Kilimanjaro – Lemosho Route With Overnight at Crater (9 Days)

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear, which is missing, can be rented on this day. 

Hotel is Bed & Breakfast basis.

You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00 am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process, you will still start your climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night. 

Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi
Approx. time took: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep. 

Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight. 

Distance covered: 8km / 5mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located at the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.

Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head toward the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night. 

Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit. 

Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Wake before dawn to start your summit approach. You’ll reach Uhuru Peak in the early afternoon when a few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set on soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier. Crater camp is not a route in its own right but a challenging extension that in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers.

Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 5-6 hours & 1-2 hours to Crater.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on the scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi 
Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Today you walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to your arranged hotel in Moshi.

Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi 
Approx. time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport. Our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at your time.