9 DAYS LEMOSHO ROUTE KILIMANJARO CLIMBING
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with Praygod Africa Safaris, the Lemosho Route is widely considered to be the best route for Mount Kilimanjaro climb. It combines all the best features of the Machame route in terms of success rate but by starting a further round to the West it takes you up and over the spectacular Shira Plateau and at the same time avoids the crowds in the early part of the Machame route Over 8 days, you have a fantastic journey and a great chance of summiting successfully 9 Days lemons route Kilimanjaro Climb . Accommodation 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. The route can also be used to get onto the Western Breach for those who want to challenge themselves with an ‘extreme’ adventure. You are accompanied by an armed ranger on the first day, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephants and other big game animals.
DAY 1 ARRIVE DAY
Try to arrive at your lodge in Moshi before 3 PM the day before your climb. With prior arrangement, an airport pick-up to your lodge is available from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), or simply make your own way by taxi. We will gather in the afternoon for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check. We will also confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance. Drive: 45 minutes
DAY 2
After completing the necessary registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho trailhead. We often have our lunch in the glades before starting to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through the beautiful and lush forest. This area has a variety of games, including buffalo. We camp at Lemosho Forest Camp (8,700 ft). 2-3 hours · 2.9 miles elevation: +1,700 ft.
DAY 3
We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the centre of the plateau at Shira One (11,600 ft). 6-7 hours · 4.9 miles · elevation: +3,000 ft.
DAY 4
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower (15,150 ft), we descend to the bottom of the Barranco Valley to camp at Barranco Camp (12,800 ft), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below. 5-7 hours · 6.3 miles · elevation: +200 ft.
DAY 5
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields. The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to Karanga Camp (13,100 ft), the last water point on the way to the summit. 4-6 hours · 3.2 miles · elevation: +300 ft.
DAY 6
We follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu Hut (14,800 ft) for lunch. There is a short acclimatization walk to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent. 3-5 hours · 3.4 miles · elevation: +1,700 ft. gain
DAY 7
We start our ascent by headlamp at about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (18,800 ft), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite, Millenium Camp (12,500 ft). 11-15 hours · 8.2 miles · elevation: +4,545 ft · -6,845 ft
DAY 8
A sustained descent on a well-constructed path takes us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka (5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village, where we are transferred to your lodge in Moshi. 4-5 hours · 7.6 miles · elevation: -7,100 ft
DAY 9
After breakfast, we can arrange for a private transfer or taxi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
Drive: 45 minutes
INCLUSIONS
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labelled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional Mountain /guide
- All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water on all days
- Camping Equipment
- Porterage
EXCLUSIONS
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- The government imposed an increase in taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
- Rescue Fee
- Climbing Gear
- Sleeping Bag
