BRIEF ABOUT THE LEMOSHO ROUTE 9 DAYS.

Lemosho route is located on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro and starts with green healthy plants and fertile rainforest. It is the first ecological zone you will encounter way up to Kilimanjaro. The route heads up Mti Mkubwa, Shira one, across the Shira Plateau, which was Kilimanjaro’s third peak before it collapsed. Then, we make our way north East to Shira II Hut, which serves as a great acclimatization day due to short hikes

Next, we climb high up and over Lava Tower before dropping into Barranco Valley, one of the prettiest areas on the entire trail. We climb the intimidating Barranco Wall and then circle along the southern circuit to Karanga and high camp Barafu Hut which is the base campsite and rest for the summit.

The summit attempt is made from Barafu in the early morning hours, often during the full moon. This is the coldest area right on starting, the windiest section of your adventure. But once the sun comes up, so can most of your extra layers. After the summit, the descent follows to Barafu again then the Mweka trail to Mweka hut, this will begin at the end of your trek in Kili, ready for a safari or other package in the next day. .

CLIMBING MT.KILIMANJARO 9-DAYS LEMOSHO ROUTE

First Day: will be off from the mountain is the time tourists arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and picked up with our driver then transferred to the hotel where they will have rest and relax or explore Moshi town and the surrounding areas.

DAY-2 : MOSHI TOWN-LEMOSHO GATE TO MTI MKUBWA

Starting elevation 900m Moshi Town.
Ending elevation 1800m Londorosi Gate.
Altitude gain 900m.
Driving distance 85 km.
Driving hours 2-3 Hours.
In the morning after breakfast, we will departure Moshi and drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Lemosho gate, as we arrive at Lemosho Gate we will make the registration for our Kilimanjaro trekking.

Here it will take a little bit of time before the team of Guides, Chefs, and Porters, start trekking, because they have to sort out everything to be used on the mountain all days eight days, except the meals because we will have more fresh food from the town after three days on the mountain. It will be also a good time to have your lunch out there before starting our trekking, it can take an average maximum time are 1 hour-2 hour before carry-on.

LEMOSHO GATE TO MTI MKUBWA CAMP

Starting elevation 1800m Lemosho starting point.
Ending elevation 2750m Mti Mkubwa Camp.
Altitude gain today 1200m.
Trekking distance 6kms.
Walking hours 3-4 hours.
Overnight hut Mti Mkubwa Camp.
Elevation Zone Rainforest/MontaneForest.

once the team and registration are ready for the hiking, we will start our trekking crossing over the thick rainforest, looking for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, Columbus monkeys and the appearance of flowers such as impatiens Kilimanjari and impatiens pseudo viola introduce some bright scenery.

There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a muddy and slippery experience so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts should be sufficient, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing handy.

3-DAY : MTI MKUBWA CAMP TO SHIRA ONE (1) CAMP

Starting elevation 2750m Mti Mkubwa Camp
Ending elevation 3620m Shira One (1) Camp
Altitude gain today 870m
Trekking distance 7kms
Walking hours 5-6 hours
Overnight hut Shira One (1)
Elevation Zone Heather and Moorland

Trekking will continue from Mti Mkubwa to Shira One through the gentle heather and moorland zone up a steep rocky ridge Mgongo wa Tembo is the Swahili word that means (the back of Elephant) to the Shira One (1) and Shira Plateau where you will be able to see Kilimanjaro’s great western breach and its glaciers, the path is dusty, narrow and steep on the way possible to find, moorland lobelias, gladiolas flowers, groundsels Scenecio Kilimanjari and the distinctive dark obsidian rock,

The night at this bare camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing, try to add some more layers before you sleep to be sure that you fall nice asleep as well as a baby

DAY-4: SHIRA ONE (1) CAMP TO SHIRA TWO (2) CAMP

Starting elevation 3620m Shira One (1) Camp
Ending elevation 3950m Shira Two (2)Camp
Altitude gain today 330 m
Trekking distance 9 km
Walking hours 4-5 hours via Shira peak 3820m
Overnight hut Shira Two (2) Camp
Elevation Zone Moorland and Alpine Desert zone

This part of our walk is short and enjoyable; it will be less tiring than the day before. the way crosses a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations, Shira Peak which will allow great views of Mt.Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru. The ever-changing landscape will again surprise you with different terrain.

Also pass the big Senecieo Kilimanjari that can grow more than 9 meters high and other more strange plants like lobelia, gladiolas, and wild protea Kilimanjari, From the top of the Shira peak 3820m, will be above the clouds and be rewarded with best views of the Shira plateau and beautiful landscape, the rest of walk from Shira one to Shira two. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization, which increases the chance of conquering the top point of the mountain.

5-DAY ; SHIRA TWO CAMP TO BARANCO CAMP

Starting elevation 3950m Shira Two Camp
Acclimatization point 4600m Lava Tower Camp
Ending elevation 3920m Baranco Camp
Altitude gain today 980m
Trekking distance 10kms
Walking hours 6-7 hours
Overnight hut Baranco Camp
Elevation Zone Moorland and semi-desert zone

From the Shira Two camp the team will continue east up a steep and rocky trail to Lava Tower Camp 4600m the trek is long and tough for some of the tourists. The Lava Tower is the big stone left after glaciation to take place. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers start to feel symptoms of acute mountain sickness such as breathlessness, irritability, and headaches.

