8 Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Climb

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Moshi to Lemosho gate to Big tree (Mti Mkubwa) camp⌄

   You will be transferred by road from Moshi (09:00am) to Lemosho gate. After registration you continue on the 4x4 track till the trail head where you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora / fauna, and you may experience rain this afternoon which is common in this zone making the path slightly slippery. A short and winding path takes you steadily to the first camp.

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite (Big tree/Mti Mkubwa Camp)

2. 2Big tree (Mti Mkubwa) camp to Shira one camp⌄

   This morning you quickly leave the forest zone on a steep path as the dense vegetation slowly eases into the Heather and moorland zone. The remainder of the day takes you on a steady hike across the Shira ridge where views of the Shira peak (the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones) gives you the spectacular jagged scenery of this eroded peak.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite (Shira One Camp)

3. 3Shira One camp to Shira Cathedral Peak to Shira Two camp⌄

   Today's hike takes you gradually across the Shira Plateau within the heather and moorland and an optional extra hike to the Shira Cathedral peak (3880m) before gradually taking you to Shira two camp. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones and has been shaped by lava and volcanic activity to create a stunning jagged peak and offering a unique western view of Kibo, the highest of the peaks and your final destination on the tour.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite (Shira Two Camp)

4. 4Shira Two camp to Lava Tower to Barranco camp⌄

   Your hike today takes you towards to Kibo cone steadily climbing up and over the edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). Today helps you to acclimatize and also is a great indicator to see how your body can handle the higher altitude. From the Lava Tower you begin your steep descent anti clockwise around Kibo and into the Barranco Valley passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro. The day ends around the same elevation as you started on the edge of the heather and moorland.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite (Barranco Camp)

5. 5Barranco camp to Karanga camp⌄

   This morning you will leave the camp and ascend the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical scramble and gives a feeling of mountain climbing (without any previous experience or advanced equipment required) and is rewarded with a superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike will be through the alpine desert slowly winding around the mountain till the Karanga valley which you descend into and again up till your camp. Karanga valley is the last water point.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite (Karanga Camp)

6. 6Karanga camp to Barafu Camp⌄

   Today you climb almost casually through the empty landscape of the alpine desert where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. Kibo cone starts to near, and you may finally glimpse the Mawenzi peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) in the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at your summit camp to rest and prepare for the summit attempt tonight.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite (Barafu Camp)

7. 7Barafu Camp to Stella point to Uhuru peak to Mweka camp⌄

   In the early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in a zig-zag pattern towards Stella point (5685m or 18650ft) which is your first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains to take you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. You usually don’t spend that long at the peak due to the extreme altitude and will descend back down to the base camp for your breakfast / brunch. After your gear is packed up you continue the descent through the alpine desert, heather and moorland and eventually stopping at Mweka camp in the rain forest zone for a well-deserved rest.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shared public campsite(Mweka Camp)

8. 8Mweka camp to Mweka gate to Moshi town⌄

   Your final day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rain forest until Mweka gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Mweka gate and it’s a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to your crew who all generally head directly home from the end gate.

   Meals: Breakfast