Lemosho Route – Climb Kilimanjaro – 6 days

The Lemosho Glades Route is an alternative way to ascend up to the Shira Plateau. This very long route (7 days) gives you 2 different options to reach Uhuru Peak from the Shira Plateau. You can take the more challenging way via the Western Breach, Arrow Glacier route, or you can choose the Machame route down to Barranco camp and up to Barafu hut. The second way is more appropriate for acclimatisation. The Lemosho Glades Route gives you great opportunities of spotting animals such as elephants and buffaloes. On the first day the climbers need to be accompanied by an armed ranger.

Day 1 – Start of Machame Route at Lemosho Glades (2100m) – Big Tree Camp (2780m)

During your journey you will pass the town of Boma N’gombe and the village of Sanya Juu. There is also the last opportunity to some grocery shopping. The rest of the road is quite bumpy up to the gate.

Walking distance: approximately 7 km

Duration: approximately 3 hours

Altitudes Lemosho Glades (2100m) – Big Tree Camp (2780m)

Vegetation zone: Ascent in the rainforest zone

On the first day of your Kilimanjaro climb you will be picked up after breakfast from your hotel and transferred to Londorossi Gate. During your journey you will pass the town of Boma N’gombe and the village of Sanya Juu. There is also the last opportunity to some grocery shopping. The rest of the road is quite bumpy up to the gate.

There the usual paperwork is done and after a picnic you start the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. You need about. 3 hours of walking to reach your today’s goal. The trail leads you mostly through rain forest, past large tree roots and lush nature. By late afternoon, you reach the camp and get your dinner.

Day 2 – Big Tree Camp (2780m) – Shira Camp 2 (3900m)

The route takes you like the day before up- and downhill, along a narrow path, past Erica trees slowly over 3000 meters. From this point there is still an altitude of 600 meters left to reach the Shira Plateau.

Walking distance: approximately 14 km

Duration: approximately 7-8 hours

Altitudes Big Tree Camp (2780m) – Shira Camp 2 (3900m)

Vegetation zone: Ascent in heath – moorland

After breakfast in the morning you leave the Mti Mkubwa camp. Already after 30 minutes, the nature transformed into a heath and moorland. If the weather is good you will have wonderful views over Mount Meru.

The route takes you like the day before up- and downhill, along a narrow path, past Erica trees slowly over 3000 meters. From this point there is still an altitude of 600 meters left to reach the Shira Plateau. The nature here is dominated by Erica plants, Philippia bushes and rocks. Allow yourself a little rest and enjoy the most beautiful view. Once you have reached the Shira Ridge, the slope gets less and you will reach the Shira Camp 1 for lunch.

After lunch get ready for the last 400 meters of the day. You have now arrived in the lava landscape, a silent witness of the once active volcano of Mount Kilimanjaro. The landscape is changing again for the alpine desert where the wind whistles around your head. About an hour before you reach your goal for the day you get to very interesting field formations and last Erica plants. From now on, you can only pass by the famous giant herbs and a short time later discover your camp on the horizon.

After 8 hours of walking you will be rewarded with a magnificent sunset over Mount Meru. Also that night you will be served a delicious dinner

Day 3 – Shira Camp 2 (3900m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

The path runs through a black lava desert past millions of heavy rocks. Some of them remind us of cairns. The route is well passable. On Lavatower at an altitude of 4430 meters you have reached your altitude goal for today.

Walking distance: approximately 10 km

Duration: approximately 6-7 hours

Altitudes Shira Camp 2 (3900m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

Vegetation zone: Ascend in Moorland / alpine desert

Use this day for acclimatization.

During the ascend and descent past the LavaTower you do a total of about 1300 meters, but you will only sleep 100 meters higher than the previous day. After breakfast you start your 3rd stage. First trek south of the Shira / Lemosho route. The path runs through a black lava desert past millions of heavy rocks. Some of them remind us of cairns. The route is well passable.

On Lavatower at an altitude of 4430 meters you have reached your altitude goal for today. It is very quiet up here, so you can hear your own heartbeat and the wind in your ears. During the lunch break you can glimpse the snowline above the Lavatower and the temperatures are very close to freezing point. After lunch break move on to Barranco Valley. The path runs along the mountain range over the Kibo Circuit.

