Climbing the Lemosho route on Mount Kilimanjaro, 9-day Itinerary in Tanzania

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet one of our representatives, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

Note: Check-in starts at 2:00 PM

A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold another briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle (roughly 3–4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park’s western entrance: Londorossi Gate (2,200 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group continues upwards towards their drop off point by off-road vehicles (reaching 3,500 meters). Here you can see stunning views of the Shira Plateau for the first time.

The route from your drop-off point to your first camp Shira 1 features a moderate gain in altitude and is not too physically challenging. Due to this, you will be able to properly begin the process of acclimatization. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and cook dinner for you.

This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on: Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine, drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently) and take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness.

Elevation: 3,500 m to 3,505 mHiking time:  1-2 hoursDistance: 5 kmDifficulty: LowHabitat: Meadows

Departing from Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) and a light trekking towards the second high altitude camp: Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m). This trek is not difficult and you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of Africa and the unique flora of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding area. Shira 2 Camp is the best place on the trip to see Mount Meru (the fifth summit of Africa), weather permitting.

When you arrive to camp you will have lunch, and after a two-hour rest everyone will complete an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp that features a 200-meter gain in altitude.

Elevation: 3,505 m to 3,900 mHiking time:  3-4 hoursDistance: 7 kmDifficulty: LowHabitat: Moorland

After breakfast you will leave Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be.

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don’t worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.

Note: If 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.

Altitude difference: Camp Shira 2 (3900 m) – Lava Tower (4630 m) – Camp Barranco (3960 m)
Hiking distance: 12 km
Hiking time: 6-8 hours

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don’t worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours you will have to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude, and then descent back down to the camp.

Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. 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.

Ascent from Barranco camp to Karanga camp:
Altitude difference: Barranco camp (3960 m) – Karanga camp (4035 m)
Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:
Altitude difference:  Karanga camp (4035 m) – A key point on the way to Barafu camp (4270 m)
Hiking distance:  2.5 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours

In the morning after breakfast you begin your way to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our 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 Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting.

Climb from Karanga camp to Barafu camp:
Altitude difference:  Karanga camp (4035 m) – Barafu camp (4640 m)
Hiking distance:  6 km
Hiking time:  4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:
Altitude difference:  Camp Barafu (4640 m) – Camp Kosovo (4800 m)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours

At night we leave Barafu camp (4640 m) and begin our ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro – Uhuru peak (5895 m). Climbing is technically quite simple, altitude is a much more serious problem! Throughout the ascent, every two participants will be allocated their own guide, which will monitor your physical and moral condition (if you wish, after a successful climb to Uhuru Peak, you can also go down to the nearest glacier). Next, you will return to Barafu camp, where a two-hour rest will take place, after which you continue the descent to the Millennium camp (3820 m).

Note:  Do not forget, 90% of incidents occur on the descent, all broken legs / arms were damaged on the descent. Also, great attention to the legs, you can knock down toenails.

Altitude difference: Barafu Camp (4640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Millennium Camp (3820 m)
Hiking distance:  15 km
Hiking time: 8-12 hours

The camp is situated in a tropical rainforest. When 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 head 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.

Altitude difference: Camp Millennium (3820 m) – Gates of Mveka (1640 m)
Hiking distance:  12 km
Hiking time:  4-5 hours

Relax at the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Note:  On this day, check-out at the hotel is at 11:00. If you need a late check-out in case of an evening departure, there is the possibility of extending the time of stay for an additional fee.