Lemosho Route Climb with Extended Acclimatization

When you land at Kilimanjaro Airport, our dedicated driver will be there to greet you and take you to Meru View Lodge in Usa River, close to Arusha. You have the rest of the day free to unwind and get ready for what lies ahead. If you feel like it, you can visit the town of Arusha (a taxi is needed). Later in the afternoon, our Kilimanjaro team gathers at the lodge to brief you about the upcoming trek and check your gear. Dinner is served afterward.

In the morning we drive you to Londorossi Gate (2,250m). Once the entry formalities are done, a last 15 km drive along a bumpy road brings you to the trailhead at the edge of the rainforest. After lunch, you set off on the trail through the forest. This first walk is fairly short, which leaves plenty of time to take in the lush surroundings that will change a great deal as the trek goes on. You may even spot thumbless colobus monkeys up in the branches. Dinner and the night will be at the lovely Big Tree Camp. Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner.

The rainforest gives way to moorland dotted with lobelia and erica as you walk. Rolling hills lead you up to Shira Camp 1 in around 3 to 4 hours. From camp you can admire sweeping views across the Shira Plateau and the unmistakable snow-capped peak of Kibo. After a filling dinner, take some time to gaze at the stars before bed. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The route today crosses Shira Ridge on the 8 Days Lemosho Route, over rocky ground with low grasses and shrubs. The terrain is flatter than on the previous day, so the walk feels easier and rewards you with great views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Meru. Giant lobelias and smaller ones keep appearing across the moorland. You arrive at Shira Camp 2, where you eat your evening meal and spend the night. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Following breakfast, you climb toward Lava Tower across ground strewn with boulders. Kibo stands in the distance, drawing you further uphill. At Lava Tower you stop to rest and acclimatize to the altitude, then descend to Barranco Camp. Climbing high and sleeping low in this way lets your body adjust to different altitudes and shows how you react to the changes. The scenery shifts again, and before long giant senecios and smaller lobelias surround you. After 6 to 7 hours you arrive at the green, beautiful Barranco Camp, which has magnificent views of the snow-capped mountains around it. You will have dinner and then turn in for the night. Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner.

Once breakfast is over, you meet the well-known Barranco wall, probably the steepest stretch on the whole route. No technical climbing is needed, but in places you might want your hands for extra grip and balance, and your guide stays close in case you need help. Having worked your way around the Kissing Rock, you cross the mountain ridge and continue through the Karanga Valley, passing the final water source before Karanga Camp. A well-deserved meal follows, then time to rest. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Your destination today is Barafu Camp. The terrain is dry, and the ground underfoot feels as hard as glass. You cross the afro-alpine desert to reach rocky Barafu Camp, and excitement grows because the final ascent is only a few hours away. From the camp's rocky setting you get a breathtaking view of Mawenzi Peak and the route to the summit. After an early dinner and some last preparations for tomorrow, you get some rest. Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner.

Around midnight you are woken with hot tea and biscuits to get ready for the summit day. The route heads northwest through heavy scree toward Stella Point, which takes about 5 to 7 hours. At Stella Point (5,730m) you can rest if necessary before another 1 to 2 hours along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, the high point of your trek. The view from the highest point in Africa is breathtaking. Once you have taken all the photos you want, you leave the sparkling glaciers and snow-capped peaks and descend to Barafu Camp, where you can catch your breath before continuing to Mweka Camp, around 3 hours' walk. A tasty dinner and a restful night are waiting there. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. read more...

After a filling breakfast and a traditional farewell ceremony from your mountain crew, you begin the last descent to Mweka Gate, which ends your 8 Days Lemosho Route. The walk of 2 to 3 hours passes through lush rainforest, home to the endemic Impatiens kilimanjari flower. When you arrive at Mweka Gate, our transfer driver meets you and takes you back to Meru View Lodge . The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure, so indulge in