8 Days Lemosho Route

Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We rise in the morning with a hearty breakfast then a descent into the ravine below the much dreaded Great Baranco Wall, a steep 900 ft wall that doesn’t require many skills to navigate. on climbing the wall, we traverse a chain of hills and valleys that lead to a sharp descent into the Karanga valley. Not. much is expected on this day as it is a brief day meant for acclimatization by climbing again to the Karanga Camp located just above the Karanga Valley on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After the usual breakfast in the morning, our trekking from Karanga Camp takes us to a trail that meets with the Mweka route. Hiking continues for a while until the Barafu Hut Camp which is characterized by rocky terrain. Reaching Barafu Camp will reward you with amazing 360-degree views of the Kibo summit and it also marks the end of the expedition along the Southern Circuit of Kilimanjaro. It is at Barafu Camp that we will set up our camp for the day to rest, have dinner and get ready for the midnight summit attempt. Before dinner, we make an acclimatization trip to the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800m) before heading back to Barafu Camp for a hot dinner. You can easily see the two peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mawenzi and Kibo peaks towering from a distance.

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic
Uhuru Peak-Mweka Camp
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
It is D-Day, the day that we have been waiting for! At around midnight 00:00 hrs, we begin our ascent to the summit – Uhuru Peak. Not only is making the hike to the summit physically demanding, but it is also mentally challenging as you have to withstand extreme weather, winds, and a chilly night, sometimes in total darkness unless you are climbing the 8-day Lemosho route on a full moon. Head torches will come in handy here as you take frequent and brief breaks. Yes, it is challenging but a worthwhile experience as you are set to be amazed by the most beautiful views and sunrises beginning from Stella Point (18,900 ft) up to the summit point, Uhuru Peak. This is the highest point in Africa also nicknamed the rooftop of Africa at 5,895 m above sea level.

From the peak, your last point of climbing on the Lemosho route, you will now make your way down the mountain by descending to Mweka Hut Camp, making a brief stop at Barafu Camp for lunch. Watch your knees as using your lower body to break and carry your upper body can be quite hard on the knees, this is when trekking poles will be of great help. The weather around Mweka Camp, the upper rainforest zone can be unpredictable, so expect mist or rain at any time of the day, especially during late afternoons. It is here at Mweka Hut Camp that we rest, have dinner, and spend the night.

Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
This day marks the end of our 8-day Lemosho route trek on Mount Kilimanjaro as we carry on descending the mountain to Mweka Gate where we will be awarded our certificates for reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The area around Mweka Gate and its environs is usually muddy and wet. After collecting our certificates we proceed to Mweka Village, a short trek that takes about 1 hour where we will board an awaiting vehicle provided by Tranquil Kilimanjaro to transport us back to our hotel or lodge in Moshi, preferably Chanya Lodge, Ameg Lodge or similar.