7 Days Lemosho route
From the west, this route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro. It provides an opportunity to see the Shira Caldera and Shira Plateau (Cathedral peak). Shira Ridge to Shira 2 Camp is traversed by the pleasant Lemosho Route. Before the route connects to the Machame route, climbers encounter little traffic. The southern circuit, which includes Lava Tower, Barranco, and Barafu, is then followed by Lemosho along the same route as the Machame Route.
Seven days is the bare minimum needed for this route, but eight days is advised because it will give more opportunities to acclimatize and reach the summit. This is a spectacularly scenic and varied route, similar to Machame. A lot of wildlife can be found in Lemosho, including Colobus monkeys, various bird species, and small jackals that migrate there to forage during the dry season from the Longido game-controlled area.
Itinerary
Day 1: Moshi to Londorosi Gate to Big Tree Campsite.
We will pick you up from your hotel and transport you to Londorosi gate for registration, After registration, you will board the vehicle again and drive to Lemosho gate, From this point, you will start the trek across an undisturbed montane forest decorated with black and white colobus monkeys to the camp where dinner and overnight will take place.
Day 2: Big tree campsite to Shira one campsite
This is an acclimatization day because you will gain over 650m by starting walking across a beautiful valley outside the Shira caldera rim (3600m). After a few hours you will reach into Shira caldera. A high-altitude desert, Shira is one of the three peaks which erupted in the Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The peak collapsed and formed a crater which eventually became filled with the lava flow from Kibo peak. Its rim is eroded and blasted away by weather and volcanic action. Camp and overnight at 3500m elevation at the Shira one campsite.
Day 3: Shira one campsite to Shira two campsite
On this day you will trek east across the Shira plateau visiting (Cathedral peak 3850m) for acclimatization. Reaching at this peak you will find spectacular views of Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak. We then continue trekking to Shira two camp where you will stay for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Shira two campsite to Barranco campsite
This is a long acclimatization day. You will have an early breakfast then trek east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock 4600m for acclimatization. Afterwards, you will descend down to Barranco campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Barranco campsite to Karanga campsite
Today is a short day of trekking. In the morning you will start climbing the Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for hot lunch. After lunch, you will have a bit of rest and get another acclimatization of trekking up the scree hills towards the Southern ice field. You will then return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Karanga campsite to Barafu campsite
Today the trek up to the Barafu ridge campsite is difficult because of the altitude. The walk takes a few hours because of the short distance but is steep which required a slow pace to avoid fatigue. You will walk across an alpine desert with strong, cold winds blowing down from Kibo peak and its glaciers. You will have an early dinner at the elevation of 4620 meters then rest until midnight.
Day 7: Barafu hut campsite to Uhuru peak to Mweka hut campsite
Wake up at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Departure for the summit is at 12:00AM. switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim (5,861 m/18,640 ft) between 4 and 5 AM. At this point, you will be having views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snow takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak here you will spend time for taking photos. After your summit activities, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your gear, and continue down through the moorland and heath zone to Mweka Huts campsite. Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite.
Day 8: Mweka hut campsite to Mweka gate
Today is your last day on the mountain. After breakfast, you will descend down to mweka gate walking across the montane forest. This descent will take 3-4 hours. At the gate, you will sign out and board the vehicle, ready for the transfer back to your hotel for your certificate presentation and celebration.
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