Is it your dream to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro? Hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and enjoy the magnificent landscapes around, hiking all the way through the pristine tropical forests full of wild animals, looking at the bright sky and realizing that you are among the few people who did it to the roof of Africa (5895 m / 19341 ft). This Mountain is after all, the roof of Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the World.
Mount Kilimanjaro is found in Tanzania and it is of course one of the best places in the world to spend and enjoy a vacation, whether with family, friends, reunion of workers, and/or honeymooners. Everyone who hiked the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro found something unique here, with be breathtaking experience ever.
Our very organized team of African Wanderlust Adventures will be glad to take a hike with you and guarantee to you a successful Kilimanjaro hiking to the summit. We will ensure you are safe, comfortable to be able to conquer the mountain to the top. To know more about amazing experiences of trekking Kilimanjaro read about the routes, and the best time to climb.
The total distance covered on Lemosho Route is 46 kilometers (28.5 miles). This route offers charismatic picturesque, pristine wildlife, excellent acclimatization opportunities and the lowest traffic of other climbers. Lemosho route increase chances of successful summit, it is our most recommended route to reach the roof of Africa.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) (Google Map)
Arusha Airport (ARK) (Google Map)
2 Hours Before Flight Time
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet African Wanderlust Adventures representatives. and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the fundamentals for a contented stay: comfortable accommodation, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. Evening time there will be a briefing conducted with our managers and Guide, just to ensure you are ready to begin the climb.
In the morning Our Mountain Guide will arrive at the hotel, to meet you and hold another briefing, followed with travel by vehicle (about 3–4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park’s Western Gate entrance /Londorossi Gate (2,250 m). After the fast procedure of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group continues upwards towards their drop off point by off-road vehiclesand after 15 km drive on a bumpy road you will reach your starting point at the edge of the rainforest. You will enjoy lunch before you set out on the trail through the rainforest. Today’s walk is quite short, about 3 hours, compared to the days ahead, thus giving you time to enjoy the lush scenery which will drastically change over the course of your trek. You might even catch a glimpse of the thumblesscolobus monkeys sitting in the branches above you. Your dinner and overnight awaits you at the beautiful Big Tree Camp (2,780m).
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
The route from your drop off point to your first high-altitude camp Big tree features a modest gain in altitude and is not too physically challenging. Due to this, you will be able to properly begin the process of acclimatization. On arrival to the camp, our expert mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and prepare a delicious dinner for you.
This marks your first day at this altitude, so we highly suggest you pay attention to the following directives from this point on:
• Personal drinking over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)
• Desist from intense use of alcohol and caffeine.
• Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip in case of potential allergies.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Distance: Lemosho Glades to Big Tree Camp covers 6 km.
Change in elevation: Lemosho Glades / starting point (2,250m) – Big tree / Mtimkubwa (2,780m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
After breakfast you depart heading to Shira 1. On this day as you walk along the thin trail through the rainforest, you will see the vegetation becoming scarcer and scarcer until you finally reach moorland full with Lobelia and Eric plants. Ascending through rolling hills, you will reach Shira Camp 1 in about 3-4 hours. Looking over the Shira Plateau from your camp you will be able to see the unmistakable snow-capped summit of Kibo. A hearty evening meal and a last glimpse at the starry sky will bring the day to a close.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Distance: Big tree (Mti mkubwa) to Shira 1 camp covers 7 km
Change in elevation: Big tree / Mti mkubwa (2,780m) to Shira 1 camp (3,500m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today you will cross Shira Ridge with its rocky ground, low grasses and shrubs. As the terrain is much flatter than the day before, your hike will seem more leisurely and you will enjoy fantastic views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Meru. Beautiful and distinctive Giant Lobelias still dot the moor landscape. Walking on ground where lava used to flow you will reach Shira Camp 2, where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Distance: Shira 1 camp – Shira 2 camp covers 5 km
Change in elevation: Shira 1 camp (3,500m) to Shira 2 camp (3,900m)
Hiking time: 4 hours
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast you will depart fromShira 2 Camp (3,900 m) and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This part of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. Here you might encounter difficulties, and may feel some anxiety, but in order to effectively acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here. This is where lunch will be taken.
Later we will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m), here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, where we will be climbing the next day. The wall looks impressive in both its gigantic size and steepness, but don’t worry since its features a very easy hiking trail.
Note: Incase one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following instead the road for porters. In this case you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Shira 2 to Barranco camp covers 12 km.
Change in elevation: Shira 2 Camp (3,900m) – Lava Tower (4,630m) – Barranco Camp (3,960m)
Hiking time: 8 hours
ACCLIMATIZATION
Change in elevation: Shira camp (3,900m) to Lava Tower (4,630m) back to Barranco camp (3,960m)
Acclimatization time: 1-2 hours.
Habitat: Semi desert
Early morning after breakfast depart and it marks the start of summiting Barranco Wall (As earlier as possible depart from the camp is recommended to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. When you reach the top of the wall, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.
Then you start another challenging hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group so you should not worry. On arrival to the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours you will have to complete an acclimatization hike towards Barafu Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude, and then descent back down to the camp.
Note: The acclimatization hike is a simple trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization progression. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
Distance: Barranco camp to Karanga Camp covers 5 km
Change in elevation: Barranco camp (3,960m) – Karanga Camp (4,035m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours.
ACCLIMATIZATION:
Distance: 2.5 km
Change in elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035m) – Destination point en route to barafu Camp (4,270m)
Hiking time: 1-2 hours.
Habitat: Alpine desert
Early morning after breakfast the hike proceed towards Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our professional team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Cosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is advised to spend the rest of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting.
Distance: Karanga camp to Barafu Camp covers 6 km
Change in elevation: Karanga camp (4,035m) – Barafu camp (4,640m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
ACCLIMATIZATION:
Distance: Barafu camp to Cossovo camp 2 km
Change in elevation: Barafu camp (4,640m) – Cossovo camp (4,800m)
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Around midnight you will be awoken by your guide with a warm cup of tea and biscuits to get you ready for your final ascent. The moon and your headlamps will be your only source of light as you make your way up to Stella Point, reaching the crater rim in about 5 – 7 hours. Another 1 – 2 hours will take you to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), where you can enjoy the sun rising over the African landscape, casting a pink hue over the snowy peak and making the glaciers sparkle like diamonds around you. Technically the climb is relatively simple; however, the most challenging part is the high altitude. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. After capturing this incredible view and achievement on film, you will start your descent along the same route back to Barafu Camp. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Barafu Camp and after a 2-hour rest continue your descent to Millennium Camp (3,820 m).
Note: Don’t forget that 90% of all accidents take place during the descent, including all broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.
Distance: Barafu Camp to Uhuru peak covers 15 km
Change in elevation: Barafu camp (4,640m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m)
Hiking time: 8-12 hours
Habitat: Stone scree & Ice capped Summit
The camp is located in a tropical rainforest. This morning as you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will depart for the park’s exit: Mweka Gate (1,640 m). After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you a transfer back to the hotel.
Distance: Millenium Camp to mweka gate
Change in elevation: Millenium camp (3,820m) – Mweka Gate (1,640m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Forest
Spend some time resting in the hotel, later on transfer to the airport.
Note: Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra charges.
