Lemosho Route via The Southern Circuit

Day 1 Lemosho Trailhead (7,800 ft./ 2,375 m) - Forest Camp (9,500 ft./ 2,895 m)

Departure from Arusha will be at around 7:30am for Londorossi gate, about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead). Upon arrival at trail-head, eat lunch, then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp, only about 3-4 hours of trekking. Overnight at Forest Camp (Mtee Mkubwa Camp)

Day 2 Forest Camp - Shira 1 Camp (12,200 ft./ 3,720 m)

Once out of the forest, take a steep track into a Savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. Ascend through the lush rolling hills below the Shira plateau, finally reaching camp at the edge of the plateau, a day of 5-6 hours trekking. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.

Day 3 Shira 1 Camp - Shira 2 Camp (12,600 ft./ 3,950 m)

Full day exploration of the Shira plateau; Trek east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, with the option to visit the ancient collapsed Shira cone, the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes. Arrive at Shira 2 camp (Fischers’s Camp), at 12,600 ft. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth, averaging 12,500 feet. Trekking time without the optional excursions is about 3 hours.

Day 4 Shira 2 Camp - Barranco Camp (12,950 ft./ 3,950 mt)

Proceed steadily upward over expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower, for lunch. The trek is about 4 hours. Lava Tower, a 300 foot volcanic plug, marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set in a valley enclosed on three sides with the massive valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjari), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Trekking time is 6-7 hours. A resupply of fresh food and supplies will reach camp this evening.

Day 5 Barranco Camp - Barafu Camp (15,200 ft./ 4,630 m)

The day begins with a scramble up the steep ‘Barranco Wall’, then traversing up and down the slopes of valleys which have carved their way into the mountain’s southern face. Kibo’s glaciers loom above to your left and the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jut into the African sky at just under 17,000 feet straight ahead. We reach the Karanga Valley after 3-4 hours of trekking to find a hot lunch served. From here the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. The trekking time is 7-9 hours. Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring early to your tent for rest and sleep.

Day 6 Barafu Camp - Crater Camp (18,800 ft./ 5,730 m)

A 5am wake-up call is the start of a juggernaut (7-10 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 6am up the winding path of endless switchbacks. After about 6-9 hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater, at Stella Point, at 18,870 feet (5,750 m), which is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gently sloped trek of 30 min- 1 hour across the lunar landscape of the inner crater, to reach the Crater Camp. Our camp is set in soft sands near the retreating vertical ice walls of the Furtwangler glacier. Rest and enjoy snacks and hot drinks in the mess tent, then opt to explore the strange lunar landscape of the inner crater, to include a visit to Reusch Crater, the ash pit, and the glaciers. So few that trek Kilimanjaro ever experience the summit zone in this way.

Day 7 Crater Camp - Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft./ 5,895 m) - Mweka Camp (10,070 ft./ 3,070 m)

Rise early to watch the sunrise from the summit, which will take about 1.5 hours from Crater Camp. After a short time at the summit, descend along the gently sloping crater rim to Stella Point, then descend back to Barafu Camp for lunch. In the afternoon continue the descent into the Heather Zone to Mweka Camp for the night. The trekking time from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp will be from 6-8 hours. Total trekking time is from 8-10 hours.

Day 8 Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate (5,370 ft. /1,635 m)

Descend straight to the gate (2-3 hours), where you’ll have lunch and will be awarded climbing certificates. Transfer back to Arusha for a much-welcomed shower!