Lemosho

Pick up at the hotel in Arusha or nearby cozy town of Moshi at 8:30 am, 3 hours drive to the Londorossi park’s gate to acquire your climbing permit and fill in your particulars in the park’s register. By then all the equipment will be weighed in, to see how many porters you may need. Each porter is only allowed to carry 20 kg in addition to their own gears that they have to show to the park staff for safety reasons.
Then an adventure 4X4 drive to the Lemosho glades or starting point (2,100m) where you’ll unload and have lunch there. The hike starts right off on a steep jungle trail. It will take you about 3 ½ hours to get to the Big Tree Camp (2,850m), with widely spaced Juniper trees with thick underbrush on scenery. Tents are ready pitched at the camp while water is been fetched and the Chef prepares meals for supper. Overnight temperatures can reach freezing levels, so frost can be expected in the morning.

It’s the only route on Kilimanjaro where you walk through a series of valleys, resulting in the frequent gain and loss of altitude. The route is one of a few where on the first days you may have opportunity to see some big game as buffalo, elephants and others. While, black and white colobus and blue monkeys are often seen skimming the tree tops on the first two days.

This day, in some way it is the longest of the hike, by passing throughout the rainforest early on, and into the heather moorlands, which start out about 10’ tall and get shorter and shorter as the climb take place. Knowing this day is longer the Chef will prepare a snack bagged after breakfast so that you can stop on the way and have your snacks. When reaching a ridge at noon they will be waiting there with the kitchen and toilet tents all set up for a hot meal. From there we’ll head straight up along the ridge and around an old caldera rim to a low spot where the lava had broken out and around the backside onto an open plateau. And finally, the first fleeting glimpse of the glaciers at the top peeking through the clouds on the way to Shira1 Hut. The vegetation is down to tufted grasses and low shrubs and larger lava formations. Will Overnight at Shira1 Hut, 3,505m.

The first third of the hike will be across flat Shira Plateau and the path will lead you to the junction of Shira2 Hut and Moir, will head to the Scott Fischer Memorial Campground. This will be an easy afternoon, passing some interesting rock formations were slate had floated up through the magma, along with mixtures ash, all of this has been modified by recent glaciation. Will overnight at the very sheltered Moir Hut beside a lateral moraine at (4,200 m) finding a partial elephant skeleton.
Hopefully by now, you would have adapted to the cold nights and early mornings.

Lost most of the vegetation early on, so it looks like a moonscape with just a few tufts of grass in sheltered spots. The day begins as you experience many significant altitude changes traversing around the mountain to the southeast side. Heading towards the Lava Tower (4,630m) crossing both junction, one from Shira2 Hut and the other via Machame route. Lunch stop at the tower, afterwards descending down to Barranco hut (3,976m) offers great photo opportunities of the awe-inspiring Western Breach and Breach Wall. Barranco hut is located in a valley below the Breach and The great Barranco Wall. This is the perfect place to collect clean drinking water that is found running off streams supplied by melting snow and ice – most refreshing! While you wait for the spectacular sunset the chef will prepare your evening meal.

 
On this part of the trek you will learn from the lizard when the mountain becomes steep. This creature has a very careful climbing technique and you will do likewise – using opposing arms and legs to force your body upwards. Push left, push right – this creates an axis that can be drawn diagonally through the body, allowing you to move your right foot and left hand freely upwards against the wall. Heading to Karanga valley and on your way will pass through a few valleys offering great views of Heim, and Decken Glaciers that form part of the southern ice fields. Overnight in Karanga campsite at (3,995m) with spectacular view of Moshi town.

Almost the entire hike to Barafu camp (4,673m) is uphill and situated on an exposed and dangerous ridge, so it is important to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. As on the other days the chef will prepare your evening meal, giving you a perfect opportunity to prepare your equipment for the summit hike, which we will do on the night at around midnight. Ensure you change the batteries in your headlamp and camera. The higher you go the colder it will get, so we suggest you take water in a thermal flask to avoid freezing. As a Guide I advise you.

At around midnight (6 hours) walk heading onto north eastern direction up the south east valley towards Stella Point (5,739m) on the crater rim. While hiking on the cold night and the footpath steep and rocky, the long walk to Stella Point is both mentally and physically challenging. This is where most people are affected by altitude sickness. It is important to keep your guide informed if you do not feel well. Depending on weather conditions, you could encounter snow and ice from below Stella Point all the way to Uhuru Peak (5895m). This stretch takes about an hour and offers spectacular views of Rebman, Decken, Kersten and Heim Glaciers. Above all you will be rewarded, not only with the amazing sense of achievement of reaching the ‘Roof of
Africa’ but also the most beautiful African sunrise ever. The time that you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions.

From here you will descend back to Barafu hut for a short rest, something to eat and to collect the rest of your equipment. Then your descent continues down on a different route to spend your final night on the mountain at Mweka hut (3,068m). The hike out is one of extremes, from the dry thin air at the Summit to the upper edge of the rainforest again and every step is down so we now say Shuka Mlima, “descent the mountain”.
When reaching Mweka hut the chef will prepare you a well-earned dinner.

After breakfast will continue with another day of every step down to the gate and sign out, at the gate, you will say farewell to your hiking crew, get into the car then drive to Moshi/Arusha back to the hotel for a well-earned shower and drinks to celebrate your achievement.

What an exciting breathtaking trip of a life time!