Lemosho Glades Route - 7 nights/8 daysDay 1
LONDOROSSI GATE to MTI MKUBWA (9,170 ft.) A three-hour drive from Moshi brings you to the Londorossi Park Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate after registration you pick up game ranger who will accompany you, as you might encounter elephants and buffaloes during your trek. Drive to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades and start your trek through the rain forest. In places the vegetation is so untouched that it grows right across the narrow track. The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rain forest. Your trek today will be along a little used track known as Chamber's Route. In about 3-4 hours you will reach your camp in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).
Day 2
MTI MKUBWA to SHIRA ONE CAMP (11,500 ft.) After breakfast, start the climb cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone. Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is at the beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch you cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau which is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. Today you'll get your first close views of Kibo - the dramatic summit of Kilimanjaro.
Day 3
SHIRA ONE CAMP to SHIRA TWO CAMP (12,200 ft.) After breakfast continue hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira Two camp. You only gain 700 feet in elevation - this allows you to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular.
Day 4
SHIRA TWO CAMP to BARANCO HUT (12,675 ft.) Today's the last of the "easy days". It's about a 7 hour superb hike. You pass the Lava Tower, around the southern flank of Kibo, and slowly descend to Baranco, your most spectacular campsite, at the foot of Kibo Peak, looming high above. Your camp is only 465 feet higher than where you were last night, but our walk will have taken you just over 14,000 feet today. This is one of your most valuable days for acclimatization.
Day 5
BARANCO HUT to KARANGA VALLEY - BARAFU (14,950 ft.) After breakfast, your first obstacle is to breach the Baranco Wall, a 600-foot rock. Once over wall, the climb becomes easier and extremely beautiful with fantastic views of the crags and crevasses of the jagged peaks on your left. Then you descend to the Karanga Valley. Some folks with time restrictions don't stop here in the Karanga Valley for an overnight camp. Continue straight on to Barafu Hut. If you continue, you'll find that it becomes a really long day, but it is certainly doable. We encourage you to spend the extra night here at Karanga, as it enables you to acclimatize to the altitude, and increases your chances of getting to the top. It's also a really great place on Kili.
The air is starting to get quite thin, and you will be running short of breath as you climb out of the Karanga Valley. It is a slow tough hike up to Barafu hut and you'll be glad you stayed at Karanga for the night. Barafu means "ice" in Swahili, and it is extremely cold at this altitude. Go to bed early 'cos we'll wake you at midnight for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak - the summit.
Day 6
BARAFU HUT to UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft.) to MWEKA HUT Dress warmly, because we start climbing around midnight, on the steepest and most demanding part of the mountain. The moon will provide enough light, and we'll reach Stella Point by sunrise. (About 6 hours) At dawn, from the Crater rim, rugged Mawenzi is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle still in darkness beneath you, and the crater's ice-walls looming ahead. If you feel strong enough, you should continue to Uhuru Peak (1-2 hours) This is the highest point in Africa, and the world's highest solitary peak (19,340 ft).
This is the toughest day that most trekkers have ever experienced. You will have ascended 3,600feet and descended 7,200 feet in a period of 12-15 hours. Although the descent is far less tiring, it's a good idea to have a little rest once in awhile as you continue down to Mweka Hut (3-4 hours from the top).
Day 7
MWEKA HUT to MWEKA GATE to MOSHI. In the morning we walk down to Mweka Gate. After a welcome lunch it's time to say "kwaheri" to the porters. We then get a lift back to the hotel and a well-deserved beer. This all takes 6 to 7 hours. (The walk and the ride -- not the beer). Drinks, dinner and a warm bed.Extra day
This is normally spent at Karanga Valley (14,950 ft
Alternative route
Day 5
BARANCO TO LAVA TOWER: After breakfast start the climb by crossing steep rocky cliffs heading north west towards the Lava Tower camp (4,600m) which is reached after 3 hrs. Hot lunch is served. If time permits, may have nature hike and possibly climb up the summit of Lava Tower. Return to campsite for hot dinner and overnight
Day 6
After breakfast at 0800 hrs. start the steep climb across rocky cliffs, stones and gravel to arrow Glacier camp (4,900m) which is reached after 2 - 3 hrs where hot lunch is served. If time permits, may climb half way up on the ice scree heading towards the crater rim and return to Arrow Glacier camp for hot dinner and overnight.
Day 7
An early wake up at around 0100 hrs for preparation and light breakfast before starting the final ascent to the crater rim (5,560m) which is reached after about 6 hrs. If physically fit, climb through the crater wall straight to Uhuru Peak (5,895m). This takes 1-1½ hrs. or walk through Stella Point, then continue along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. After signing descend through Stella Point to Barafu Hut where light lunch is served, then continue down to Mweka Hut (3,100m) for hot dinner and overnight.
Day 8
After breakfast, descend through the rain forest to Mweka Park Gate (1,800m). Receive mountain certificates and drive to Keys Hotel for hot showers, dinner and a warm bed.
Extra day
LEMOSHO VIA ARROW GLACIER (WESTERN BREACH) This is normally spend at Baranco Hut where you walk to Lava Tower and Arrow Glacier, returning to Baranco Hut for overnight.