Lemosho Route:

This is one of two routes that approach Kilimanjaro from the far west side. It takes a long and lightly traveled  route across the Shira plateau to approach the base of Kibo. The trek on the Lemosho Route starts a few thousand feet lower in elevation than the neighboring Shira Route, and is thought to be the better for the sake of altitude acclimatization.

Our climb up Mt. KILIMANJARO is a rugged trek to the top of Africa - UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft.) in Tanzania.  With us, you can climb of six either different route - We recommend this route Lemosho Glades due to over crowd on other routes. These are few of the most dramatic routes up Kilimanjaro and are rarely used. Only 9% of the people climbing Kilimanjaro use these routes.  85% use the over-used Marangu route and Machame route.  The last 6% climb the technical routes.  Lemosho is a day longer than Machame, and takes us through wildlife habitat. We sometimes see elephant and buffalo, among other types of game.  For this reason, we take a game ranger with us. On both these routes, we traverse some of Kilimanjaro most striking and least traveled landscapes, including the base of Kibo Peak’s dramatic south-facing glaciers. On all our routes we camp in MEM's rugged mountain tents every night, and dine on great meals prepared by our guides

 The overall height difference between Lemosho Gate, National Park entrance and the summit of Uhuru peak is 4200 meters (13,776 ft) and the distance is In all a good 68 km (42.50 miles) trek with the bonus of an ascent of one of the worlds finest 5000 meter peaks

Arrival:
Stage 1 : Arrival in Tanzania

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport on date …………….Flight # ………Arrive at ……..am/pm you will be picked up with our representative from Kilimanjaro International Airport strait to the Hotel where you will spend a night before trek begins on the next day. You will have the opportunity to go over any last minute questions. At this point you will also have the chance to leave a bag behind with anything you don't need on the trekking. Your left-behind gear will be secured at the storage room and will meet you as soon as you back from Safari. Stay overnight at Hotel Bed and Breakfast. (Accommodation will be accordingly to the choice of Category.)

Stage 2:
LONDOROSSI GATE to MTI MKUBWA (8,692 ft.)

• Hike time: 3hrs, Elevation Change + 650 m (2,132 ft)

• Estimation distance: 10 km ( 6 miles)  Final Elevation 2650 m (8,692 ft.)

A three-hour drive from our Hotel in Machame brings us to the Londorossi Park Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate, we pick up our game ranger who will accompany us, as we might encounter elephants and buffaloes during our trek. We drive to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades and start our trek through the rain forest. In places, the vegetation is so untouched that it grows right across the narrow track. The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rain forest. Our trek today will be along a little used track known as Chamber's Route. In about 3-4 hours, we reach our camp in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).

Stage 3:
MTI MKUBWA to SHIRA ONE CAMP (11,841 ft.)

• Hike time: 5 – 6 hrs, Elevation change + 950 m (3,116 ft)

• Estimation distance: 12 km (7.5 miles) Final Elevation 3,610 m (11,841 ft)

After breakfast, we start the climb cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone. Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is One, a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch, we cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau that is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. Today you will get your first close views of Kibo - the dramatic summit of Kilimanjaro.

Stage 4:
SHIRA ONE CAMP to SHIRA TWO CAMP (12,628 ft.)

• Hike time: 5 to 6 hrs Elevation change: + 240 m (787 ft)

• Elevation distance: 5 km ( 3 miles) Final elevation: 3,850 m (12,628 ft)

After breakfast continue hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira Two camp. We only gain 700 feet in elevation – this allows us to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular

Stage 5:
SHIRA TWO CAMP to BARRANCO HUT (12,956 ft.)

• Hike time: 5 hrs, Elevation change: +100 m (328 ft)

• Estimated distance: 6 km (4 miles)  Final elevation: 3950 m (12.956 ft)

Today is the last of the "easy days". It is about a 7-hour superb hike. We pass the Lava Tower, around the southern flank of Kibo, and slowly descend into the spectacular Barranco Valley, interspersed with giant lobelia and senecia plants. After arriving at our most spectacular campsite, everyone stands in awe at the foot of Kibo Peak, looming high above, on our left. Our camp is only 465 feet higher than where we were last night, but during the day,  we will have climbed to just over 14,000 feet. This is one of our most valuable days for acclimatization.

• Hike time: 3.5 hrs, Elevation change: +240 M (787 ft)

• Estimated distance: 4km (2.5 miles), Maximum elevation: 4190 m (13,743 ft)

• Final elevation: 4000 M

The fifth day starts with the ascent of the Barranco Wall, which is considered a scramble in climbing terms. The top of the Wall has attractive vistas of Kibo and the surrounding landscape. The trail continues with many up and down sections across small streams and rivulets, and finally crosses the Karanga River to the Karanga campsite.

Stage 6:
KARANGA TO BARAFU CAMP (15,088 ft.)

• Hike time: 3.5 hrs, Elevation changes: +410 M (1,345 ft)

• Estimated distance: 4km (2.5 miles), Final elevation: 4600 m (15,088 ft)

The Sixth day follows the path up and across a rocky zone, finishing at the high camp Barafu. Very little vegetation can be found on the inhospitable terrain. A field of sedimentary rocks litters the ground like many broken mirrors. (Note - the 6 day trek omits the Karanga campsite, and climbers continue directly to Barafu on the same day.)

 Stage 7:
 BARAFU to UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft.) to MWEKA CAMP (9,550 ft.)

SUMMIT DAY!  

• Summit time: 7 hrs, Elevation change: +1300 m (4,264 ft)

• Estimated distance: 5km (3 miles), Final elevation: 5896 m (19,340 ft)

• Descent time: 5 hrs, Elevation change: -2800 m (-9,184 ft)

• estimated distance: 12km, Final elevation: 3100 m (9,550 ft)

The summit is usually attempted on the very early morning of the Seventh day (around midnight). Barafu is also used as a summit campsite for the Umbwe route. Climbers typically take somewhere between 5-7 hours to ascend, using headlamps and cold weather gear. The first milestone is Stella Point (18,652 ft/5,685 m), which is on the crater rim. Following Stella Point, the trail continues for another 30 mins to the summit - Uhuru Peak. The descent back to Barafu takes roughly 4 hours. Some climbers 'scree slide' down the slope, which entails skidding/running down the loose gravel at medium speed. From Barafu, climbers typically take a short break, and continue downwards through the alpine desert and ensuing moorlands to Mweka Camp.

Stage 8:
MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE - MOSHI

• Descent time: 4 hrs, Elevation change: -1250 m (4,100 ft)

• Estimated distance: 10km (6 miles), Final elevation: 1828 m(5,996ft)

The Eighth day and final day has trekkers continue through the montane forest to Mweka gate. Troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys can often

Land costs include:

• All night in hotel accommodations  (double occupancy) B&B
• All transportation in Tanzania for those on the regular (official) schedule  
• All group equipment for the climb All meals (Unless indicated on Schedule) B&B – Bed and Breakfast / BLD – Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• All park fees and climbing permits for participants and staff

Land costs do not include

•  International round-trip airfare to Tanzania International visas for Tanzania

• Meals and hotels outside the regular itinerary

• Excess-luggage charges and airport taxes

• Personal gear   

• Single-room supplement for hotels  

• Medical/Evacuation trip insurance  Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of Moshi Expedition

• Tips and gratuities