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CLIMBING KILIMANJARO
CLIMB: LEMOSHO ROUTE 8 DAYS
The Lemosho Route is an unspoilt, remote, little-used
and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. It can either
be used to gain the Western Breach route or followed by
the Kibo South Circuit to ascend
Country: Tanzania
Duration: 8 days
Persons: Min 2.
Game Parks: Mt Kilimanjaro National Park
Activities: Mountain Climbing, Hiking
Day 1: Depart Nairobi by Boarding Riverside shuttle
bus or Davanu shuttle bus at 8am either in Nairobi
airport or hotel in Nairobi then drive through Namanga
border /Arusha Arriving at Moshi at 3.30 pm.Ovenight
buffalo hotel bed and breakfast.
DAY 2
Londorossi Gate (2100m) - Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by
breakfast and a 2-hour drive from Moshi (910m) to
Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). The guides and porters
prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the
village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can also
buy mineral water in the village. From here a forest
track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades
(2100m, 11km, 45 minutes). You will have a lunch stop
about half way and will reach the Machame camping area
in the late afternoon. Walk along forest trails to Mti
Mkubwa (big tree) campsite, (2750m, 3 hours). Your
porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will
have your tent set up on your arrival. In the evening
the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the
cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent
for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to
freezing point at this campsite.
DAY 3
Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m) - Shira 2 camp (3840m)
Hiking time: 6.5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
You rise early at Mti Mkubwa camp and, after breakfast,
you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and
then the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant
heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed. A
gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira 2-camp on
moorland meadows next to a stream (3840m). By now you
will be able to see, in an easterly direction, the
Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. The porters
will boil drinking and washing water, before serving
dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be
colder than the previous night, with temperatures
dropping to well below freezing. Enjoy dinner and
overnight.
DAY 4
Shira (3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Semi desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky
landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an
altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is
served in a designated area before ascending the rocky
scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely the
toughest day so far. It is normally around this point,
where for the first time, some climbers will start to
feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and
headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m
to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high
altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true
acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This
descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers
great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs
of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is
situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco
Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset
while you wait for your dinner.
DAY 5
Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 13 km's
Habitat: Alpine desert
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a
very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this
awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally
turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out
just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how
beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads
down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges
and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route.
This is the preferred route down from the summit, so
remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another
hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut. The last water stop on
the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water
at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and
it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the
night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the
tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous
ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the
terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit
is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final
ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick
and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This
should include the replacement of your headlamp and
camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set
available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise
to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at
round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and
sleep.
DAY 6
SUMMIT ATTEMPT Barafu camp (4550m)--Uhuru Peak
(5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7/8 hours to
descend to Mweka
Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea you
shuffle off into the night. You will head in a
northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree
towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk
to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and
physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella
Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be
rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever
likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point
you will normally encounter snow all the way on your
2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on
the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not
stop here for too long, as it will be extremely
difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy
your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest
of your live. The walk back to Barafu from the summit,
takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned
but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before
heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not
difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path
into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The
camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain
can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner, and
washing water will be prepared as well as drinking
water.
DAY 7
Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Forest
After an early breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and
scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is strongly
recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you
and all your gear have reached the gate safely.From the
Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka
village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the
Mweka village you will and drive back to Moshi for a
long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
Overnight in Moshi hotel
DAY 8. Depart for Nairobi by shuttle bus for Moshi
-Nairobi at 11am arriving at 6.30 pm .or flight to KIA
or continue with a Safari With Us
The price is inclusive of:-
two return transfers from Nairobi airport/city to Moshi
2 transfers from Moshi to Lemosho park gate -return
3 meals per day while trekking -
Vegetarian/Non-Vegetarian
9 days Kilimanjaro trek- Lemosho
8 nights accommodation in camps while trekking Lemosho
First and Last night accommodation at YMCA/Buffalo hotel
Moshi -Bed and Breakfast.
All park entrance fees and government levies
English speaking mountain Guide and assistant guides
Porters- a maximum of 2 per client
Mess Tent, tables, chairs, toilet tents.
The Price does not include:
Gloves, Sun glasses, Sleeping bag, Hats , Rain suits,
Warm Jacket,
Heavy boots, Scarf's, Rain Trousers, tents
Note: All the above items can be hired at a reasonable
price
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