Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Trek

Our Kilimanjaro adventure starts today in the peaceful surrounds of our comfortable pre and post-trek accommodation in Moshi - the Weru Weru River Lodge



Your trek Leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception at 5pm for the welcome meeting which will include a full trek briefing. Afterwards we'll enjoy an included group dinner together at the lodge. There are no other activities planned for today. It is important to try and arrive in time for the briefing which includes essential information about your trek. However, if you do miss it, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.



If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is around 45 minutes' drive from our hotel.



If you arrive earlier today, the Lodge has a swimming pool and garden where you can relax with some great views of the Mount Kilimanjaro.

After a drive through farmland and plantations we reach the Londorossi National Park Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. We continue from there to the Lemosho roadhead at 2100 metres/6890 feet from where we start our trek up the mountain. We will climb steadily through the lush forest of the Lemosho Glades to reach Big Tree Camp (2780 metres/9121 feet). Porters will assist throughout the trek carrying your trek kitbag. You only need to carry what you will need for the day - waterproofs, camera, water bottle, extra fleece, sunhat, packed lunch and 3 litres of drinking water. Please note that drones are not permitted in Kilimanjaro National Park without a permit, please refer to the equipment section of the trip notes for more information.



Today's 7 kilometres/4.4 miles trek is expected to take approximately 3 to 4 hours with an ascent of 680 metres/2231 feet.

Today we trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the camp at Shira One (3500 metres/11484 feet), from where there are often views of Kibo Peak, seemingly floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.



Today's 8.5 kilometres/5.3 miles trek is expected to take approximately 4 to 5 hours with an ascent of 720 metres/2362 feet.

Today we have the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatisation and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our tents will be set up for us at the Shira 2 Camp (3900 metres/12796 feet). In the afternoon there's the option to take an acclimatisation walk to the junction of the trail to the Moir Hut.



The 8 kilometres/5 miles trek between the camps at Shira 1 and 2 is expected to take approximately 5 hours with an ascent of 400 metres/1312 feet. The afternoon acclimatisation trek is for an additional 1 to 2 hours.

Today's walk is longer and perfect for our acclimatisation as we will ascend to a high point of 4640 metres/15224 feet before descending to a lower altitude for the night. Our trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. We reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 metres/15224 feet), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 metres/12993), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.



Today's 10 kilometres/6.2 miles trek is expected to take approximately 7 to 8 hours with an ascent of 740 metres/2428 feet and descent of 680 metres/2231 feet.

Today's trek starts with a steep ascent of the Barranco Wall, a rocky cliff almost 260 metres/853 feet high, that is believed to have been created by a huge landslide around 100,000 years ago. The trail wends its way up the 'Wall' and there are sections of what could be termed as light scrambling where you will be pulling yourself up over the rocks and it's easiest to put your trekking poles away. You don't need any technical ability and we will take it slowly. The climb leads to an undulating trail on the south eastern side of Kibo; if we are lucky with the weather there will be great views of the Southern Ice Fields. The terrain ranges from volcanic scree to pockets of lush vegetation as we make our descent into the Karanga Valley followed by an ascent to our campsite at 4035 metres/13239 feet. This valley is the last water point on the approach to Barafu.



Today's 6 kilometre/3.7 miles trek from the Barranco Valley to Karanga is expected to take approximately 4 to 5 hours with an ascent of 360 metres/1181 feet and descent of 185 metres/607 feet.

This morning we make a steep climb out of the Karanga Valley following an easy path on compacted scree constantly gaining altitude with good views, until we reach our camp at Barafu (4640 metres/15224 feet). This afternoon we rest in preparation for the final night time ascent, and plan to get a very early night!



Today's 6 kilometres/3.7 miles trek is expected to take approximately 4 to 5 hours with an ascent of 605 metres/1985 feet.

Today we make our final ascent to the summit at 5,895 metres/19341 feet before descending over 2,000 metres/6562 feet to our last camp site. It is undoubtedly a long and strenuous day, particularly with the high altitude and extreme cold. We plan to make a start around midnight as at this time the scree and potential snow are still frozen and our aim is to have summited and descended before the top layer of scree becomes wet and slippery. Our path zigzags up the scree and after passing Rebmann Glacier, we reach Stella Point (5685 metres/18652 feet) on the crater rim. Although at times you may be able to walk for only 10 paces before you have to stop and rest, there is no doubt that it is all worth it when you reach the top. From Stella Point we continue around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5895 metres/19341 feet. After time to enjoy your achievement and take those all important photographs at the famous summit sign, we descend back down the scree to Barafu Camp for a rest and something to eat. It's then a virtual continuous descent down to the Millennium Camp at 3790 metres/12435 feet where the air feels positively oxygen rich in comparison to where we have just ventured!



Today's walking totals 19.5 kilometres/12.1 feet and is expected to take up to 14 hours. The trek from Barafu Camp to Stella Point is an ascent of 1045 metres/3429 feet and will take around 5 to 6 hours, with the hike from here around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (additional 210 metres/689 feet of ascent) taking another 1 to 2 hours. The trek down from the summit to Millennium Camp, (a total descent of 2105 metres/6907 feet), is expected to take approximately 5 to 6 hours (excluding the time spent resting at Barafu).

After a well-deserved night's sleep and rest, our final day on trek takes us down through the lush beauty of the rainforest, enjoying the increasing warmth and richness of the mountain air. The trail end is at the Mweka Gate (1630 metres/5348 feet) from where we travel by road to Moshi and back to the comforts of our lodge. We will have a well-earned lunch on arrival back in Moshi.



Today's 12 kilometres/7.5 miles trek is expected to take between approximately 4 to 6 hours and is a total descent of 2160 metres/7087 feet.

This morning there is the option to go on a game drive around the Momella Lakes area in the neraby Arusha National Park which is famed for its high giraffe population as well as elephant, hippo and buffalo. This trip will run from approximately 0630-1300 hours. There needs to be a minimum of 2 participants for the trip to run and cost is between US$ 122-328 depending on numbers.



If you do not wish to take part in this trip then you are free to depart from the hotel in Moshi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at the lodge. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is around 45 minutes' drive from our hotel.



Any customers who have booked to travel on our Zanzibar Extension (ref: ZI) will be transferred to Arusha Airport (around 2 hours drive away) for the flight to Zanzibar. Your Leader will advise you of your departure time from the hotel.