Duration: 10 days Our favourite route to the roof of Africa, unspoilt, remote, little used and beautiful! Mount Kilimanjaro - the VentureCo way!
Price: from £1495
Discounts available for 5 or more...Contact us
This is a private departure...just you, your travel partners and your guide. You choose the dates...we'll make it happen
Included:
Airport transfers, All park fees, hut fees, accommodation, meals as indicated, services of guides, porters, cook.
Not Included:
Visas, travel insurance, flights, tips, extra drinks, sleeping bag and items of a personal nature.
Start: Moshi
Finish: Moshi
The Lemosho Route is an unspoilt, remote, little used and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. The route via the Western Breach is among the least used combination of routes on Kilimanjaro. The trail leads up to the western edge of the Shira Plateau, and the hike across the plateau is said to be one of the most stunningly beautiful hikes in Africa. The route is one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other big game animals.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Moshi
Arrive in Moshi and overnight at our centrally located hotel. There will be an evening climb briefing at the hotel.
There are 2 international airports, Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) and Nairobi Airport (NBO).
Transfers from both of these airports are possible however we recommend flying into Kilimanjaro airport as it is closer and thus transfers are considerably cheaper and you avoid the need to obtain a Kenyan visa.
Day 2 – Mti Mkubwa – BLD
Londorosi Gate to Mti Mkubwa
Hike time: 4 hours
Camp elevation: 2750m
In the morning we transfer by 4WD vehicles to Londorossi Park Gate (2250 m) from where a 4WD forest track leads to Lemosho Glades. We walk along beautiful forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
Day 3 – Shira Plateau – BLD
Mti Mkubwa to Shira One
Hike time: 5 hours
Camp elevation: 3505m
The trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is at the beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch you 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 4 – Shira Plateau – BLD
Shira One – Shira Two
Hike time: 4 hours
Camp elevation: 3750m
After breakfast continue hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira Two camp. You only gain 700 feet in elevation – this allows you to acclimatize slowly to the
altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular.
Day 5 – Barranco Hut – BLD
Shira Two to Barranco Hut
Hike time: 7 hours
Camp elevation: 3940m
After breakfast, we continue East up a steepening path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro’s looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent Lava Tower at 4,630m.
This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For the energetic and adventurous you can scramble to the top of the tower.
Shortly after lunch we descend to Barranco hut along the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. Photo opportunities are in abundance especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Enjoy the sunset as you wait for a well deserved dinner.
Day 6 – Karanga Valley – BLD
Barranco Hut to Karanga Valley
Hike time: 4 hours
Camp elevation: 4200m
After another hearty breakfast we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco wall, we climb this imposing obstacle which turns out to be easier than it looks. We can now truly begin to appreciate just how beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead we descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga valley campsite. The afternoon is free to relax and prepare for our summit push.
Day 7 – Barafu Hut – BLD
Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut
Hike time: 4 hours
Camp elevation: 4600m
In the morning, we hike east over ridges and valleys to join the Mweka route, which will be our descent route. Turning left towards the mountain we hike up through sparse landscape to Barafu Hut for a hot lunch. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu camp near the summit of the mountain. We pitch our tents on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure you familiarize yourself with the terrain to avoid any accidents
Day 8 – Summit / Mweka Hut – BLD
Barafu Hut to Summit to Mweka Hut
Hike time: 11 hours
Summit elevation: 5895m
We rise around 11:30pm and after some warming tea and biscuits we shuffle off into the night. Our 6 hour climb northwest through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point we stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella point we join the top part of the Marangu route but do not stop here for long as it will be difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. We may encounter snow on our final trek along the rim to Uhuru peak. Enjoy your time on the summit as you will remember it for ever more. We descend for 3 hours back to Barafu camp before continuing down a rock and scree path into moorland and eventually into the forest at Mweka Camp where you can enjoy a well deserved beer!
Day 9 – Descent - B
A 3-4 hour descent through beautiful forest brings you to the Park gate and your waiting transport back to Moshi for a well deserved shower and celebratory dinner.
Day 10 – Moshi
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast
Extend your stay...
Zanzibar : Spend some time on the exotic island of Zanzibar. Dive and snorkel in the turquoise waters or sit back, relax and revel in your achievement.
Safari : You are in the land of the safari so why not stay a little longer and enjoy the abundance of wildlife on offer.
Mt Kenya : Fancy another challenge, climb to the summit of the 2nd highest mountain in Africa
Mt Meru : A great warm up to the mighty Kilimanjaro….recommended
Contact us for prices and inspiration on what to do.....we know Africa