KILIMANJARO PORTERS ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Above all, at Urth Expedition, we strive to have our porters treated well. Because of this, we are members of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). KPAP recognizes the value of the demanding labor these porters perform. They are committed to improving the working conditions of the porters on Kilimanjaro. We are also members of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC). IMEC has instituted a Partnership for Responsible Travel Program based on the Proper Porter Treatment Guidelines established by the Kilimanjaro stakeholders.
Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route is one of our preferred routes due to its low traffic, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. The Lemosho route starts off from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the lush rainforest to Shira Plateau. We recommend a minimum of 7 days to attempt this route but 8 days is preferable for better acclimatization and summit success. The Lemosho route joins the Machame route at Shira 2 Camp and then follows the same route through the southern circuit and descending at Mweka Gate.
Highlights:
The Lemosho is a beautiful route that departs from the West side of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Due to its route profile, the Lemosho can be completed on a seven or eight-day itinerary and offers lots of opportunities to properly acclimatize. Because of it’s versatile route profile, it is a highly recommended Kilimanjaro route that has relatively high summit success rates
It is also recommended as the starting point is relatively remote and hence provides trekkers with a rather untouched and wild start to their Kilimanjaro adventure. Spotting large wildlife, like antelope, buffalo, and even elephants is unusual but not impossible
The route also provides unparalleled and spectacular views of the dramatic gorges that characterize the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Lemosho offers trekkers the experience of hiking across the Shira Plateau – one of the largest high-altitude plateaus in the world
Trekkers on the Lemosho typically converge with Machame route on day 3 at Barranco camp and use the Barafu camp route to the summit; however, it is now quite common for Lemosho trekkers to veer north before Lava Tower to join the Northern Circuit, which circles the north side of Mount Kilimanjaro and follows an assault passage via Gilman’s Point. The Lemosho route can also be used by trekkers planning to climb the Western Breach to the summit
Like the Machame Route, the Lemosho has fully catered camping only
IN BRIEF:
Hike Distance - 37miles / 64 km
Vertical Gain - 15,441ft / 4706m
Drop - 16,070ft / 4898m
Trekking Time - 52 hours
Sample 10-Day Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day. Overnight at Mountain Lodge (or alternative).
Day 2
Lemosho Glades to Big Tree Camp
Elevation: 2,385 meters > 2,780 meters (7,825ft >9,121ft)
Distance: 7km / 4.3 miles
Trekking time: 4 -6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest/Rain Forest
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00 am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process, you will still start your climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho Glades to reach Big Tree camp, where you will be spending the night.
Day 3
Big Tree Camp to Shira 1 Camp
Elevation: 2,780 meters > 3,500 meters (9,121ft > 11,483ft)
Distance: 8.5km / 5.3 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp, where there are open views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable altitude today, and parts of the route are fairly steep.
Day 4
Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Elevation: 3,500 meters > 3,9o0 meters (11,482ft > 12,795ft)
Distance: 8km / 5 miles
Trekking time: 5 hours
Habitat: Moorland/Semi desert
Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization, and we will enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon, you will take an acclimatization walk, then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 5
Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 4,200 meters (13,780ft)
Distance: 11km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 7 -9hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon, we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located at the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.
Day 6
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation: 3,960 meters > 3,963 meters (12,106ft >13,002ft)
Distance: 5.5km / 3.4 miles
Trekking time: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and Nring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head toward the Karanga Valley. From here, we have a steep climb up from Karanga Valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.
Day 7
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation: 3,963 meters > 4,640 meters (13,002ft > 15,223ft)
Distance: 3km / 1.9 miles
Trekking time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit.
Day 8: summit day
Barafu Camp to UHURU PEAK and then down to Millennium Camp
Elevation: 4,640 meters > 5,895 meters > 3,790 meters (15,223ft >19,341ft >12,434ft)
Distance: 13.4km / 8.3 miles
Trekking time: 12-15 hours
Habitat: Arctic
We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us, and the views of the jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Day 9
Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Elevation: 3,790 meters > 1,630 meters (12,443ft >5,348ft)
Distance: 12.1km / 7.5 miles
Trekking time: 6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before our big celebration. Overnight at the Weru Weru River Lodge (or alternative).
Day 10
Depart Tanzania
The day is free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times, you could go and explore Arusha town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*We also welcome you to spare an hour to plant a tree as part of our environmental conservation efforts in the Kilimanjaro region.
*Safari and Zanzibar add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania
What’s Included
Transfers to and from the Airport
2 nights B&B accommodation of the trek per booking
Kilimanjaro Park fees and permits
Certified , English-speaking Wilderness First Responder Guides
Transfers to and from the Kilimanjaro National Park
All camping equipment
Kilimanjaro Rescue fee
Porters, cooks and assistant guides
3 meals per day and purified water ( 1.5 liter per person per day)
PRICing
Prices are per adult when sharing accommodations with another adult.
* The final price for your package will vary depending on how many people are in your travel group and also the specific dates of your trip.
We make a big effort to offer the best possible prices, which depend upon many factors like the constantly changing prices of gas and park fees, etc.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT APPLIES TO ANY CLIENT IN A SINGLE ROOM OR TENT:
$300.00
QUESTIONS?
For more details about our itineraries or questions about building a custom private tour to climb mount Kilimanjaro, please contact us.