Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route is one of our preferred routes due to its low traffic, beautiful scenery and high summit success rate. It starts on the Western side of Mount Kilimanjaro at the Londorossi Gate and was introduced as an alternative to the Shira Route which begins at a higher, more challenging altitude. The Lemosho route joins the Machame route at Shira 2 Camp and then follows the same route through the southern circuit. Most trekkers complete the Lemosho Route in 8 days which is preferred for better acclimatization and summit success.; however, it can be offered in seven or 6 days treks.
Details
A three-hour drive from your hotel in Machame brings us to the Londorossi Park Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate, we pick up our game ranger who will accompany us, as we might encounter elephants and buffaloes during our trek. We drive to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades and start our trek through the rainforest. In places, the vegetation is so untouched that it grows right across the narrow track. The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rainforest. Our trek will be along a little-used track known as Chamber’s Route. In about 3-4 hours, we reach our camp in the rainforest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, we start the climb across the remaining rainforest toward the giant moorland zone. Today is a full-day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is at a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch, we cross into the Shira Caldera, a high-altitude desert plateau that is rarely visited. Shira is the third of the Kilimanjaro volcanic cones and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. You will get your first close view of Kibo – the dramatic summit of Kilimanjaro.
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast continue to hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira 2 camp. We only gain 700 feet in elevation – this allows us to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular.
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is the last of the “easy days”. It is about a 7-hour hike. We pass the Lava Tower, around the southern flank of Kibo, and slowly descend into the spectacular Barranco Valley, interspersed with giant lobelia and Seneca plants. After arriving at our most spectacular campsite, everyone stands in awe at the foot of Kibo Peak, looming high above, on our left. Our camp is only 465 feet higher than where we were last night, but during the day, we will have climbed to just over 14,000 feet. This is one of our most valuable days for acclimatization.
Trekking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
On the eastern side of the valley, across the stream is the Barranco Wall-a 950ft. barrier of volcanic rock. Although it is tall and looks steep, it is very easy to climb. This is our first challenge of the day. The views from the wall are nothing less than magnificent. The rest of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo Peak over our left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up to Barafu hut.
Trekking time: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
First thing, you will be making a steep hike out of the valley. The air starts getting quite thin, and you will be running short of breath. It is a tough, but rewarding uphill to the rocky, craggy slopes at the camp. Barafu means ice in Swahili, and it is extremely cold at this altitude. So, go to bed early because we will be waking you at midnight for the final leg to Uhuru Peak.
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Dress warmly, because we start climbing around midnight, on the steepest and most demanding part of the mountain. The moon, if out, will provide enough light, and we will reach the crater rim by sunrise, after a 7-hour hike, to welcome a new dawn. From the crater rim, rugged Mawenzi Peak is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle still in darkness beneath you, and the crater’s ice walls looming ahead. We now continue to UhuruPeak(1-2hrs.) This is the highest point in Africa, and the world’s highest solitary peak (19,340 ft). It is the best view in Africa!
The descent is invigorating. It is a good idea to have a little rest once in a while as you continue down back to Barafu camp (4 hours), and then down the Mweka route to Mweka camp(5 hours). This is where we spend our last night on the mountain.
Trekking time: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Final elevation 1828 M in the morning, we walk down to the road head. This takes about 3 – 31/2 hours. After a welcome lunch, it is time to say “kwaheri” to the porters. We then get a transfer back to your hotel.
Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
