8 Days Lemosho Route + Crater Stay
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- 8 Days Lemosho Route + Crater Stay
Route Overview & Introduction
The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. Most of the clients climb Kilimanjaro using lemosho route and their feedback on this route is excellent.
We highly recommend the Lemosho route to our clients. The climb begins at Londorossi Gate at an altitude of 2360 metres, with an approach far to the west of the mountain. It then circles around Kilimanjaro to the south, passing through the majestic rainforest where some of the region’s most unique wildlife can often be seen. The route continues up to the mountain’s third summit at Shira Ridge.
About Crater Camp on Kilimanjaro
Crater camp is not a route in its own right but a challenging extension which in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers. The time period depends on the route. Camping at the crater is a bit expensive since it’s charged extra by park authority and also the crew wages are paid in extra.
DAY 1 ARRIVAL
All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will meet your local representative and have a full pre-climb briefing.
- Transport: Private transfer (0.8 hour, 40 km)
- Accommodation: Hotel
DAY 2 LEMOSHO GATE TO MTI MKUBWA CAMP
4WD transfer to Lemosho Park Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent along the forest trail to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite at 2895m. We will stay here overnight.
- Transport: 1.7 hours, 80 km
- Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
- Ascent: 535 m
- Max. altitude: 2895 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 3 MTI MKUBWA CAMP TO SHIRA 1 CAMP
Our journey continues eastwards across the Shira Plateau with spectacular views of Shira Cathedral. We cross moorland meadow to reach Shira 1 Camp for dinner and overnight camping at 3500m. By now we will be able to see the stunning glaciers of the Western Breach. It will be colder tonight than the previous night with temperatures possibly falling below freezing.
- Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
- Ascent: 605 m
- Max. altitude: 3500 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 4 SHIRA 1 CAMP TO MOIR HUT
We leave the forest behind now and the trail gets steeper as it enters the moorland zone. A gentle grade walk takes you across the high altitude Shira Caldera to Moir Hut with fabulous views of Arrow glacier. We will camp here for the night at 4200m.
- Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
- Ascent: 700 m
- Max. altitude: 4200 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 5 MOIR HUT TO BARRANCO CAMP VIA LAVA TOWER
Today we will climb up to 4600m to the base of Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization. This will be our toughest day so far and you may, for the first time, feel the altitude. After lunch we will descend again by almost 650m to Barranco Camp, following the “walk high, sleep low” golden rule of acclimatisation. Our descent to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.
- Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
- Ascent: 400 m
- Descent: 650 m
- Max. altitude: 4600 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 6 BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP
A short but fun day, starting with a scramble to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. We then traverse over scree to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. We will stay overnight at Karanga campsite.
- Hiking time: 4 hours
- Ascent: 260 m
- Descent: 280 m
- Max. altitude: 4210 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 7 KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
We leave Karanga campsite behind to meet the junction connecting with the Mweka descent trail. From here we continue up to Barafu Camp. You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. At camp, we can rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be clearly seen from this position.
- Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
- Ascent: 670 m
- Max. altitude: 4600 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 8 BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO CRATER CAMP
You will be woken around 07:00. We start our trek to the summit between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers through heavy scree up to Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. At Stella Point (5732m), we will stop for a short rest. We are now only an hour away from the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. After celebrating with a few summit photos, we begin our descent into Kibo Crater to camp for the night. The scenery is breathtakingly unbelievable and depending on the time of year, you will see the fast-receding glaciers set amidst either sandy, desert or snowy conditions.
- Hiking time: 9 – 10 hours
- Ascent: 1295 m
- Descent: 165 m
- Max. altitude: 5895 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 9 CRATER CAMP TO MWEKA CAMP
We wake up early to hike to the Crater Rim in time to see the sunrise. From the rim, we descend to Mweka Hut campsite. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose gravel going down to Mweka Camp (3100m). Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
- Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours
- Descent: 2630 m
- Max. altitude: 5730 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 10 MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE
Your final day on the trek, departing after breakfast we descend a further 1300m to the Mweka Park Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters. Transfer to your hotel.
- Transport: 0.6 hour, 17 km
- Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
- Descent: 1300 m
- Max. altitude: 3100 m
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
DAY 11 DEPARTURE
After a much needed nights rest, we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you in the morning for your onward journey.
- Transport: 0.8 hour, 40 km
- Meals included: Breakfast
INCLUDED
- Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
- 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi in FULL BOARD (FB).
- Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
- Park entry fees,
- Camping fees
- Crater fee (if any)
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- mountain tents
- Double layered Sleeping Mats 4 inches (10cm) thick
- Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
- 3 meals daily 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
- Portable oxygen tanks
- Ox meter
- Emergency first-aid kit
- Stethoscope
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet and tent
- Mountain climbing certificates
EXCLUDED
- 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
Preparing for the epic journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro requires careful consideration and strategic packing. As you gear up for this unparalleled adventure with Love Africa Tours, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Kilimanjaro packing list to ensure you’re well-equipped for the trek of a lifetime.
Gear List
- Top Base Layer
- Bottom Base Layer
- 4-5 Pairs of Underwear
- 3-4 Short Sleeve
- 1 Insulated Trekking Pants
- 1-2 Long Sleeve Hiking Shirts
- 1-2 Pairs of Hiking Trousers
- 1 Insulated Winter Jacket
- 1 Polartec Fleece Jacket
- 1 Hard Shell Jacket
Clothing
- Quick dry T-shirts
- Underwear Lightweight hiking trouser (avoid heavy cotton, they don’t dry quickly)
- Fleece (middle layer)
- Thermal underwear (under layers)
- Waterproof, breathable and windproof jacket
- Waterproof, breathable and windproof pants
- Insulated down jacket for summit night (parka)
- One pair thermal socks
- Mittens or warm gloves
- Waterproof gloves
- Good quality hiking socks and thin liner socks Waterproof hiking boots – sturdy and worn-in.
- Extra shoelaces
- Comfortable shoes for overnight camps (running shoes, sneakers, etc.)
- Sun hat to protect head, ears and neck
Other Items
- Headlamp with Extra Batteries
- Water Bottles and Camelback (3 litter carrying capacity)
- Sunglasses
- Camera with extra memory card and extra batteries
- Watch
- Playing Cards
- Hand Warmers (optional)
- Pocket Knife
- Notebook and Pen
- High energy snack (Cereal, protein bars, chocolate, trail mix, dried fruit)
Toiletry & Medicine
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Quick-dry washcloths and soap
- Toilet Paper Tissues
- High SPF Sun-block
- Lip Balm with SPF
- Sunglasses with UV-filter lenses
- Lotion
- Sanitary Wipes/Wet Wipes
- Blister Kit
- Tweezers
- Nail Clippers
- Deodorant
- Hair brush/Comb
- Sanitary Products
- Vaseline to prevent chafing skin and heel friction blister
- Antiseptic
- Pain Killers (Ibuprofen)
- Decongestan
- Diamox or High Altitude Medication (optional, please consult with your doctor)
- Anti-diarrhea Medicine
- Malaria pills ( if you choose to take these)
- Cold/Flu Tablets
- Any medication you normally use
- Dioralyte sachets or similar rehydration packs
- Throat Lozenge
- Eye drops (spare Contact Lenses and fluid, if worn)
- Water purification tablets / Iodine drops
- Ear Plugs
- Plastic bags (for dirty washing, wrapping, etc.)
