Kilimanjaro Conquest

LEMOSHO ROUTE
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
KILIMANJARO CLIMB ITINERARY

This route is extremely beautiful and has a high success rate. It is one of our favourite routes because it offers a great balance of high summit success rate, scenic views and low traffic.

It starts on the Western side of Mount Kilimanjaro at the Londorossi Gate. The Londorossi Gate is a fair drive from the town of Moshi, and considerably further from Arusha. The western side of Kilimanjaro is still very wild and you may get lucky and spot large antelope, buffalo and maybe even elephant.

Advantages:
- Considered the most beautiful or scenic
- Excellent acclimatization opportunities
- Allows 'climb high sleep low' for better acclimatization - High success rate of summiting

Day 1

Arrive at your hotel in time for an early evening briefing on the trek, dinner and overnight.

Day 2

This morning you will drive from Moshi to the Lemosho gate, taking approximately 3 hours. Here you will complete entry formalities. From the gate your drive continues for around 1 hour to the Lemosho trailhead along a 4WD track. Upon arrival at the trailhead you will eat lunch and then commence trekking through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys.

Overnight at (2,800m / 9,100ft) 

Day 3

Today your trek will begin in the forest; however you will soon leave this ecosystem behind taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock. This is a full day ascending through the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones. The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira 2 Camp. Today is one of your longest hiking days. Overnight at (3,800m / 12,500ft).

Day 4

The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours. This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic plug. From here, begin a steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants which actually look like trees, the scenecios. Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day. Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall. Overnight at (4,550m / 14,900ft)

Day 5

After breakfast, we leave Barranco Camp and begin our climb up the Barranco Wall. This is an impressive scramble where you will be rewarded with fantastic views back towards camp. On a clear day there are spectacular views of Kibo to your left and Mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karranga Valley your climb takes you up a short steep path to Karranga Camp. Overnight (4,200m / 13,800ft)

Day 6

Today you will spend the morning climbing steadily on to Barafu, which is Swahili for ice! This camp is located on the ridge below the summit cone. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. This walk will take around 3 hours meaning that you will arrive at Barafu in time to spend the afternoon resting and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for the summit climb. Overnight 4,600m / 15,100ft)

Day 7

In the early hours of the morning you will begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes. Just when you think you've had enough of climbing in the dark the sun will rise and you will be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point (5,750m) you join the crater rim. From here, climb less steeply to Uhuru Peak which is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit the descent will take you straight down to Mweka Camp, with lunch served on the way. Later in the evening enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Uhuru Peak (5,895m / 19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m / 10,200ft)

Day 8

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest, looking for monkeys along the way. Return to Moshi from Mweka Village.
Transfer to Moshi / Arusha