10 Days Kilimanjaro Hike Via Lemosho Route

Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 6km
Habitat: Rainforest
After breakfast you will be picked up from the Hotel at around 8:30 am and transferred to Londorossi Gate, where you will complete entry formalities. After here, you will drive approximately one hour to the Lemosho trail head. Upon arrival, eat lunch and then start the 3-4 hour trek through forest to the first camp. Overnight at Forest Camp (Mti Mkubwa Camp).

Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 8km
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, leave the camp and make your way out of the forest. You will take a steep track into a savanna of tall grasses, heather (ornamental plant), and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards (tree moss). Ascend through the lush rolling hills below the Shiru Plateau, finally reaching camp at the edge of the plateau where you can see a view of Kibo Peak.

Hiking time: 3-4 hours (without optional excursions)
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Moorland
After an early breakfast, embark on a full-day exploration of the Shira Plateau. Trek east toward Kibo’s Glacier Peak, with the option to visit the ancient collapsed Shira cone, the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes.
Arrive at Fischer’s Camp for the night.

Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 15km
Habitat: Semi desert

After breakfast, trek upwards for approximately four hours over expansive ridgelines of high desert reaching the Lava Tower in time for lunch. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a valley enclosed on three sides with the massive valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers can be seen glistening above among a landscape of fascinating plants.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5km
Habitat: Alpine desert
This is a short trekking day but proven to be important for acclimatization. The day begins after breakfast with a scramble up the steep “Barranco Wall” then traversing up and down the slopes of valleys which have carved their way into the mountain’s southern face. Kibo’s glaciers are above on your left while the peaks of Mawenzi jut into the sky straight ahead. Reach Karanga Camp after 3-4 hours of trekking for a hot lunch and an afternoon of relaxation.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 4km
Habitat: Alpine desert
This trekking day is difficult but important. After breakfast, you will head out on the trail that ascends steadily uphill. The temperature is colder and the landscape sparse. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge which acts as a base camp for which you will make your summit attempt at midnight. Eat and drink copious amounts of water before retiring early in preparation of your midnight summit attempt.

Hiking time: 8-9 hours ascent/4-6 hours descent
Distance: 5km ascent/12km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped
You will receive a midnight wake-up call and a steaming hot drink to start your 12-15 hours of trekking! The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight then -12 degrees Celsius to -23 degrees Celsius just before dawn at the summit. After about 5 hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater; Stella Point (5790m) on the crater rim is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gentle slope about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak which climbers find to be extremely difficult but monumental to complete! After a short time at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu camp for some rest, then summon your strength again for further descent to Mweka Camp for the night.

Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Rainforest
Descend straight to the gate which will be a 3-4-hour trek. Upon arrival, you will enjoy lunch. Afterward, you will be awarded climbing certificates. Your driver will then pick you up and drive you to Arusha. Check in to your hotel for Dinner and an overnight stay.

Today you will be picked up and transferred to the Kilimanjaro Airport for your outbound flight back home.