7-Day Mount Kili – Lemosho Route

Hiking time: 6.5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather moorland zone. You will cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3840m). 

At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East.

 Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. 

You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers

Habitat: Semi desert

Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will be come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). 

Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.

After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. 

The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the sun setting.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

camping

In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers

Habitat: Alpine desert

This is a short hiking day meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimidating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated.

At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. You will spend the night at Karanga Camp (3950m) and enjoy dinner and washing at the site.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

camping

In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Hiking time: 2-3 hours

Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers

Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. 

This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. 

Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so hikers need to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

(4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka

Distance: Approximately 7 kilometers ascent and 23 kilometers descent

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Around 23:30 for tea and biscuit you will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb.

 In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. You will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m

Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours. At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Hiking time: 3 hours

Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers

Habitat: Forest

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion.

Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations. End of Service!

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

End of tour 

Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.

You'll be dropped off at the airport.