Budget Safari Tanzania

* Please note that 18% of Tanzanian VAT will be added to these rates in the next booking step

The Lemosho Route is often described as the scenically most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro. The 8 days trek has a high success rate as it allows enough time for acclimatization. You can even add a 9th day on the mountain if you think the summit day (day 7), which includes a lot of hiking, is too challenging for you.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Moshi (830 m) via Lemosho Gate (2100 m) to Mti Mkubwa camp (2650 m) 

Distance: 7 km
Time: 3 hours

We enter Kilimanjaro National Park through Lemosho gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro (at 2100 m above sea level) we will take lunch. The drive from Moshi to Lemosho gate is approximately 3 hours. We will then begin the ascent, hiking for around 3 hours through dense rain forest to Mti Mkubwa at the height of 2650m, commonly. referred to as "The Big Tree Camp" where we will spend the evening, have dinner and stay camping overnight.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa (2650 m) to Shira 1 (3610 m)

Distance: 7 km
Time: 4 hours

We hike for 4-5 hours through moorland to Shira 1 Camp, crossing the Shira Ridge. Shira 1 Camp is located near a small stream on the Shira Plateau. Lunch will be at Shira 1 camp. Leisure in the afternoon, if interested we can take a little walk around the plateau. Dinner and overnight at Shira 1 Camp.

Day 3: Shira 1 (3610 m) to Shira 2 (3850 m)

Distance: 10 km
Time: 5-6 hours

We will explore Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk eastwards of 4-6 hours towards Kibo's glaciered peak, across the plateau, leading to Shira 2 Camp (3850 m) on moorland meadows. In the evening we will go for a little acclimatization walk before going back to Shira 2 camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Shira 2 (3850 m) via Lava Tower (4600 m) to Baranco (3900 m)

Distance: 10 km
Time: 5-6 hours

We will hike from Shira 2 (3850m) for around 4 hours to the Lava Tower (4600m) for lunch break and then follow the Western breach to Barranco Camp (3900m). Staying at around 3900 meters altitude for the whole day, this day contributes to successful acclimatization. This day also offers you amazing views and opportunities to take great pictures of Barranco wall. Dinner and overnight at Baranco camp.

Day 5: Baranco (3860 m) to Karanga camp (3995 m)

Distance: 6 km
Time: 3-4 hours

After breakfast, we will proceed with the trail until the top of Baranco wall at the height of 4200m then we head down to Karanga Valley where we will arrive at Karanga Camp (3995m) for an evening tea, dinner and stay camping overnight. At Karanga Camp you can probably experience one of your most memorable sunsets and an amazing view of Moshi town.

Day 6: Karanga camp (3995 m) to Barafu (4673 m)

Distance: 4 km
Time: 3 hours

After breakfast we will head east for around 3 hours through alpine desert, we will continue the trail up in medium gradient. At the height of 4400 m we will take a break, we will then descend before the last ascend to the base camp (4673m) . At the base camp we will relax and have early dinner between 5 and 6pm to have an early rest before the summit at Midnight.

Day 7 – SUMMIT DAY:  Barafu (4673 m) via Uhuru peak (5895 m) to Millenium (3950 m) / Mweka (3100 m) 

Time: Barafu to Uhuru Peak – 7-9 hours, Descent to Millenium / Mweka – 4-6 hours

From Barafu Camp, at around 12 or 1am in the morning we start the 6-8 hours ascent towards the summit heading in northwestern direction through heavy scree, reaching Stella Point (5756 m) on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek, but you will be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). After Stella point the trek is on medium gradient for around 40 minutes to 1 hours of 0.7 km to Uhuru peak.
At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in the continent of Africa.

If the group is fast enough, we can even experience sunrise from the summit.

We will then make a 4-6 hours descent down to Millenium or Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu Camp for a brief rest and lunch before we descend to either Millenium or Mweka Camp. We recommend getting as low as possible for a better sleep on the lower altitude which fosters quick recovery from the altitude. In the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Mweka hut is most recommended.

If you book this hike as a 9 days trek (you can mark the check box for an additional day on the mountain), then Day 7 will be split into two days: we will skip Shira 1 camp, so we will ascend from Big tree camp to Shira 2

Day 8: Mweka Hut (3100 m) to Mweka Gate (1640 m) 

Distance: 10 km
Time: 3-4 hours

After breakfast we continue the descent for 3-4 hours, 10 km to Mweka Park Gate and Mweka Village. We will sign out of the park and successful climbers will receive their certificates here and have the last celebration with the crew before we exit and drive back to Moshi.

The price includes:

• All park fees
• Professional experienced mountain guides, cook and porters
• Rescue fees
• All meals while on the mountain
• Guides, porters, cook park fees
• Clean and purified drinking water
• Good tents, sleeping pads
• All other camping equipment including foldable tables and chairs
• Transfers from Moshi to Kilimanjaro National Park and back as described in the itinerary

Please see a Kilimanjaro climb packing list.