Kilimanjaro Climb Lemosho Route 8 Days & 7 Nights

Lemosho Route, Kilimanjaro

Duration

8 Days

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

Unlimited

Languages

English

Overview

Lemosho route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west. It offers a chance to visit shira Plateau (Cathedral peak) and Shira Caldera. Lemosho route crosses from Shira Ridge to Shira 2 camp, in a pleasant hike. Climbers encounter low traffic until the route joins the Machame route. Afterwards, Lemosho follows the same route as Machame route through Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu, known as the southern circuit. The minimum days required for this route is 7 days, but 8 days is recommended as it will give more chance to acclimatize and achieve the summit.

Scenically, Lemosho is measured the most varied and most beautiful because it begins in the rainforest, crosses the spectacular Shira Plateau and then combines with the Machame route to share its viewpoints around the southern circuit. Lemosho has low crowds until it combines with Machame. Lemosho is highly recommended and it has an abundance of wildlife such as elephant, buffalo, eland and lion which come over to forage during the dry season from Longido game controlled area.

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Itinerary

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Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet our company representative (Guide or Driver), and transfer to Masailand Safari Lodge. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cosy rooms, hot water, and Internet access. In the evening, there will be a briefing with our Kilimanjaro mountain guides, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft
Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

Leave in the morning from Arusha to Londorossi village were gate is located. The start of trail 2100m trek winds up through the lush forest zone on to the lower slopes of the northern side, going to Shira Plateau. Overnight at Mti Mkubwa 2650m, 3 to 4 hours.

Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, you will follow a thin trail through the rainforest before leaving the green area behind heading into moorland. Erica and Lobelia plants will start to take over the landscape. After about 4-5 hours you will reach Shira One Camp where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.

Elevation: 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, you continue your trek, which today will be less tiring than the day before. You will cross Shira Ridge which will allow for great views of the Rift Valley and Mt Meru. The ever-changing landscape will again surprise you with a different terrain- you will walk on the ground where lava once flowed. You will also pass the big Senecien that can grow to more or less 9 meters in height. Shira Camp 2 will be your destination for the night at (3850m), 350m more than the night before.

Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert

After breakfast, you will start your walk up to Lava Tower (4640m) with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau. You will climb quite a bit in altitude, roughly 790m. You will have a rest here before descending again. This is a so-called acclimatizing day, where you will climb high but sleep low, giving you a good idea of how your body reacts to altitude. The landscape will once again change as you pass through the Barranco Valley with its big Senecas and smaller Lobelia plants. After a long six to seven hours you will reach your beautiful camp for the night the Barranco Camp. The crew will be there waiting with a well deserved evening meal before settling in for the night.

Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Straight after breakfast, you will make your way up the famous Barranco Wall. This is most probably the steepest part of the entire route. Safety is very important to us so please follow the guideline of your guides who will get you to the top safely. You might have to use your hands every now and then to get a better grip but rest assured there are no alpine climbing passages. Once at the top you will walk along the mountain ridge and if the weather allows you will have a great view of the southern glacier of Kibo as the Kibo summit. After three to four hours you will reach Karanga Camp for your overnight.

Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Barafu Camp is your destination for today at 4700m. You will start after breakfast and should reach it in about three to four hours. The scenery for today will be mostly afro-alpine dessert. Once at the camp you will have a filling early dinner before settling in for a good rest in preparation for tomorrow exciting climb.

Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft & Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Your day will begin at 00:00. After hot tea and biscuits, you will start your five to seven hours walk to Stella Point, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. Here you will have a short rest if necessary before continuing another one to two hours to reach the highlight of the trip the Uhuru Peak (5895m). This is truly a once in a lifetime experience as you stand at the top of Africa watching the sunrise light up the surrounding summits and landscape. After taking much-needed pictures you will make your way down back to Barafu Camp for a one to two hours rest. Once everyone is well, you will continue down to Mweka gate (3090m), an approximation of three hours walk. The rest of the evening is for you to relax, you’ll have a nice evening meal and a good night sleep.

Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest

Covering the last section of the mountain, the trek continues down through the forests to the gate where your vehicle will be waiting to transport you back to Arusha.

Our packages include departure day services. Enjoy breakfast and a morning sightseeing in the city or join us for one of our Safari Adventures. If you are returning home our driver will bring you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to catch your flight home.

Included/Excluded

All Park Fees, including the 18% VAT
Airport transfers
Transport to and from the hotel and the trailhead/gate,
Tents on the mountain.
All meals while you are on the mountain (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Salaries for guides, cooks and porters
Oxygen
Portable Chemical Toilet
Hotel accommodation in Arusha the night before and the night after the climb (Bed and breakfast)

Airfare to Tanzania
Tips for guides, porters and other staff
Sleeping bags, sleeping pads and other personal gears,
Lunch or dinners at the hotel in Arusha,
Soft drinks, beer and items of a personal nature
Laundry,
Visas,
Travel Insurance and Medical Insurance

Tour's Location

Lemosho Route, Kilimanjaro

FAQs

You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack - It will be carried by our porters.

No worries about that - this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” - which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude.

There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.

Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding.

If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or hut.

Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.

For Lemosho route, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down and carried- along with everything else- by our porters.

There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.

For each trek on the Mountain, a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and have the ability to prepare different kinds of dishes.

You shouldn't worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.

The tours are scheduled to start in Arusha, departing on Daily basis. However, circumstances like clients’ arrival time, activities to be done and the client’s preference could affect the program. Our company is flexible for such arrangements and adjustments. Normally the program starts around 7:30 AM

The tours are scheduled to End in Arusha. However, our travel specialists will need to know your specific drop-off point prior to the hike to get aligned with the program.

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