Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari: Lemosho Route is one of the most beautiful routes up the Kilimanjaro summit. It has scenic panoramic views on various sides of the mountain. It has low traffic of hikers considering its difficulty level but with a high summit success rate because of its good acclimatization.
Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arusha / Moshi – Londorossi Gate – Mti Mkubwa camp
- Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp – Shira Camp 2
- Day 3: Shira Camp 2 – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
- Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp
- Day 5: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp
- Day 6: Mweka camp – Mweka Gate
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha / Moshi – Londorossi Gate – Mti Mkubwa camp
The company driver / guide will pick you from your hotel after breakfast and drive you to Londorossi Gate. You will complete all the necessary formalities, register and thereafter, with a packed lunch and drinking water, start your Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari setting off into the rainforest. Be on the lookout for some wildlife as you trek.
You will have a break for lunch along the way, after which continue your hike through the scenic forest arriving at Mti Mkubwa (“Big tree”) for your first dinner and overnight stay on the mountain.
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp – Shira Camp 2
After breakfast, continue your climb / hike out of the forest into the moorland zone. Different scenic views on this day. As you ascend, you will cross several beautiful streams and reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp across the plateau with amazing views of Kibo. It is a gentle walk eastwards on moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp where you will have your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Shira Camp 2 – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
After breakfast, you will make a long trek to Barranco Camp. You will continue your ascent to the east from the Shira Plateau up a ridge, towards the peak of Kibo. Direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower. You will have a short break for lunch and then continue to descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest. The time spent on higher altitude today is good for your body acclimatization. Settle in at Barranco camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp
Early morning breakfast and hike up the famous Barranco Wall, a very imposing sight that turns out to be an easy obstacle to conquer. Enjoy the view once you reach the top of the wall with a very brief rest, see how beautiful Kilimanjaro Mt. is. Continue your hike through the Karanga Valley (last water point, so carry some water) and then join the Mweka Route turning left up a ridge to reach Barafu “ice” Camp. Settle in at the camp and prepare your equipment for the final summit ascent which you will do later in the night today. Prepare for a pretty cold night as temperatures will drop greatly. You will have an early dinner so that you can go to bed early and have enough rest to energize for the final summit attempt tonight. Dinner and overnight at Barafu camp.
Day 5: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp
Final Summit attempt.Wake up call at around 23:30 hrs for a hot cup of tea and biscuits. Heading into the Northwest direction, you will ascend through heavy scree towards Stella point (5,758 m) situated on the edge of the crater rim. Weather permitting, you will see the most beautiful sunrise while at this point as you will arrive at dawn. Reaching the Stella Point is a great accomplishment and after a brief rest, you will continue to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft.) normally encountering snow all the way.
Once at the summit, you will be able to spend some time (highly depends on the current weather condition), taking photographs, enjoying the view and stretching it out before the descent begins with a stop at Barafu Camp for lunch, relaxation and some rest. Thereafter, continue descending down to Mweka Camp through the scree and rocks and finally into the rainforest. Expect fog and some rain. Settle in, have dinner and a well-deserved night’s sleep.
Day 6: Mweka camp – Mweka Gate
Congratulations and celebrations are in order. You made it the summit of the tallest mountain on the African Continent and back. After your breakfast, you will go to the Mweka gate for registration and then receive your certificates of accomplishment. You will be driven to Mweka village by your driver for a hot lunch, then transfer back to Arusha / Moshi and dropped at your hotel for a well-deserved hot shower, dinner and overnight stay.
