9 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route – Group Climb

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our representative will be waiting to welcome you. You will then be transferred to Maridadi Hotel, where you can relax and recover from your flight. If you are already in Tanzania, we can also arrange pickup around Moshi / Arusha and transfer you to Maridadi Hotel, where the tour will begin. In the evening, you will meet your mountain guide for a detailed briefing. He will go over the itinerary, provide important tips, and advise you on what to wear and pack to ensure a safe and comfortable climb.

In the morning, your guide will help you check your trekking gear to ensure everything is in order. If there is anything you don’t have, you will have the opportunity to rent it beforehand. After meeting the crew, you will be transferred to the Lemosho Gate, located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. Following the registration process, you will begin your climb, steadily trekking through the forests of the Lemosho Glades until you reach Big Tree Camp, where you will spend the night. Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi Approx. time taken: 4 hours

Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as we head toward our destination which is Shira 2.. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude as we head towards Shira 1 and parts of the route are fairly steep. As you proceed towards Shira 2 you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Distance covered: 16.5km / 10.3mi Approx. time taken: 9 – 11 hrs

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below. Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi Approx. time taken: 7 hrs

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night. Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi Approx. time taken: 5 hours

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit. Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi Approx. time taken: 3 hours

We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing the screen for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views of the jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on a steep slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest. Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a hot welcome shower. Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi Approx. time taken: 6 hours

Today marks the end of your unforgettable adventure. Enjoy your final moments in Tanzania before our driver transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your journey home. If you wish to extend your holiday, we can arrange an exciting safari in Tanzania’s national parks or a relaxing beach getaway in Zanzibar to complement your Kilimanjaro experience.