Kilimanjaro climb: Lemosho Route

After your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you are greeted by our driver and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Relax a little at your hotel or take an excursion to the nearby safari capital of Arusha (taxi required). During the day, the participants meet at the hotel for a detailed briefing and the equipment check.

After a hearty breakfast, the transfer to Lemosho Camp at an altitude of 2,385 m takes place. Your guide takes care of the registration and explains once more in a short briefing how the coming days will be tackled. Then your Kilimanjaro climb along the Lemosho Route begins. The first 2- to 3-hour stage through dense montane rainforest takes you, on a moderate gradient and through unspoilt nature, to the first camp. Enjoy the magnificent landscape with its diverse flora and fauna. Today you spend the night in a tent at Big Tree Camp at 2,780 m.

You have breakfast at your camp and then follow the narrow path from the previous day once more, which becomes lighter and lighter as the altitude increases. Soon afterwards the tree line is passed and the moorland zone begins. Heath bushes, ericas and lobelias dominate the landscape here. After 4–5 hours you cross the Shira Ridge at approx. 3,600 m and pass Shira 1 Camp. Here you take a short break for lunch. With a bit of luck you are offered a magnificent panoramic view of Kilimanjaro’s little brother, Mount Meru, all the way to the Great Rift Valley. You then tackle the last 400 metres of altitude gain for today. After another 3 hours, Shira 2 Camp at an altitude of 3,900 m is reached. Overnight stay in a tent.

Today active acclimatisation is on the programme to increase your chances of reaching the summit. The first signs of Kilimanjaro’s alpine zone are already visible on your ascent to the Lava Tower at 4,640 m. Once there, you spend a little time at altitude to get your body used to it. You then descend again into the Barranco Valley. Here you will find many senecios and lobelias, which characterise this area. Today you spend the night at the most beautiful camp of the tour. Barranco Camp lies just below the 4,000 m mark, at 3,960 m. Overnight stay in a tent.

The fourth day of the climb is characterised by its ups and downs. Just half an hour after setting off from camp, the biggest challenge of the day stands in your way – the Great Barranco Wall. Your hands are the most important tool here, as you have to hold on at one spot or another. Our experienced mountain crew is of course on hand with helpful tips and tricks and happily lends a hand for support. Once the wall has been conquered, you continue through several small gorges up a seemingly endless ridge. Throughout, you have the Southern Glacier of Kibo in view. After 3–4 hours, today’s destination is reached. Overnight stay in a tent.

Today’s hiking route takes you along an almost endlessly long mountain ridge. You reach Barafu Camp at 4,640 m after approx. 3–4 hours. Here your cook prepares a hearty dinner in the evening to replenish your energy reserves. Overnight stay in a tent.

Now it is here, summit day! Around midnight you set off on the decisive summit stage. The goal is Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m. Here you can take unforgettable photos at the summit sign as the sun rises.

Stella Point at 5,730 m is first of all the first stage goal, which you will reach over frozen volcanic ash and scree. From here, a strong will and stamina are required to reward yourself with the summit photo on Uhuru Peak. You are now standing on the highest point in Africa with a breathtaking all-round view of the African continent. After the approx. 7-hour ascent, the descent to Barafu Camp follows swiftly. There the kitchen crew is already waiting for you with a delicious and well-earned hot soup. After the refreshment you set off on the 5- to 6-hour stage to Mweka Hut for one last night in a tent.

After yesterday’s long and strenuous summit day, today you reach Mweka Gate in 3–4 hours. Here you say goodbye to your loyal mountain crew and are taken back to the hotel. After the longed-for hot shower at your accommodation, you can celebrate your summit success at length.

After breakfast and check-out, you continue your individual travel programme or receive a transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.