Slowly the stonedesert disappears and along the way you find again the typical giants cross herbs, as well as heath and moorland. After about 7 hours you reach your destination. From the Barranco Camp you can see the Great Barranco Wall, the Western Breach of Kibo, the window and the south glacier. In the evening sun occurres a wonderful play of colors. The evening is similar to the evening of yesterday.

Day 4 – Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4250m)

Behind the wall a barren and rocky plateau is waiting for you. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Kibo and the three southern glaciers. The path then continues on gravel and sand through the rocky moors. Again and again you will pass streams, pastures and giant stone cross herbs.

Walking distance: approximately 6 km

Duration: approximately 3-4 hours

Altitudes Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4250m)

Vegetation zone: Ascend in the Alpine desert

After breakfast the first big challenge is waiting for you. You have to climb over the Great Barranco Wall. Therefore it is a good idea to start early to avoid a traffic jam at the wall. You will need about 1 to 1,5 hours to climb the Great Barranco Wall. Behind the wall a barren and rocky plateau is waiting for you. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Kibo and the three southern glaciers.

The path then continues on gravel and sand through the rocky moors. Again and again you will pass streams, pastures and giant stone cross herbs. After 2-3hours you reach the Karanga Camp at an altitude of 4250 meters. As you climb up hill after hill, you have a good outlook at the upcoming route. At the camp enjoy your lunch. Use the rest of the day to rest.

Day 5 – Karanga Camp (4250m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

The Barafu camp is a challenge for the entire crew. There are only a few flat areas to put the tents. The rest of the day you spend with a snack and the dinner. Then you should go to bed as early as possible to get enough sleep for the upcoming summit climb.

Walking distance: approximately 3-4km

Duration: approximately 6 hours

Altitudes Karanga Camp (4250m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

Vegetation zone: Ascend in the Alpine desert

After breakfast start ascending to Barafu Camp (4640m). The first still existing moorland slowly disappears and the landscape becomes rocky. Stones and boulders dominate the landscape. The Barafu camp is a challenge for the entire crew. There are only a few flat areas to put the tents. The rest of the day you spend with a snack and the dinner. Then you should go to bed as early as possible to get enough sleep for the upcoming summit climb.

Day 6 – Summit Day: Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Accompanied by the first rays of the day you pass the Rebmann Glacier and move to the Hans Meyer Point. During sunrise occurs an amazing play of light across the ice formations.

Walking distance: approximately 19 km

Duration: approximately 14-16 hours

Altitudes Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Night ascend to the summit and then descend to Mweka Camp.

After a short night wake up at midnight and take a small snack and then start for the final part of your ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. Together with your guide you will step into the freezing cold and silent night. Step by step the path leads steeply up and over boulders to reach the crater rim after 5-6 hours, and thus the Stella Point, at an altitude of 5740m. From here there are only 150 meters left to reach your goal.

Accompanied by the first rays of the day you pass the Rebmann Glacier and move to the Hans Meyer Point. During sunrise occurs an amazing play of light across the ice formations. Soon you can see the summit sign of Mount Kilimanjaro and then you have actually done it. Congratulations you have reached the highest point of Africa. At an altitude of 5895 meters, you will be rewarded with a fabulous view of the hardships and you can proudly make the typical summit picture. After a short break, the descent is made along the crater rim back to Stella Point and further down to the Rebmann Glacier. The descent is via the same route as the ascent back to Barafu Camp.

There, a hot lunch is waiting for you. After that you will go further down to Mweka Camp. The vegetation is of increasing interest and in the late afternoon you will reach your camp. The rest of the day is to relax and gather strength.

Day 7 – Descend: Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka-Gate (1680m)

Your last day of the Kilimanjaro climb begins with a good breakfast. There is one last souvenir photo of the whole team before your way towards Mweka Gate continues.

Walking distance: approximately 10 km

Duration: approximately 3-4 hours

Altitudes Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka-Gate (1680m)

Vegetation zone: Descent through moorland and rain forest

Walking time: 3-4 hours for 10 kilometers with an altitude difference of 1400m

Your last day of the Kilimanjaro climb begins with a good breakfast. There is one last souvenir photo of the whole team before your way towards Mweka Gate continues. The route is a well-developed forest road and in the second half it is mainly characterized by rain forest. After 10 kilometers you will reach the Mweka Gate. Your driver is already there waiting for you and transfers you back to your hotel.

At the end of the tour your guide will present to you a more than earned certificate for your Kilimanjaro climb. Transfer back to Arusha. Dinner and overnight at Pamoja Expeditions Lodge.