3. Shira 1 camp to Shira 2 Camp
Elevation: 3,505 m to 3,847 m
Distance: 6 km / 4 miles
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today your trek takes you past beautiful moorland rock formations and across volcanic rock plateaus. You also cross Shira Cathedral, which is one of the three peaks of Kilimanjaro. Tonight you stay at Shira 2 Camp where the Lemosho route links up with the Machame route.
Day 4 Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Baranco
Today's trek consists of two parts: the climb to Lava Tower, followed by the descent to Barranco Camp. This plan is in keeping with the 'climb high, sleep low' strategy that allows for good acclimatization.
Part 1 | Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower
Elevation: 3,847 m to 4,630 m
Distance: 8 km / 4 miles
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today you hike up to the impressive rock formation called Lava Tower at 4,630 m (15,419 ft) above sea level. It takes four to five hours to get there and is a true highlight of the entire Kilimanjaro trek.
Part 2 | Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 4,630 m to 3,976 m
Distance: 3 km / 2 miles
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Moorland
After lunch at Lava Tower, you head down to Barranco Camp, a hike that takes about two to three hours. The campsite is located in a valley below the Western Breach and great Barranco Wall.
Day 5 Barranco camp (3960m) – Karanga camp (4040 m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 6 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Start hiking from the Barranco camp at 8:00am and hike approximately 6 km to Karanga camp, expect to arrive around 12h00 for lunch, dinner and overnight. (An after lunch acclimatization hike could be a good idea should you feel up to it)
Day 6 Karanga camp (4040m) – Barafu camp (4640m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 3.4 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Hike 3.3km from Karanga camp to Barafu camp. You can expect to arrive to Karanga by around 11:00am which will allow much more time to rest, enjoy dinner, prepare your summit gear and rest till 23:30pm when you will be woken up for the start of the summit attempt. (An after lunch acclimatization hike could once again be a good idea should you feel up to it)
Day 7 Barafu camp (4640m)– Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka Camp (3100m)
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Descent time: 6-9 hours
Hiking Distance: 5 km
Descent Distance: 12 Km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Start hiking at around midnight, using your headlamps to lead the way slowly up to Stella Point and then the summit. Due to the altitude, you will hike slowly, and will need to dress warmly for the cold. After celebrating with photos at the summit, descend down to Mweka camp.
Day 8 Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1640m)
Descending time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 10 km
Habitat: Montane Forest
The mountain crew team After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
Includes
- Transport
- Entrance fees
- Guide & Team Salaries
- Meals & Accommodation
- Rescue
For More Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking Routes & Packages Please Click the links below
>>Marangu