8 Day Lemosho Route (Luxury)

After breakfast and the briefing, make the roughly 2.5-hour journey to Londorossi Park Gate. Lemosho Glades can be reached from here by a woodland track that requires a 4WD vehicle. To get to the Mti Mkubwa (large tree) campsite, follow the woodland pathways.

The elevation is between 1830m/6000ft and 2650m/8700ft. The distance is 6km/4mi. The hiking time is two to three hours. Montane Forest is the habitat.

Included meals were breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Low-cost lodging: Mti Mkubwa Camp

We keep going after breakfast as the trail progressively gets steeper and passes through the area of enormous heather moorland. Following the crossing of multiple streams, we proceed across the Shira Ridge and then slowly descend to Shira 1 Camp, which is situated by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

-- Distance: 8 km/5 mi; Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft
-- Time Spent Hiking: 4-5 hours Habitat: Moorland

Included meals were breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Spending limit Accommodations: Camp Shira 1

Shira 2 camp is located on moorland meadows near a stream after a leisurely trek across the plateau following breakfast. This is a great day for acclimatization because the Plateau offers a range of hikes.

-- Distance: 8 km/5 mi; Elevation: 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft
-- Time Spent Hiking: 4-5 hours Habitat: Moorland

Included meals were breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Spending limit Accommodations: Camp Shira 2

From the Shira Plateau, we proceed eastward along a ridge, past the intersection, in the direction of Kibo's summit. Our course shifts to the southeast as we proceed in the direction of the Lava Tower, also known as the "Shark's Tooth" (elev 4650m/15,250ft). We reach the second intersection leading to the Arrow Glacier shortly after the tower. We proceed to the Barranco Camp presently. This day is crucial for acclimatization and will assist your body get ready for summit day, even though you finish the day at around the same elevation as when you started.

• Distance: 8 km/5 mi • Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft • Walking Time: 5-6 hours Environment: semi-desert

Included meals were breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Low-cost lodging options: Barranco Camp

Following breakfast, we depart Barranco and ascend the Barranco Wall, which is a steep hill, to reach the Karanga Valley and the intersection of the Mweka Trail.

-- Distance: 5 km/3 mi; Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
-- It took 34 hours to hike. Alpine Desert habitat

Included meals were breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Low-Cost Lodging: Karanga Valley Camp

We keep going till we reach the Barafu Camp. You have finished the South Circuit, which provides a variety of perspectives on the peak. Here, we set up camp, relax, eat dinner, and get ready for the day of the summit.

-- Distance: 4km/2mi ---- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
-- Time Spent Hiking: 3–4 hours Alpine Desert habitat

Included meals were breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Low-Cost Lodging: Barafu Camp

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit.

Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

-- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft & Down to 3090m/10,150ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
-- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
-- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Mweka Camp

After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).

-- Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
-- Distance: 10km/6mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Forest

Enjoy a celebration dinner at your hotel!

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Coffee Lodge (Machare Farm)

Drive to Kilimanjaro Airport for departure or continue on for your safari.

Meals included: Breakfast