7 Days Lemosho Route

Trip-overview

The complete Kilimanjaro experience over 7 days. This trip is a shorter version of the Lemosho 8-day Trip and skips out Karanga Camp, instead of going DIRECT from Barranco to Barafu in one day. For those that are very fit or pre-acclimatized (for instance on Mt Meru or the Ngorongoro Highlands), this could be a good choice to reduce a day.

A 7-day ascent to the roof of Africa. Starting at Lemosho on the Western side and traversing across the most spectacular parts of the mountain. It joins the Machame Route above Shira Camp on Day 4. Then from Barafu Camp, it ascends to the summit via Stella Point. Descent is via the Mweka Route.

Kilimanjaro! Afromontane forest, Shira plateau, glacial valleys, and alpine desert, views of Mawenzi, the ascent of Kibo, and possible views of Kibo caldera and ash pit. Glaciers and the roof of Africa!

Tour in Brief

Hike Distance – 44 miles / 71 km
Vertical Gain – 14,748ft / 4495m
Drop – 16,257ft / 4955m
Trekking Time – 50 hours

Itinerary In Details

Destination:

Kilimanjaro forest
Shira 1
Shira 2
Barranco Camp
Barafu Camp
Uhuru peak
Arusha

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Forest
START – 6,890FT / 2100M
END – 8,695FT / 2650M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST

After breakfast, you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate, your crew finalizes packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today’s hiking is through verdant Afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on the trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.

Day 2: Shira 1
START – 8,695FT / 2650M
END – 11,844FT / 3610M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH

From the forested slopes of Lemosho, you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest onto the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. A hot lunch is taken at Shira 1 Camp and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatizing to the new environment.

Day 3: Shira 2
START – 11,844FT / 3610M
END – 12,632FT / 3850
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 3-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH

After a relatively long hike and significant altitude gain on day 2, today is a short day and you arrive at Shira 2 Camp in time for lunch. A good day for acclimatization with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides to increase your acclimatization – highly recommended!

Day 4: Barranco Camp
START – 12,632FT / 3850M
END – 12,796FT / 3900M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 6-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

From Shira 2 we traverse across the slopes of Kibo. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone. Today is a “walk high sleep low” day. You ascend into the alpine desert to Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m) where lunch is taken before descending to Barranco Camp. This is a long day but note that the next time you head to this altitude is at base camp – a great acclimatization day!

Day 5 Barafu Camp
START – 13,108 / 3,995M
END – 15,332FT / 4673M
DISTANCE – 2.5 MILES / 4KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and, at times, strong winds rip over this camp; yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the remainder of the evening.

6 Days Summit Bid / Mweka Camp
START – 15,332FT / 4673M
END – 10,171FT / 3100M
DISTANCE – 11 MILES / 18KM
TIME – 14-16 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, ARCTIC, HEATH

Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m) and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point (Alt: 18,865ft, 5750m) affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down, however. The first stage is to get back to our base camp for a quick change of clothes and refuel before the long hike downhill to Mweka Camp. The downhill is hard on the knees and walking poles at this stage are highly recommended. You should reach Mweka Camp before dusk for your final night on the mountain.

Day 7 Arusha
START – 12,205FT / 3720M
END – 6,164FT / 1879M
DISTANCE – 12 MILES / 19KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH / AFROMONTANE FOREST

The final descent takes you back through the heath zone and forest to Marangu Gate. After taking the diplomats, lunch and saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Golden Peaks Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.

End of your adventures.

Tour Includes

• Park fees, (entry fee camping/hut fees & rescue fees crew fees)
• 18% VAT on tour fees & services
• Three health and fresh meals
• Professional and experienced mountain Guide
• Professional and experienced cooks.
• Transportation to & from the airport
• Transportation to & from the mountain gates
• Enough number of porters for your luggage, food, water, and camping equipment.
• Food, shelters, and fair wages for the porters, cooks, and guides
• Camping gears (sleeping tents, dining tents, tables, chairs, and cooking gear)
• Radio and cell phone communication that help us to stay in contact within and outside the group therefore we can respond almost instantaneously to whatever issue that may arise
• We provide our guides with professional first aids kits and pulse oximeters for daily updates of acclimatization progress
• Assistance with climbing permit procedure

Tour Excludes

• Personal porters
• All international and domestic flights
• Tourist Visas
• Medical and Travel insurance
• Tips to mountain crew
• Mountain trekking gears e.g., walking poles (available for hire upon request)
• Sleeping Bag (available for hire upon request)
• A portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$200 per toilet + toilet tent)
• Others; Extra expenses such as food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary, satellite phone calls, transference fees, and other services not specified as included.
• Any other alterations to our itineraries
• Emergency Oxygen