Kilimanjaro climbing – Lemosho Route 7 days

• Elevation (m):915 m/1387 to 2,250 m to 2,000 m to 2,750 m, 
• Distance: 18 km.
• Time: 3hrs

Drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Londorossi Park Gate. From here follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for about 11 km/7 mi (45 minutes) to Lemosho Glades and a possible campsite. From the Glades, walk for 3 hours along beautiful forest trails to the Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

• Elevation(m): 2,750 m to 3,500 m, Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,485 ft
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

The trail gradually steepens, enters the giant heather moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600 m/11,810 ft and drops gently to Shira Camp 1 located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

• Elevation (m): 3,500 m to 3,840 m, Elevation (ft): 11,485 ft to 12,600 ft
• Distance: 6 km.
• Hiking Time: 2 hours.
• Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira camp 2 on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are available on the plateau making this an excellent acclimatization day.

• Elevation : 12,600 ft to 15,190 ft to 13000 ft
• Distance: 15 km
• Hiking Time: 7 hours
• Habitat: Semi-Desert

 After breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 13000 ft. There are numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.

• Elevation: 13000ft-15000ft
• Distance: 9km
• Hiking time : 8-9 hrs
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Leave slowly crossing the floor of the great Barranco Valley and up the Barranco wall; continue the trek on the South Circuit path through the Karanga Valley. Then slowly trek (7 hours) to Barafu Hut (4600m). From Barafu you will have excellent views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Barafu Hut is situated on an exposed and dangerous ridge, so it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark. We will have our dinner, rest and prepare for summit night.

• Elevation: 15000ft-19345ft (And down to 10000ft)
• Distance: 5km ascent and 13 km descent
• Hiking time: 7-8 hrs ascent and 4-5 hrs descent
• Habitat: arctic

Scree and seasonal snow you will raise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to see a sunrise. At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft).

• Elevation: 10000ft-5400ft
• Distance: 10km
• Descent time: 3-4 hrs
• Habitat: Rain forest.

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will be driven back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night.