Tanzania Trekking - Kilimanjaro Treks
Lemosho Route
Climb
Tips for Kilimanjaro Climbers
This is the longest and most remote route
to Kilimanjaro. After beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira
Plateau to meet up with the Machame Route. Groups may be accompanied on the
first day by an armed ranger as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are
rich in buffalo, elephant and other game. The South Circuit is then
followed, offering superb views of the Southern Icefields, past the Barranco
Hut then on to Barafu and hence the summit. Descent is by the Mweka Route.
A party wishing to ascend slowly can
comfortably take 8 days on this route as described below. However the
campsite at Shira Hut and at Karanga Valley could be left out by a very
strong party on request. Accommodation on the mountain is in tents which the
porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and
walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit
individual used to walking in mountain areas.
We can pick you up at the airport and taking you to Springlands Hotel where you can relax by the pool or go for an evening
monkey-viewing forest walk. You then go up your chosen route. We do not charge
you extra if you are on your own! You will have a guide, a cook and porters to
carry as much of your equipment as you want. We organise year round trips on any
route. On the last day you return to the hotel for a clean up, final meal and
overnight, this is a good time to have a sauna or maybe a massage. Everything is
included in our prices except for drinks, tips and the hotel is on a B&B basis.
For high seasons (Christmas - New Year and July - August) please book in advance
to avoid disappointment.
Now take a look at the routes available up the mountain
ranging from the least demanding Marangu to the rugged and spectacular Umbwe or
long and wild Lemosho. The Machame Route is a popular one as it combines the
beautiful and varied scenery with plenty of opportunities to acclimatise.
If you are not accustomed to camping and mountain walking you
could consider the Marangu Route as the most suitable. This follows easy angled
paths through magnificent rain forests to the Mandara Hut. Shortly beyond it
passes Maundi Crater, a fine view point located at the edge of the forest belt.
Above you enter the moorlands with their fine giant heathers stands, groundsels,
lobelia and other exotic tropical high altitude plants. The next hut is the
Horombo Hut, soon after this hut you reach the Saddle, a high altitude desert
separating the rugged Mawenzi summit from Kibo. The final ascent starts from the
Kibo Hut and involves steep paths on loose scree. There is fresh running water
at all the huts apart from Kibo where it will be carried by your porters. You
will be accommodated generally in 4 person clean huts with mattresses.
The other routes are all more demanding as regards steepness
and in places involve some scrambling. Accommodation is in tents and there is no
running water at the campsites though warm water for washing is provided. The
scenery more than compensates for these difficulties. Whichever route you choose
it is essential to allow enough time for acclimatisation to the altitude.
Although
Mt. Kilimanjaro can be climbed throughout the year it is worth avoiding the
two rainy seasons (late March to mid-June and October to the beginning of
December) when the route becomes slippery. Probably the best time to visit is
January to February and September to October when there is usually no cloud.
DAY 1:
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport/ By any means and transferred to
Springlands Hotel.
DAY 2:
After breakfast, drive to the Londorosi Park Gate, elevation 7’300 ft. The drive
is about 5 hours. Continue driving up towards to the Gate, starting point, then
walk up to Mti mkubwa campsite at approximately 11’000ft elevation, stopping for
lunch. Arrive at the campsite, set up camp, and eat dinner during early evening.
The drive through the Shira plateau is one of the best opportunities to see big
game on Kilimanjaro.
DAY 3:
Wake to breakfast, breaks the camp, and begins the short hike from Mti Mkubwa to
Shira hut campsite, elevation 12’500ft. This is usually takes no more than 2
hours, but this rest is required for adequate acclimatization. The west face of
Kibo volcano (usually referred as Kilimanjaro) looms above the campsite. Have
lunch, set up camp, rest or take a day hike, and eat dinner during early
evening. This hike traverses the lower moorland where large shrubs and
wildflowers dominate 5 the landscape.
DAY 4:
Wake to breakfast, break camp, and begin the hike during mid morning. This 5 to
6 hours hike continues through the lower moorland sometimes climbing steeply and
sometime descending just as steeply to reach Barranco Hut campsite directly
below the south face of Kibo (stopping halfway for lunch as usual). Elevation is
12’800ft. The view of northern Tanzania and Mount Meru to the west are amazing,
not to mention the view of Kibo itself. Set up camp, rest and eat dinner during
early evening.
