Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – MOSHI | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL   

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to Springlands Hotel or similar for an overnight bed and breakfast.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

MOSHI  |  LONDOROSI PARK GATE  |  MTI MKUBWA CAMP 

Altitude: 2,200 m –  2,600 m

Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 3 hours

After breakfast, drive to the Londorosi Park Gate. The drive is about 5 hours. The drive through the Shira plateau is one of the best opportunities to see big game on Kilimanjaro. Walk up to Mti Mkubwa camp. Arrive at the campsite, set up camp, and enjoy dinner.

MTI MKUBWA CAMP  |  SHIRA CAMP 1 

Altitude: 2,600 m –  3,600 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

Wake to breakfast and begin the short hike from Mti Mkubwa to Shira camp. This usually takes no more than 5 hours, but a calm pace is required for adequate acclimatization. The west face of the Kibo volcano looms above the campsite. Have lunch, set up camp, rest, or take a day hike. This hike traverses the lower moorland where large shrubs and wildflowers dominate the landscape.

SHIRA CAMP 1  |  SHIRA CAMP 2 

Altitude: 3,600m –  3,840 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 5–6 hours

Wake to breakfast, break camp, and begin a short hike to Shira Camp 2. This makes it a perfect acclimatization day.

SHIRA CAMP 2  |  LAVA TOWER  |  BARRANCO CAMP 

Altitude: 3,840 m –  3,940 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4600m after about 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower. Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descend again almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This 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, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.

BARRANCO CAMP  |  KARANGA CAMP 

Altitude: 3,940 m –  4,035 m

Hiking distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours

After breakfast we leave Barranco camp, hiking up Barranco Wall which takes about an hour. Continue to  Karanga Camp with numerous ascents and descents. Enjoy an afternoon acclimatization hike.

KARANGA CAMP (Acclimatization Day)

After breakfast enjoy an acclimatization hike toward Barafu Camp. Later return to Karanga Camp for dinner & overnight. This offers you excellent acclimatization increasing your chances of reaching the summit.

KARANGA CAMP  |  BARAFU CAMP 

Altitude: 4,035 m –  4,670 m

Hiking distance: 4 km
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours

Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at around 19:00 and try to get some precious rest for no more than 5 hours.

BARAFU CAMP  |  SUMMIT  | MWEKA CAMP 

Altitude: 4,670 m –  5, 895 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 17 km
Hiking time: 15+ hours

Rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment, and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.

MWEKA CAMP  |  MWEKA PARK GATE  |  MOSHI  | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL 

After Breakfast, from the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy and long hour walk. From the Mweka village drive to Springlands Hotel and you will be served a hot lunch and a long overdue shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel.  Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

MOSHI  |  KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – MOSHI | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL   

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to Springlands Hotel or similar for overnight.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

MOSHI  |  LONDOROSI PARK GATE  |  MTI MKUBWA CAMP 

Altitude: 2,200 m –  2,600 m

Hiking distance: 4 km
Hiking time: 3 hours

After breakfast, drive to the Londorosi Park Gate. The drive is about 5 hours. The drive through the Shira plateau is one of the best opportunities to see big game on Kilimanjaro. Walk up to Mti Mkubwa camp. Arrive at the campsite, set up camp, and enjoy dinner.

MTI MKUBWA CAMP  |  SHIRA CAMP 1 

Altitude: 2,600 m –  3,600 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

Wake to breakfast and begin the short hike from Mti Mkubwa to Shira camp. This usually takes no more than 5 hours, but a calm pace is required for adequate acclimatization. The west face of Kibo volcano looms above the campsite. Have lunch, set up camp, rest, or take a day hike. This hike traverses the lower moorland where large shrubs and wildflowers dominate the landscape.

SHIRA CAMP 1  |  SHIRA CAMP 2 

Altitude: 3,600m –  3,840 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 5–6 hours

Wake to breakfast, break camp, and begin a short hike to Shira Camp 2. This makes it a perfect acclimatization day.

SHIRA CAMP 2  |  LAVA TOWER  |  BARRANCO CAMP 

Altitude: 3,840 m –  3,940 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4600m after about 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower. Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descend again almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This 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, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.

BARRANCO CAMP  |  KARANGA CAMP 

Altitude: 3,940 m –  4,035 m

Hiking distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours

After breakfast, we leave Barranco ridge and walk up the Barranco wall that ends up at the foot of the Heim glacier. Passing the Barranco wall Walk along to Karanga valley to Karanga Camp.

KARANGA CAMP  |  BARAFU CAMP 

Altitude: 4,035 m –  4,670 m

Hiking distance: 4 km
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours

Continue to the Barafu hut which is located at an altitude of (4 670 m) here we make camp, rest enjoy dinner, and overnight. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are. To be seen from this position.

BARAFU CAMP  |  SUMMIT  | MWEKA CAMP 

Altitude: 4,670 m –  5, 895 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 17 km
Hiking time: 15+ hours

Rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment, and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.

MWEKA CAMP  |  MWEKA PARK GATE  |  MOSHI  | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL 

After Breakfast, from the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy and long hour walk. From the Mweka village drive to Springlands Hotel and you will be served a hot lunch and a long overdue shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel.  Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

MOSHI  |  KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.