The lunch will be at Lava Tower then descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camp 3920m. Barranco Camp is the camp where you will be rewarded with a beautiful landscape that offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs, Barranco camp is the most beautiful camp all over Kilimanjaro, is the huge camp junction about four routes joining together to the same route to the summit, Barranco camp is unforgettable.

6-DAY ; BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA HUT

Starting elevation 3920m Baranco Camp
Acclimatization point 4280m Top of Barranco Camp
Ending elevation 4010m Karanga Camp
Altitude gain today 270 m
Trekking distance 5 km
Walking hours 4-5 hours
Overnight hut Karanga Camp
Elevation Zone Moorland and Alpine Desert zone

Today our walk is short being only 5km and enjoyable afternoon views, the beginning will encounter the hardest part of this day stage on Barranco wall evolves into a bit of rock climbing, it looks scary but it is easy as you approach it because it offer many zig-zags that makes it easy (also commonly referred to as the ‘Breakfast Wall’ as a tourist will be right there after breakfast!)

From the top of the Barranco wall we will be above the clouds, and also rewarded with the best views of the Heim Glaciers Kerstin glaciers, and beautiful landscape, rest of today’s walk from the top of Barranco wall becomes a bit easier because it evolves many uphill and down hills, Walking along the ridge you can experience the beautiful landscape with its stunning contrasts of desert and vegetation, before finally reaching the Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization again, which will increase the chance to conger the highest point

7-DAY ; KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP

Starting elevation 4010m Karanga Camp
Ending elevation 4600m Barafu Camp
Altitude gain today 590m
Trekking distance 4kms
Walking hours 3-4 hours
Overnight hut Barafu Camp
Elevation Zone alpine-desert zone

Today walking is the shortest being only 4 km, a great day very close to the summit. the air becomes dry due to the high altitude and may lead to heavy breathing, stay positive the leader of the team is aware of this so they will slow down the speed just to catch up breathing while going uphill, Barafu camp is located on an exposed ridge which is rough and rocky with the beautiful landscape.

Upon arrival at Barafu camp have lunch and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night's walking, early dinner will be served to you thereafter we will go to sleep as the attempt for the summit will begin the same night from mid-night to UHURU.

8-DAY : BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT BACK TO BARAFU CAMP

Starting elevation 4600m Barafu Camp
Via Stella elevation 5720m Stella point
Ending elevation 5895m UHURU PEAK
Altitude gain today 1295m
Trekking distance 5-7kms
Walking hours 6-8 hours
Elevation Zone desert zone ice-capped summit

From Barafu hut to Stella Point is the most mentally and physically challenging part of your trek to Mount Kilimanjaro but hopefully with a great sense of achievement to reach a goal and will realize that this is Kilimanjaro time and make the most of it. Normally a starting time is midnight as a departure.

We will start our hike with the long and tough climb from Barafu camp 4600m to Stella Point 5720m, making your trek more difficult, after you make it to Stella Point the hardest part will be done. The Stella point is the top of the ridge but it is not the highest point of the mountain, the highest point of the mountain is UHURU PEAK 5895M. (UHURU means FREEDOM).

From Stella's point is easy to reach UHURU PEAK, it will take just a maximum of 45min to 1 hour to accomplish the dream and say wow!!, I made it to Kilimanjaro!, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the peak of Africa! Well done. It will not be safe to stay at the top (UHURU POINT) for a long time because sometimes acute mountain sickness can attack tourists after they make it to the top recommended time 10min to 15min will be enough to enjoy the views and take more pictures way back.

From UHURU PEAK we will switch back downhill to Barafu camp on the same way, where it will take a maximum of 2hrs-3hrs hours downhill and we will short break and Barafu Camp before waking up for lunch and start walking down to Mweka Hut.

BARAFU CAMP TO MWEKA CAMP

Starting elevation 4600m Barafu Camp
Ending elevation 3100M Mweka Camp
Altitude Lost today 1500m
Trekking distance 7kms
Walking hours 3-4 hours
Overnight hut Mweka Camp
Elevation Zone moorland and alpine-desert zone

After rest and lunch at the Barafu hut, we continue back downhill to the Mweka Hut. Today’s walk takes us back downhill through the alpine desert, heath, and moorland zones until we again enter the rainforest zone via Millennium Camp (3770m).

The walking is almost around 16 hours, with fewer breaks! Exhausting, that started at midnight. But if tourists make it to the top, they will think it was worth the training they ever made in their lifetime, and they will never again some used to say that! “Please to Climb Kilimanjaro Is Not Difficult Train To be scared, It Is All About Your Mindset, If You’re Ready To Climb It Please Stay Positive”

9-DAY; MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE TO MOSHI TOWN

Starting elevation 3100M Mweka Camp
Ending elevation 1820M Mweka Gate
Altitude Lost today 1280m
Trekking distance 8kms
Walking hours 2-3 hours
Overnight hut Moshi Town
Elevation Zone Rain forest zone

The Great day has come yet, seven days without a shower, today everyone thinks about the hot showers. the walking will take us again through the lush rainforest, where the deference species of Monkey and the endemic Impatiens Kilimanjari flower grow.

Upon arrival at the gate, tourists will be required to sign out, for all successful climbers, they will be able to receive the certificate of completion.

Climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and Climbers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving the certificates, the Driver will take us back to the Hotel in Moshi or Arusha, where it is time for a hot shower and celebration! Departure to the airport or safari tour and other destination.

AFRITREKS MOUNT KILIMANJARO SERVICES