Mount Kilimanjaro on Lemosho Route

Your guided Kilimanjaro trek starts today! Get picked up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport and return to Moshi town, where you will check-in to your hotel. You will also meet your guide today and be briefed on the 7-day Lemosho route, meet other guests and check your gear to make sure you are ready. Anything that you might be missing, can be rented here on this day.

Start your trek up Kilimanjaro with a transfer to the Lemosho Gate on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro. Complete park formalities and start the trek through the forests of the Lemosho Glades. You will soon reach the Big Tree Camp, where you will be spending the night.

Today is a big day of trekking on the Lemosho Route, as the spectacular route crosses a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Along the way, you will have great views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. You will gain a significant amount of altitude heading to Shira 2 Camp, and some parts of the route are quite steep. As you approach Shira 2 you will get a view of the Northern Ice Fields and some unusual views of Kibo.

Today is a great day for acclimatization, as you will gain a lot of elevation, but sleep at roughly the same elevation. You should have panoramic views as you gain elevation and enter the upland desert and then on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach Lava Tower at 4,640m, the highpoint for the day, before a steep descent into the Great Barranco Valley, where you will sleep at Barranco Camp. You will reach a high point of 4,600m on today’s trek, so you will be feeling the altitude, though by sleeping low it will help your body to get used to the altitude.

Today you start by descending in the into the Great Barranco ravine, after which you come upon a steep path known as the Great Barranco Wall. This part of the Lemosho route involves some tiring, but not overly technical terrain. You will pass under the Kersten and Heim glaciers and head towards the Karanga Valley, the last stop for fresh water on route before the summit. You will stay at the Karanga Camp, however, for those feeling strong, there will be a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4,200m before descending back to the camp for the night.

Today’s trek is short, only 3 km to nearby Barafu camp, which is at 4,640m. Though only 3 km, it is also 625m of elevation gain, so it’s a steep trek today. You will cross barren scree slopes that will leave you tired, as at this altitude ascending is very tough. You’ll arrive in camp early, and enjoy a rest and a lot of eating, as tomorrow the main ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro begins.

Today you should summit Mount Kilimanjaro. You will start trekking at around midnight in order to arrive at the crater rim around sunrise. The route will head steeply up towards the summit glaciers. Expect to climb for 4-5 hours on a steady and steep path. If all goes well, you will arrive at Stella Point (5,739 m) on the crater rim with the first rays of sunlight. The views from within the crater are spectacular. It will take one more hour to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro - Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Return from the summit of Kilimanjaro back past Stella Point all the way to Barafu Camp for a well-earned. Later in the day continue down to Millennium Camp.

This is the last trekking day on this guided tour on the Lemosho route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Today is a gentle day compared to yesterday, as you walk down through a rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you exit the park. Meet the vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you will enjoy a shower and probably a cold beer or two, before a big celebration.

Today it’s all up to you and what time your flight leaves. If you have time, you can explore the town of Moshi and find some souvenirs to commemorate your summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Consider sparing an hour of your time to help our environmental conservation efforts by planting a tree in the Kilimanjaro region.