10 DAYS CLIMBING KILIMANJARO
LEMOSHO ROUTE IN 7 DAYS!
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Overview
Lemosho route is the route with the highest success rate.
In addition, this route offers a wonderful panoramic view of the beautiful landscape of West Kilimanjaro. In the second stage of this route, it joins the Machame route. On the way you will pass beautiful landscapes and landmarks such as the famous Barranco wall.
You can do the ascent via the Lemosho route in seven or eight days. The difference between the two routes: the 7-day tour starts at an altitude of 3500 meters, the 8-day tour starts at an altitude of 2200 meters. As the 8-day ascent begins at a lower altitude, you hike through the tropical rainforest on the first day. This is not the case for the 7-day ascent. Here you drive by car through the tropical rainforest and only hike through the tropical rainforest on your way back.
Patagonia Safaris offers you a truely unique service on the mountain.
Kilimanjaro is the ultimate challenge! You will be accompanied by professional guides, porters and a cook. Mountaineering is a rather primitive sport. Therefore you sleep in tents on the Lemosho route, but they are of high quality. In addition, our crew will amaze you with their professionalism. Our health checks in the mornings and evenings are of high standards and are carried out with professional equipment. In addition, we ensure maximum comfort on the mountain. Tanzania Specialist is known for the good food that our top chefs serve you. This is one of our top priorities, as good food increases your chance of reaching the summit considerably.
When you request a quote from us for climbing Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route, you will also receive a number of informative documents to help you prepare.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport - Arusha
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver will transfer you to the hotel. Settle in and take time to relax and to get used to the African atmosphere. It is possible to book an extra day of rest prior to start of the climb, to give you ample time to acclimatise and recover from the flight. This extra day increases your chances of reaching the summit.
NOTE: The hotel below is suggestion for the first and last night. Depending on your preference we can offer you various options, from basic to luxurious accommodations. The choice is yours!
Overnight at Weru Weru River Lodge
Day 2: Drop off (3500 m/ 11,483 ft) - Shira 1 (3505 m/ 11,499 ft)
Elevation gain: 5 m | Distance: 5 km | Walking time: 1-2 hours Difficulty: easy | Environment: meadows
Your guide will arrive at the hotel in the morning, and you will drive approximately 4 hours by car to the west entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park (2,200 m).
The road leads through beautiful tropical rainforest. You arrive at the drop-off point at 3,500 meters where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Shira plateau for the first time. The walking route to the first camp is a flat which allows you to get used to the high altitude.
This will be your first day at this height, so it is highly recommended to follow these instructions from here: Drink as much water as possible. You can possibly take a Diamox tablet in case of symptoms of altitude sickness.
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 3: Shira 1 (3505 m/ 11,499 ft) - Shira 2 Camp (3900 m/ 12,795 ft)
Elevation gain: 395 m | Distance: 7 km | Walking time: 3-4 | Difficulty: easy | Environment: heather
In the morning you will depart from Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) to Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m). This walk is not difficult and you can enjoy a beautiful view of Africa and the unique flora of Kilimanjaro’s surroundings.
Shira 2 Camp is the perfect location to see Mount Meru (the fifth peak of Africa) – but you will only see the peak when the weather is clear. When you arrive at the camp you will have lunch and a 2 hours to rest, before you can take an acclimatization walk to Lava Tower Camp (elevation gain of 200m).
Note: The acclimatization walk is an easy hike with a slight rise in height, this will accelerate the acclimatization process. The acclimatization hikes are very important, they will increase your chances of success to summit and reduce the chance of altitude sickness.
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 4: Shira 2 Camp (3900 m/ 12,795 ft) - Lava Tower (4630 m/ 15,190 ft) - Barranco Camp (3960 m/ 12,992 ft)
Elevation gain: 730 m/ 2,395 ft | Elevation loss: 630 m/ 2,066 ft | Distance: 12 km | Walking time: 6-8 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: heather
Today the Lemosho route joins the Machame route. Today’s hike leads from Shira Camp 2 to the beautiful Lava Tower. This part of the climb has many asents and descents and offers beautiful views along the way. It is a long hike and you may start to feel a bit uncomfortable because of the height. It is therefore important to stay at Lava Tower for 1 to 2 hours in order for your body to adjust to the altitude.
We will use this time to have lunch here. After lunch, you descend to Barranco Camp. Here you will encounter strange looking flowering plants that grow up to five meters high! The Barranco Camp is located at the foot of the imposing Barranco Wall, which is impressive due to its sheer size and steepness. Fortunately, the path leading to it is not that difficult.
Option: If there are participants who prefer to choose a lower altitude route (instead of lava tower), it can be adjusted to a one with a maximum altitude of 4400 meters.
