Alternative Lemosho route
The Lemosho route, which starts from the western flanks of mount Kilimanjaro, is considered to be the most beautiful of all the trekking trails up Mount Kilimanjaro.The trail takes hikers through a beautiful rain forest, where they might have the chance to spot wildlife along the way. Blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and birds can be seen in the forest. From there, the path wanders on the moorland zone.
As one of the newer routes, which was opened in the late 1,900s to relieve Machame and Marangu routes from the traffic and open the western parts of the mountain to international tourists. Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route to do to its ideal balance of the lower crowds, beautiful scenery and a higher summit success rate than all the other routes in Kilimanjaro. It has more days to acclimatize and rest. Its climb high sleep low kind of itinerary, small distance between camps for some days and shorter elevation gain from day to day, makes it the best route to acclimatize. This help to maximize the health and safety of trekkers, as this is the key to make it safe to the top. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and they consistently report that they loved it. Lemosho route is highly recommended.
Together with Rongai, Lemosho is one of the most remote routes on Kilimanjaro>It takes around three hours driving through steep road to get to the trailhead from Arusha. That is why the prices for Kilimanjaro trips through Lemosho route are usually slightly higher.
The difference between the old Lemosho Northern Circuit routes on mount Kilimanjaro is the way they circumvent the peak. Both start in the west of the mountain at Lemosho gate, and are identical for the first three to four days(depending on the variation).On the Shira plateau, they split:
Old Lemosho route continues along the popular and most scenic southern slopes to join with the Machame route and its base camp is Barafu camp.
While the Northern Circuit rout branches off to avoid the busy southern circuit and circumvents the peak on the rarely visited northern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, near Kenya. Both routes join at Stella point on their way to Uhuru peak and follow the same descent route down to Mweka gate. While no Kilimanjaro route is easy, the Northern Circuit is generally considered to be one of the easiest routes to climb, due to its longer itinerary, which gives climbers plenty of time to acclimatize .
This is camping route and the: 84 Kilometers
TOTAL TREKKING TIME: 51 Hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE: 95%
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport(JRO),if you have chosen to take a flight to JRO,you will be met by your host outside customs area.Then you will drive to Arusha,to your hotel.One day before your climb,you will be met by your mountain guide,who will brief you about your climb and will check your gear too,in order to ensure that you have all necessary and proper climbing gear.For the gear that will be missing,it can be rented on the same day.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
ALTITUDE GAIN: 300m.
Forest camp or big tree camp, popularly known as ``mti mkubwa`` in Swahili language to mean a big tree, is a campsite which is located in the forest and it is surrounded by trees. It is the first campsite which is used by the Lemosho route climbers on their ascent. The camp lies on the western side of the mountain, next to a valley. As it lies in the forest zone, there almost always are no high winds at the camp, due to the trees around the camp.
You will get up early today for the last climb preparation and early breakfast. Pack the stuff that you are not going to take on the mountain in a sack and handle it to the receptionist, and your valuables including money, should be kept in the safe at the Hotel. The vehicle will be at your hotel at around 07:30,ready to pick you up. From the hotel, you drive first to the last shopping centre, where you can buy some snacks, energy bars or new batteries, if you want. From here, you drive to Lemosho Gate. At the gate, you will do registration and will have lunch from your lunch box as well. This process can last for more or less an hour, depending on how crowded the gate is. Then you will start your way up through the beautiful tropical rain forest. On the way up,if you are lucky, you will be able to spot some black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys, jumping on trees from branch to branch. The path will lead you to Forest camp,a camp which is located in the forest. The camp is also called `big tree camp`-mti mkubwa camp(in Swahili language)-At the camp you will find that all the tents have been set-up already, and warm washing water and tea in the mess tent are waiting for you.
Dinner and overnight at Forest camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 6KM.
TREKKING TIME: 4HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: FOREST
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,170m.
Shira one camp is found on the western side of the mountain and is the second camp on the Lemosho route. It is located on the Shira plateau, in the moorland zone. Some groups stop here only for lunch before carry on to the next destination, but the rest, those with 8 days and more usually overnight here. In this camp, in clear days, there are spectacular views of Kibo, different features in Shira like Shira plateau, Shira cathedral, Shira cone,Shira needle and Shira ridge. At the camp, there is only one large ranger`s wooden hut, that is solar-powered. There are also several small wooden toilets and one large toilet, and the toilets are in the form of pit latrines.
We will start our hike today in the rain forest and the trail will lead us out of the forest after about one walking hour. Then we will enter the heather and moorland zone, where there is erica arborea shrubs, tall tussock grasses and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.
You will have lunch at the camp. In the evening, its your time to relax at the camp and having tea and popcorn.
Dinner and overnight at Shira one camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 13KM.
TREKKING TIME: 6-7HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: MOORLAND
ALTITUDE GAIN: 340m.
Moyr hut camp is situated on the northeastern side of mount Kilimanjaro. It is the camp used by both northern and southern circuits routes but the next day, groups who take southern circuit will head to Barranco camp via Lava power and those who take the northern circuit will be heading to the opposite direction,to Pofu camp. The camp is one of the quietest camps on the mountain. It is in the semi-desert area and is hidden in a valley and on its north side it is surrounded by a steep hill known as the Lent hills.
After breakfast, you will traverse the Shira plateau and climbing the western slope of Kibo. The terrain during the climb will change from the moorland to alpine desert. After a couple of hiking hours, you will get to the junction to Shira 2 camp. You will take the left trail and a bit later, you will be hiking up to Fischers camp,for a little break. Then you proceed for about 1.30hrs.more to Moyr hut campsite for Lunch and overnighting. In the late afternoon, your guide will lead you to the top of the ridge for acclimatization hike, and you will likely gain about 130m. During the hike.
