9-Days Kilimanjaro Trekking – Lemosho Route

On the first day, drive to Londorossi Gate at about 12 p.m. from Moshi. Spend about an hour at the gate while we register your climb and the porters and guides make final preparations. Please note that the arrival time at the gate may vary depending on road conditions. After registering at the gate, drive to the trailhead and enjoy a picnic lunch before starting the trek to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp. Pass through the rain forests of Kilimanjaro, viewing trees and birds along the way. Arrive at the campsite in the late afternoon and relax for the rest of the day. 

Hike through the forest en route to Kilimanjaro’s moorland and enjoy the stunning variety of beautiful wildflowers. As the trail flattens out, take in your first views of Kibo Peak. After lunch, climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo’s lava flows filled up the Shira crater. Stop at Shira 1 Camp, where you will relax for the rest of the day.

This is an acclimatization day that allows you to take day hikes that explore the Shira Plateau. Look to the west at sunset, and you may catch a glimpse of the twin eruptions from the craters of Ol Donyio Lengai (The Mountain of God), an active volcano 100 kilometers distant.

Although this up-and-down day ends with an elevation gain of only 110 meters, by early afternoon you will have climbed 690 meters to a height of 4,530 meters before beginning your descent to Barranco Camp. This day is crucial for acclimatization. After breakfast, continue east on the Shira Plateau for two hours before reaching the junction for the Machame Route. Continue through the barren landscape for another thirty minutes before stopping for lunch. Shortly after lunch, reach the highest point of the day before descending quickly to Barranco Camp. From the high point, you can see the Lava Tower, a 300-foot lava formation jutting from the mountainside. Optional detour via Lava Tower. The descent to Barranco Camp will take you through a valley that is home to many unusual plants, including the Senecio Kilimanjari. Barranco Camp is considered to be the most scenic campsite on the route. It is set in a canyon among the forests of Senecio Kilimanjai, beneath the Heim glacier. From the campsite, enjoy magnificent views of Mount Meru, Heim Glacier, Kibo’s southern face, and the imposing Barranco Wall.

Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with an hour and a half of scrambling up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day, and in some places, you may have to use your hands to pull your body up. After reaching the top, hike through fairly level terrain before making a short but steep descent into the greener Karanga River Valley. Karanga Camp is located on the ridge above the river valley.

After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During the hike, you will pass the Heim, Kersten, and Decken glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through an alpine desert with little vegetation, there are stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks along the way. Try to go to sleep after finishing dinner, as you will need to wake up before midnight to start your summit ascent.

Due to the steep ascent at high altitude, this is the most challenging day of the ascent. Leave Barafu Camp early in the morning to begin your hike to the top of Kibo Crater. It is important to remember to snack during the ascent to keep up your energy. You will likely lose your appetite during the hike and begin to feel the effects of altitude sickness. After ascending Kibo's wall, hike to Crater Camp, the highest camp on Kilimanjaro. The camp is located inside Kilimanjaro's Kibo crater and offers stunning views of the surrounding glaciers. Some climbers choose to summit in the afternoon instead of the following morning.

At dawn, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The hike to the summit is slow, taking up to two hours to gain 180 meters. Reach Uhuru around 8 a.m. and take photos on the roof of Africa. Descend to Barafu Camp, where you'll eat brunch. At 1 p.m., continue to Mweka Camp, your final camp on Kilimanjaro.

After breakfast, complete the trek with a descent to Mweka Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro was a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery. Kilinge Adventures vehicles will be waiting at the lower station of Mweka Gate to take you back to the hotel in Moshi for a hot shower and a certificate celebration party.