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3960 m/ 12,992 ft) - Karanga Camp (4035 m/ 13,238 ft)
Elevation gain: 75 m/ 246 ft | Distance: 5 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: heather
After breakfast you depart from Barranco Camp to the Barranco Wall. For many people this is their favorite part of the climb, partly because of the beautiful views. Once at the top of the Barranco Wall, for example, you have a spectacular view to the left of Kibo Volcano and to the right of Mount Meru.
Afterwards a more difficult hike starts to reach Karanga Camp. This route has many ascents and descents, but our guides are experts in choosing the right route and the right pace. When the camp is reached, it is time for lunch. After a few hours of rest, you will take an acclimatization hike from Barafu Camp, where you will have to complete an ascent with 300 meters elevation gain and then descend back to the camp.
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 6: Karanga Camp (4035 m/ 13,238) - Barafu Camp (4640 m/ 15,223 ft)
Elevation gain: 605 m/ 1,984 ft | Distance: 6 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: alpine desert
After breakfast the hike to Barafu Camp starts. This is the starting point for your ascent to the Uhuru Peak – the top of Kilimanjaro! You will arrive at the camp around lunch. Tents are set up in advance to relax on arrival at the camp. After you regain your strength, you can take an acclimatization hike to Kosovo Summit Camp (4800m) and then back to Barafu Camp.
There, a hot meal will be served when you return and you can relax for the rest of the day before starting the ascent to the top of Kilimanjaro around midnight!
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4640 m/ 15,223 ft) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m/ 19,340 ft) - Millennium Camp (3820 m/ 12,532 ft)
Elevation gain: 1255 m/ 4,117 ft | Elevation loss: 2075 m/ 6,807 ft | Distance: 15 km | Walking time: 8-12 hours | Difficulty: difficult | Environment: arctic
At night you depart Barafu Camp to start your ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak). It is a climb on good trails and the most challenging part is the high altitude. There is one personal guide per two climbers in order to keep a close eye on the climbers physically and mentally health.
If the ascent is successful, you can descend to the nearest glacier if you wish. Then you return to Barafu Camp to start the descent to Millennium Camp after 2 hours of rest. When descending, pay close attention to where you put your feet to prevent any injury.
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 8: Millennium Camp (3820 m/ 12,532 ft) - Mweka Gate (1650 m/ 5,413 ft)
Elevation loss: 2170 m/ 7,119 ft | Distance: 12 km | Walking time: 4-5 | Difficulty: easy | Environment: rain forest
The Camp is located in a tropical rainforest. You will awake with a pleasant feeling due to the reduction in altitude and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After breakfast you will exit the park and the entire group comes together to congratulate each other.
The cost of the hotel is not yet included in the price. In consultation we are happy to find a hotel that suits your needs best.
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Day 9- 10: to Kilimanjaro airport
Today you can relax at the lodge or explore the surrounding area. You can choose to extend your journey with a beautiful Tanzania Safari. Another option is to unwind on the tropical Zanzibar Island or one of the other exotic beach destinations. If you choose to fly home after your Kilimanjaro trek, you will arrive back home on day 10.
How fit do you need to be to climb Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route?
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a real challenge due to the altitude, rate of ascent and different temperatures. During an average climbing via Lemosho route day you will walk 6-7 hours per day. If you are healthy and fit it is absolutely within reach. There are many things you can do to increase your chances to reach the summit and to make sure you enjoy the trek. It’s important you take your time. Don’t hike too fast so your body has time to adapt and acclimatize.
Being in good shape also makes the climb much easier. Go hiking a few months before the climb, especially multiple day hikes are excellent training. But also running and aerobic exercise are a good preparation. It is always difficult to predict who will be affected by altitude sickness. Fortunately the Lemosho route offers good opportunities to ‘walk high and sleep low’ which is essential to avoid altitude sickness. This route (with extra day for acclimatizing) gives climbers enough time to acclimatize properly and the trails are pretty good. Not many people experience altitude sickness on this route to the summit.
By adding 1 extra day to your climb, you will reduce the chance to get altitude sickness. Because you spread the climb over more days and your body gets more time to get used to the higher altitude. We do really advice to do this to increase the chance of making it to the top. The costs of this extra day are $ 346 per person.
Includes
- Pick up Kilimanjaro Airport, transfer to lodge/hotel
- Transfer lodge/hotel to Kilimanjaro Airport
- Private guide speaking fluently English
- Private cook speaking fluently English
- Park Fees for national park
- Porters who carry your luggage
- Accommodation in huts
- Chairs and tables for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Dinner-tent
- Rescue fee
Excludes
- International flight tickets and tourist visa
- Accommodation on day of arrival and departure
- Insurances (travel, flying doctors, Tipping etc)