Mount Kilimanjaro Climb 8 Days Lemosho Route (Semi Luxury)

Mount Kilimanjaro Climb 8 Days Lemosho Route (Semi Luxury)

This route is the least frequently used and also the longest route to the summit. After beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira Plateau to meet up with the Machame Route. The south circuit is then followed, offering superb views of the southern ice fields, past the Barranco Huts then onto Barafu and finally the summit. Descent is via the Mweka Route.

When climbing this route, the terrain passes from a tropical to an arctic climate in just a few days. The encircling rain forest ensures the fertility of the lower lying farms and is rich in birdlife. Above the rain forest lie the alpine meadows and beautiful moorland, offering many splendid views. Exotic plants such as giant lobelia and the fork-like groundsel can be seen. The latter blooming once every 50 - 70 years. After you leave the alpine meadows we enter the alpine desert and finally the snows of Kilimanjaro and the summit itself.

Itinerary

Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp (Big tree cam)

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
After breakfast you are driven from your hotel to the edge of the National Park Forest. From here we walk through the undisturbed forest to the Mti Mkubwa campsite for dinner and overnight camping. With luck you will be able to see colobus monkeys and signs of elephants
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Big tree camp

Day 2: Forest Camp (Big tree camp) to Shira camp 1

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
Take your time to walk through the forest which boasts plentiful game and bird life. You will pass through the mountain forest and hagenia zones. Dinner and overnight camping is at Shira campsite.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Shira camp 1

Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
After breakfast we hike up Lava Tower. The is in the alpine zone. The only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichen. Here you will have a spectacular view of our final ascent route up to the western breach.
Duration: 5 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Shira camp 2

Day 4: Shira 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
Today you will walk from Shira 2 up to the top of ridge, then reach the Lava tower (4600m) and enjoy your lunch before heading down hills to the Barranco valley where you'll overnight.
Reaching Lava tower is an extra hike but this will help you acclimatize and improve your performance tomorrow.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Barranco camp

Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) Karanga Camp (3930m)

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
After breakfast you will start your hike towards the great Barranco wall. The path is steep and rocky, with views of Mt. Meru, Kilimanjaro's little sister, punching her peak through the clouds. Climbing this part takes about 1hour and a half and you turn towards the great Barranco wall (4200m), then a steep descent for about 15 minutes and up a few small hills before you reach Karanga Valley. This is the last water point on this route. The campsite is spectacular. Vegetation has now all but disappeared, leaving only rock and scree in varying shades of brown and black.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Karanga camp (3930m)

Day 6: Karanga Camp (3930m) | Barafu (4600m)

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
From the Karanga camp steep scree and rocky outcrops requiring a scramble lead up to Barafu Camp (4600m). This day will be the shortest by far. After reaching Barafu Camp you will have hot lunch and a rest before an early dinner and much needed sleep.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Barafu camp (4600m)

Day 7: SUMMIT ATTEMPT Stella Point (5735m) | Uhuru Peak (5895m) | Mweka (3100m

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
You will rise around 1.00am and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the early morning darkness. You will probably encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak . Time spent on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk to Barafu camp from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest, before heading down to Mweka camp (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner, and hot, washing water will be provided as well as drinking water.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Mweka camp (3100m)

Day 8: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)

Stop At: Mount Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro National Park 00255 Tanzania
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a 5-hour, scenic hike back to the park gate. At Mweka gate, you sign your name and details in a register. This is where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5735m) 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. You will then be driven back to your hotel for lunch and a long overdue hot shower and celebrations!!
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Mount Meru Hotel (Five star)