8 Days Lemosho Glades Route
Day 1 A three-hour drive from our Moshi Hotel brings us to the Londorossi Park Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro where we register our names. We drive to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades and start our 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. In about 3-4 hours we reach our camp in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).
Day 2 After breakfast, we start the climb cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone. Today is a 6-7hour trek with an altitude gain of 2,400 ft. A great lunch stop is at a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After
lunch we 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 After breakfast continue hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira Two camp. We only gain 700 feet in elevation this allows us to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular.
Day 4 Today's the last of the "easy days". It's about a 7 hour superb hike. We pass the Lava Tower, around the southern flank of Kibo, and slowly descend into the spectacular Barranco Valley, interspersed with giant lobelia and senecia plants. After arriving at our most spectacular campsite, everyone stands in awe at the foot of Kibo Peak, looming high above, on our left. Our camp is only 465 feet higher than where we were last night, but during the day, we will have climbed to just over 14,000 feet. This is one of our most
valuable days for acclimatization.
Day 5 (Extra day) Even though you can continue on to Barafu hut today, we think it's best to spend this extra day to help acclimatize to the altitude. Our first challenge of the day is to breach the Barranco Wall - not too tough, but a challenge nonetheless. Most of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo peak watching us over our left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up to Barafu hut.
Day 6 First thing, you will be making a steep hike out of the valley. The air starts getting quite thin, and you will be running short of breath. It's a tough, but rewarding uphill to the rocky, craggy slopes at the camp. "Barafu" means, "ice" in Swahili, and it is
extremely cold at this altitude. So, go to bed early because we'll be waking you at midnight for the final leg to Uhuru Peak.
Day 7 Dress warmly, because we start climbing around midnight, on the steepest and most demanding part of the mountain. The moon, if out, will provide enough light, and we'll reach the Crater rim by sunrise, after a 7 hour hike, and welcome a new dawn. From the
Crater rim, rugged Mawenzi Peak is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle still in darkness beneath you, and the crater's ice-walls looming ahead. We now continue to Uhuru Peak (1-2 hrs.) This is the highest point in Africa, and the world's highest solitary peak (19,340 ft). It's the best view in Africa! The descent is invigorating. It's a good idea to have a little rest once in awhile as you continue down back to Barafu Camp (4 hours), and then down to Mweka (4 hours). This is where we spend our last night on the
mountain.
Day 8 In the morning we have a 3-4-hour walk down to the road-head.. 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 with our guides. We overnight at our hotel.