Kilimanjaro 7 Days Lemosho Route

Day 1: Arrival Day

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a Nature Horizons team member will be waiting to greet you. We will transfer you to your hotel accommodation for your first night, where you will meet your safari guide that you will be with for the remainder of your tour. Once you are settled in your hotel, you will receive a briefing on our tour. You can now relax at your hotel. Your trek to the roof of Africa starts tomorrow! As always, if you need anything or would like to head out into town, your guide will be there to assist you 24/7. Welcome to Africa!

Day 2: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Londorossi Gate, Hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp

After breakfast and the briefing, we will drive to Londorossi Park Gate (about a three-hour drive). From here, a forest road requiring a 4WD vehicle will lead us to Lemosho Glades, where we will walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

• Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft
• Distance: 6km/4mi
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest
• Meals: LD
• Budget Lodging: Mti Mkubwa Camp.

Day 3: Hike Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 2 Camp

After breakfast, we will continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed, we will continue over the Shira Ridge past the Shira 1 camp and on to the Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.

• Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3850m/12,600ft
• Distance: 16km/10mi
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
• Habitat: Moorland
• Meals: BLD
• Budget Lodging: Shira 2 Camp.

Day 4: Hike Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp

From the Shira Plateau, we will continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast toward Lava Tower, also called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elevation: 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction, which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is crucial for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

• Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
• Distance: 8km/5mi
• Walking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Semi-desert
• Meals: BLD
• Budget Lodging: Barranco Camp.

Day 5: Hike Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

After breakfast, we will leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.

• Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
• Distance: 5km/3mi
• Hiking Time: 34 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: BLD
• Budget Lodging: Karanga Valley Camp.

Day 6: Hike Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

We will continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we will make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

• Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
• Distance: 4km/2mi
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: BLD
• Budget Lodging: Barafu Camp.

Day 7: Hike Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we will continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. We will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your one-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

From the summit, we will begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We will arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

• Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
• Down to 3090m/10,150ft
• Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
• Meals: BLD
• Budget Lodging: Mweka Camp.

Day 8: Hike Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Moshi

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

From the gate, we will continue for another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters.

• Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
• Distance: 10km/6mi
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Forest
• Meals: B

Day 9: Departure Day

Today is the day that you say goodbye to your team. Congratulations, you just hiked the highest freestanding mountain on planet Earth and the tallest mountain in Mama Africa. Nature Horizons could not be happier that we lead you to the top. You will remember these memories for the rest of your life. Upon waking up today, your guide will be with you until you need to leave for Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Price includes:

• Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your Accommodations in Moshi.
• 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi
• Transportation to and from the Kilimanjaro gate
• Park entry fees
• Camping fees
• Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
• Oxygen cylinder
• 18% VAT on tour fees & services
• All camping equipment
• Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook, and porters
• 3 hot meals a day while on the mountain
• Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
• Hot water for washing
• Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO) Government taxes
• Ox meter
• Emergency first-aid kit

Price Excludes:

• Lunches, dinners, and drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
• Travel insurance
• Flights
• Laundry (Available at the hotel)
• Personal items and toiletries
• Tips for guides, porters, and cook