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LEMOSHO 8 DAY CLIMB

8 Days

8 day private camping trekking tour + 2 nights’ hotel stay

The Lemosho route is traditionally one of the quieter and lesser-known routes on the mountain. It’s also the newest and probably the most diverse in terms of the ecological systems and landscapes it passes through. The first two days of this route take you through lush rainforest before you emerge into heath and moorland then join the Machame Route on the third day. This narrow trail, which begins on the Western side of Kilimanjaro, has some very steep and undulating sections. Hikers overnight in tents.

Overview

Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha

Arriving at Kilimanjaro airport, you will be met by our transfer driver and taken to the Arusha Hotel. The rest of the day will be free. Relax at the pool or explore the small town of Arusha. Later today or tonight you will meet our operations team who will brief you on what lies ahead.

Itinerary

In the morning, you will make your way to the Lemosho Gate. Here you will be registered by the national park authorities and your trek through a dense rainforest begins. Today will be a shortest walk of the entire trek, about 2½ hours, which gives you a small taste of what lies ahead in the coming days. The walk takes you through dense and unspoiled rainforest, which is very different from the scenery you will have in the next couple of days. Your destination for the day is the beautiful Big Tree Camp at 2780 m.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you will follow a thin trail through the rainforest before leaving the green area behind heading into moorland. Erica and Lobelia plants will start to take over the landscape. After about 3-4 hours you will reach Shira Camp 1 where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you continue your trek, which today will be less tiring than the day before. You will cross Shira Ridge which will allows for great views of the Rift Valley and Mt Meru. The ever changing landscape will again surprise you with a different terrain, you will walk on ground where lava once flowed. You will also pass the big Senecien that can grow to more or less 9 meters in height. Shira Camp 2 will be your destination for the night at (3900m), 400m more than the night before.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you will start your walk up to Lava Tower with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau. You will climb quite a bit in altitude, roughly 740 m. You will have a rest here before descending again. This is a so called acclimatising day, where you will climb high but sleep low, giving you a good idea of how your body reacts to altitude. The landscape will once again change as you pass through the Barranco Valley with its big Senecias and smaller Lobelia plants. After a long 6 – 7 hours you will reach your beautiful camp for the night the Barranco Camp. The crew will be there waiting with a well deserve evening meal before settling in for the night.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Straight after breakfast you will make your way up the famous Barranco Wall. This is most probably the steepest part of the entire route. Safety is very important to us so please follow the guideline of your guides who will get you to the top safely. You might have to use yours hands every now and then to get a better grip but rest assured there are no alpine climbing passages. Once at the top you will walk along the mountain ridge and if the weather allows you will have a great view of the southern glacier of Kibo as the Kibo summit. After 3 – 4 hours you will reach Karanga Camp for your overnight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Barafu Camp is your destination for today at (15,220 ft) 4640 m. You will start after breakfast and should reach it in about 3 to 4 hours. The scenery for today will be mostly afro-alpine dessert. Once at the camp you will have a filling early dinner before settling in for a good rest in preparation for tomorrow exciting climb.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your day will begin at 00:00. After hot tea and biscuits you will start your 5-7 hours walk to Stella Point, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. Here you will have a short rest if necessary before continuing another 1-2 hours to reach the highlight of the trip the Uhuru Peak (5895 m). This is truly a once in a lifetime experience as you stand at the top of Africa watching the sunrise light up the surrounding summits and landscape. After taking much needed pictures you will make your way down back to Barafu Camp for a 1-2 hours rest. Once everyone is well rested you will continue down to Mweka gate (3080 m), an approx. 3 hours walk. The rest of the evening is yours to relax, you’ll have a nice evening meal and a good night’s sleep.

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast you will have a traditional farewell ceremony from all your mountain crew. After a short 2 – 3 hours walk through the rainforest our driver will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate. You will then be transferred back to your hotel for a well deserved shower, a cold drink, a debrief and the awarding of your certificate of achievement. The rest of the day is yours to relax and to reflect back on this once in a lifetime experience.

Breakfast, Dinner

Price includes:

  • Trekking tour according to the itinerary
  • Accommodation in tentsindicated in the itinerary
  • 2 Nights Accommodation before & After Climb
  • Professional English-speaking guide
  • Personal porter
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Drinking Water
  • Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
  • Camping equipment – tents, sleeping mattress and camping furniture
  • National park fees
  • Rescue fees

Price excludes

  • Flights (international and domestic)
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Beverages other than water (alcohol and soft drinks)
  • Visa, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance
  • Sleeping bag (can be rented, please ask us at the time of the booking)
How big is the group and where are my fellow travellers from?

Group sizes vary however there is a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 30 travellers per group. Traveler’s are from all over the world and from all walks of life

Is there an age limit on this tour?

As per the national park authorities, the minimum age for climbing Kilimanjaro is 10 years but seeing that children are more prone to altitude sickness than adults, we recommend a minimum age of 14-16 years. There is no maximum age restriction, but a medical check-up is advisable for people over the age of 60.

Is it possible to climb Kilimanjaro at any time of the year?

Generally yes. We however discourage any attempts during the main rainy season (end of March to beginning of June). In the small rainy season (November), daily short rainfalls and cloudy views can be expected. From December until the end of February, temperatures are at their highest and rainfall is at its minimum. The best time to travel is between the end of June and the middle of October, when temperatures are a little lower and there is almost no rainfall

Do I need a visa for this trip?

Citizens of all nationalities need to contact the respective embassies of their travel destination to check the visa regulations.

In general, European citizens can apply for a Tanzanian Tourism Visa upon arrival in Tanzania.
It is the sole responsibility of every traveller to be in possession of the required documents and visa that allows them to enter their holiday destination.

Do I need vaccinations for this trip?

The trekking tour starts and ends in Tanzania, a yellow fever region, which is why we recommend a yellow fever vaccination. Although there are no mosquitoes at high altitude, Tanzania is within a malaria region. It is up to you if you wish to take medication, but we suggest that you speak to your doctor or travel clinic about the different prophylaxis and their effects and side effects.

Although Tanzania does not require proof of immunization against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Hepatitis A & B, we nevertheless recommend those vaccinations.

What kind of equipment and clothing should I bring?

Travel bag, backpack or kitbag, weighing no more than 12kg (please do not bring a suitcase or trolley bag, as this type of luggage cannot be carried by the porters)

Day backpack with rain protection
High quality sleeping bag for harsh conditions (at night temperatures can drop to -20°C)
Different layers of clothing including thermal base layers, fleece clothing, trekking pants, warm jacket and water-resistant top layers as well as a warm headgear.
Water-resistant and comfortable hiking boots and a variety of trekking socks
Please note that the above list is not complete and these are just a few things that you will have to bring with you. Once we have confirmed your booking, you will receive a more detailed list.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

LEMOSHO 8 DAY CLIMB