Dinner and overnight at Moyr camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 4KM.
TREKKING TIME: 7HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: MOORLAND
ALTITUDE LOSS: 120m.
The camp is located on the north eastern side of the mountain. It is just a small camp and used by only groups who take Lemosho northern circuit route. The camp is named after the largest antelope in Africa, Eland or Pofu in Swahili language. At this camp, you can have great views of plains in Kenya and the Amboseli National Park. This part is dry and receives small amount of rain. Today,we encountered a moderately steep climb out of Moir valley and delve more deeply in to the stark alpine desert. We trek North to Moyr valley,we go up the ridge of little Lent hill at 4,370m.Then we strike eastwards around the Northern circuit Trail, continuing up and down the undulating valleys on the northern face of Kibo.
On the way up, we will take a short lunch break, and we can eat from our lunch boxes and take a short rest. We will arrive at the camp in the late afternoon, and we will have warm washing water and tea/coffee with popcorns. The rest of the day time we spend for relaxing at the camp.
Dinner and overnight at Pofu camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 8KM.
TREKKING TIME: 7HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: MOORLAND
ALTITUDE LOSS: 140m.
Third cave is a large camp site which is located on the east side of the mountain. The camp receives groups from both Lemosho northern circuit and Rongai routes, and is the last camp up before heading to base camps (Kibo or School hut base camp). At the camp, there are great views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
Today is your short hiking day, so you get up a bit late, and begin your hike between 08:00 – 09:00, and walking up and down small hills. On the way, if the sky is clear, you will be able to see Mawenzi peak(second highest after Kibo).Today is one of the best days to acclimatize as you will be camping in a camp that is lower than the last night`s camp and up and down kind of walking increases the rate of acclimatization in your body.
You will arrive early afternoon to the camp and lunch will be ready. In the afternoon you will just rest at the camp, having tea/coffee and popcorns. You will also have warm washing water. At the camp, in clear days, great views of Kibo and Mawenzi can be found at the camp.
Dinner and overnight at Third cave camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 6km.
TREKKING TIME: 4hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE: Moorland
From Third cave camp (3,900m) To School hut base camp (4,800m) 5km/4hrs.
ALTITDE GAIN: 900m.
Then,
From School hut base camp (4,800m) to Uhuru peak (5,895m) 7.5km/8hrs.
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,095m.
School hut base camp is situated to the east side of the mountain and located at the base of Kibo cone. It is mostly used by Lemosho northern circuit trekkers, for the last night`s accommodation before the summit`s attempt. School hut is a small camp and the least visited base camp on Kilimanjaro.
In the morning after breakfast, you will start trekking towards the base camp. You will take the left trail and walk across the semi-desert area. The trail today is good one but steep. Although your body will have had enough time to acclimatize over the last days, you are likely to feel the altitude weighing down on you as you steadily climb higher towards school hut. Make sure you drink much water and walk polepole. You will arrive at the camp in the early afternoon and will take a short break before carrying on to the acclimatization hike, if the weather permits. After the excursion, you will come back down to the camp for lunch and summit`s briefing. Then you will spend the rest of day time for relaxing at the camp and doing some summit`s preparations. Expect to have early dinner for early sleep. You will be woken up later around 23:00.Then you will have just couple of minutes for last summit`s preparation. Make sure that you pack your sleeping bag and other stuf as you are not coming back there after the summit. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach the junction point with Kibo, where you will join other groups from Kibo base camp on their way to the summit. About half an hour later, you will be at Hans Mayer cave, which is the half way point to the rim of the crater. The last hour to the crater rim is very steep with boulders, but switch-back trails help a lot to reduce much energy and effort to be used by the trekker. At Gillman`s point, you will have been done with the most difficulty/challenging points, the remain trail to the official Summit is less steep and flatter to some points. Most of climbers get an opportunity to watch sunrise from the rim. Your guide will lead you in a comfortable and perfect pace to Uhuru peak, which will take you about half an hour or more to Stella point, then about one more hour to the highest point, Uhuru peak. At Uhuru peak, you may spend more or less 15minutes, depending to your condition, weather or population of climbers at the summit, for taking photos, enjoying views and drinking water.
ALTITUDE LOSS: 2,795m.
From Uhuru peak, you will start to walk back round to Stella point. From here, you will be descending in steeps through volcanic loose scree. It takes normally about two hours to reach Barafu base camp from Stella. At Barafu camp, you will have a short break before descending further down to the Mweka high camp or Millennium camp(3850m.) where you will have a lunch break. At this point, you will judge yourself; if you are still fit enough to carry-on, then you can walk further down for about one hour and a half to Mweka camp. But if you think that it is too much for you to carry-on, you have to tell your guide in advance, so that he can arrange your night sleep here, although our destination is at Mweka camp. Note: Mweka high camp is located still on high elevation, so not recommended much to sleep here!
Dinner and overnight at Mweka camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 14.5KM.
TREKKING TIME: 7HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: HEATHER
ALTITUDE LOSS: 1,460m.
This is your last day 0n the mountain. You will be walking down to the gate through the jungle. At the gate you will sign out and your guide will collect your summit`s certificate, hopefully you are going to make it !Then you will have a couple of minutes driving down to lunch point, where you will have hot lunch. After lunch you will have about 2 hours driving to Arusha town, back to your hotel.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 10KM.
TREKKING TIME: 3HRS.
We hope that, your stay in Tanzania during your tour with us, in our hands will be safe and enjoyable and your climb will be successful and a life time experience.
WISHING YOU A GREAT CLIMB!
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