LEMOSHO ROUTE CLIMBING KILIMANJARO

Mount Kilimanjaro stands on the East African plateau, on the Tanzanian side of the Kenya border, overshadowing its smaller sister volcano, Mount Meru. Mount Kilimanjaro is deemed to be a dormant volcano, created during the formation of the Great Rift Valley in the Pleistocene era.

Kilimanjaro National Park comprises all of the mountain above the tree line. The name 'Kilimanjaro' has varying interpretations, from "Mountain of Greatness", Mountain of Whiteness", "Mountain of Caravans", and "Small Mountain of Caravans" which are all names derived from the Swahili, or Chagga dialects. In addition, there is a word in Swahili, “kilima” which means top of the hill. An additional claim is that it comes from the word "kilemakyaro" in the Chagga language, meaning "impossible journey".

Lemosho Glades Route heads up through an unspoilt, remote, seldom-used trail up to the Shira Plateau. The route is one of the few where an armed ranger accompanies groups, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades have resident wild animals. While the glades used to be teeming with game, sadly, there is a lot less than there were ten years ago.  You will note that on the Lemosho route, you start at a higher altitude than what you end on.

Lemosho Route itinerary

Day 1: Arrive

Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 2: Lemosho Glades (2200m) to Mkubwa Camp (2750m): After breakfast, we head out on a 5 hour drive to the Londorossi Park Gate at 2200mAfter completing park formalities, we drive for a further 11km to the Lemosho Glades at 200m. From here, we trek about 3 hours to the camp site.

DAY 3: Mkubwa Camp (2750m) to Shira Camp 1(3500m): After breaking camp, we begin the hike up towards Shira Camp 1. located near a stream. We head through moorland shrub taking in view of Mt Meru in the distance.

DAY 4: Shira (3840m)- Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m): After breakfast, you will quickly leave the moorland scrub behind and enter into a moonscape of semi-alpine desert, while you hike constantly upwards toward Lava Tower. At around 4200m, you may start to feel the effects of altitude with shortness of breath and irritability, assuming it had not taken effect earlier on the climb.  After Lava Tower , your route will head down by almost 680m to the Barranco camping. This is the day where you will follow the principle of climb high and sleep low. 

DAY 5: Barranco Camp (3860m) to Barafu Camp (4550m): Early morning, you will head up the impressive Great Barranco Wall. This will bring you out below Heim Glacier. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over several ridges and valleys where you will see the magnificent giant Senecio Kilimanjari plant . You will then join up with your later descent route where you will head left up the ridge for another hour, before reaching Barafu Hut. The summit is a further 1345m up. 

DAY 6: Barafu camp (4550m)- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m): You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you will head off 'pole pole' into the night. Heading in a North westerly direction you will ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point (5685) on the crater rim. The hike up is about 6 hours and is for many climbers, the most mentally and physically challenging part of the entire route.  From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. 

Then, you will head back to Barafu, in about 2 hours where you will have a chance to rest before heading down towards Mweka hut (3100m).  The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. 

DAY 7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m): After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Mweka gate you will have to sign your name and details in a register in order to receive you summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will meet up with your team and bus, and head back to the hotel a long over due hot shower.

Day 8: Depart

After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight home.

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FOR A MAP OF THE DIFFERENT ROUTES GO HERE: KILIMANJARO ROUTE MAP