DAY 5:
Wake to breakfast, break camp, and begin the final day of hiking/climbing before
the summit day. Climb to Barafu hut campsite on the southeast side of Kibo to
meet the summit trail, again stopping for lunch. This 4 to 5 hours hike
traverses the alpine desert where the sheer ruggedness of Kilimanjaro is
breathtaking. Barafu hut campsite is situated at an elevation of 15’100ft. Set
up camp, eat a very early dinner and get some rest. The summit day starts early.
DAY 6:
Wake at about 12: 30am to alight snack and begin the summit climb. The winding
switchbacks climb slowly toward the crater rim and Stella Point (approx.
18’500ft). From Stella Point, one can see the inner crater and the ash cone not
to mention the amazing glaciers covering the South face of Kilimanjaro. Continue
another half hour to the rooftop of Africa – Uhuru Peak at 19’340ft. Stop for a
bit of rest and photo opportunity. Views of Mawenzi to the east and Mount Meru
to the west as well as the rift valley, northern Tanzania, and southern Kenya
are breathtaking. At this range, Kilimanjaro glaciers are as awe-inspiring as
they are pristine. After a rest, descend back to Barafu hut campsite, break camp
and descend to Mweka hut campsite at 9’850ft elevation. Set up camp, eat dinner
and get some well-deserved rest. A long day of hiking totaling to approximately
12- 14 hours, depending on the fitness of the climber.
DAY 7:
Wake to breakfast, break camp, and begin the short hike won to the park gate ate
Mweka at approximately 5’500ft elevation. Drive from park gate back to Moshi –
Springlands hotel.
DAY 8:
Depart for the airport or other destination in Tanzania.
Option 2
DAY 1:
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport/ By any means and transferred to
Springlands Hotel.
DAY 2: Drive
from Moshi or Arusha to Londorossi Park Gate (2250m, 1.5 hours). From here a
forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2000m, 11Km.
45minutes) and a possible campsite. Walk along beautiful forest trails to Mti
Mkubwa (big tree) campsite, (2750m, 3hours).
DAY 3: The
trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone then crosses
the shira ridge at about 3600m to drop gently d own to shira 1 camp located by
the stream on the shira plateau (3500m, 5hours).
DAY 4: A
gentle walk across the plateau leads to shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a
stream (3850m, 1.5 hours). A variety of walks are available on the plateau
making this an excellent acclimatization day.
DAY 5: The
moorlands soon come to an end and the rock y path leads amongst outcrops to the
Lava tower (this is optional if one not taking western breach) where there are
good campsites (4600m, 5 hours) then continue to Barranco hut (3900m, 2hours).
DAY 6: After
breakfast we leave barranco ridge, walk up the barranco wall that ends up at the
foot of the Heim glacier. Passing the barranco wall Walk along to along to
Karanga valley (4 hours). Continue to the Barafu hut which is located at an
altitude of (4 600 m) here we make camp, Rest enjoy dinner and overnight. The
two peaks of mawenzi and kibo are. To be seen from this position.
DAY 7: Wake
up very early, at around midnight, take some light tea with cookies, Start
trekking to the summit, the Uhuru peak (5895m 8hours). Spend sometimes at the
summit; Start descending to Barafu hut for brunch and some rest, then walk down
to Mweka hut for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8: After
breakfast, walk down the Mweka Montane forest to the Mweka gate, board the
already waiting vehicle and drive back to Moshi town-Springlands.
DAY 9:
Depart for the airport or other destination in Tanzania
The
Various climbs include:
-
Springlands Hotel on the first and last night on B&B
basis
-
Transportation
from Moshi to the starting point and return to Moshi
-
National
Park gate fees
-
Hut
fees / Camping fees
-
Rescue
fees / Park Commission
-
Guides
& Porters salaries
-
All
meals on mountain
-
Government
tax
For
sodas and other drinks bring smaller Tanzanian
bank
notes with you, change is scarce on the mountain
