8 Days Western Breach 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. At the gate we pay our park fees and get the trek permit. 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 Gane & Marshall One, 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 Moir camp. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular. It's about a 3-4 hour hike. Once we settle in, we'll take an "acclimatizing hike" to the Lent Group Mountains at 14,950 ft. This is the "hike high, camp low" rule. It's a key part of getting your body used to the altitude. The view at the Lent Mountains is fantastic. It's a 2-hour round trip.
Day 4 In this Alpine Moorland Zone, the plants are extremely hardy, and consist of lichens, grasses, and heather among others. The view of our climb up the Western Breach is truly magnificent. We have some funa and take a non-technical scramble up to the top of the Lava Tower rock.. You get a spectacular view from the top of the rock of Kibo Peak, Mt. Meru and the rocky terrain. Today's hike is about 6-7 hours.
Day 5 After climbing for a while you begin to see our route up the breach appear. A 2-3 hour climb gains us only a few hundred feet in altitude, to our campsite near Arrow Glacier. We will take a hike after lunch, up to a great viewpoint to help us acclimatize, and then
head back to relax around camp.
Day 6 We repack our gear, taking only what we'll need for this one day. The porters will carry the rest of our gear around to Mweka Camp, where we will rendezvous
with them on our descent. We slowly wind our way up the breach (non-technical route) for around 7 hours until we reach the edge of the crater floor. We will have time to hike around the inner crater before going on to our camp on the crater floor. There might be
snow along this part of the climb. We spend the remainder of the day taking it easy, and enjoying our camp at the highest possible altitude.
Day 7 We spend about 2 hours hiking up to Uhuru Peak, the summit. After enjoying the spectacular view, exploring the surrounding area, and taking tons of photos. After all the celebration, we head down to our last camp on
the mountain, "high" in more ways than one. You will be totally ecstatic after summiting. We descend toMweka Camp, and your lungs will thank you as you as
you breathe the oxygen-rich air. We enjoy acelebration meal, prepared by the our cook at camp,and enjoy our last night on Kilimanjaro.
Day 8 In the morning we have a 3-4-hour walk down to the road-head.. After lunch it's time to say goodbye tothe porters. We then get a lift back to the hotel anda well-deserved shower, and a beer with our guides.