Lemosho 8 Days Program

On your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport a member of our staff will meet you holding a placard
written your name. You will then be transferred to your hotel for overnight at Salinero Hotel -BB

After breakfast we travel by 4wd to Londrossi gate where you will meet your
guides and mountain crew. We take care of all National Park formalities,
registering all climbers and weighing all duffle bags to ensure the load
carried by each porter does not exceed the mandatory 20kgs limit.
Depending on your program and weather conditions we may take lunch at
the gate. After completing the registration process at Londrossi Gate we
drive for 11kms along narrow dirt roads through pine plantations, gradually
climbing to the Lemosho Glades where we begin our trek.
We hike uphill for 3 hours through the thick and undisturbed montane forest
where you may hear the calls of many exotic birds and if we are lucky we
may see blue monkeys and hear the grunting calls of the magnificent black
colobus monkeys with their long “cape” of white hair and a flowing white tail.
Our camp tonight is in the forest zone, where podocarpus (African yellow-wood), hagenia and hypericum (St
John’s wort) dominate. In the evening you may hear the unmistakable shrieking call of the tree hyrax.

Today is a long day over narrow tracks that weave in and out of the ridges
as we ascend. Along the way we will admire trees such as the giant heather
and erica and as we gain altitude, we will encounter the unique giant levelia
and giant groundsel (senecio Kilimanjaro). There is no hurry to reach Shira
Camp and our mantra “pole pole” (Swahili: “slowly slowly”) resonates in our
ears ensuring our bodies adjust to the altitude gain and to take in the
magnificent views of Kilimanjaro. The Shira Plateau is one of the highest in
the world with an average height of 3,810m and extends for about 13 kms to
the west of Kilimanjaro.  The Shira Plateau is a caldera, a collapsed volcanic
crater. We might even spot a herd of eland in the distance, or startle a grey
duiker near camp.

Today we trek steadily northwards through the heather and into the barren
high-altitude desert towards the natural landmark called Shark’s Tooth. We
gain altitude slowly and continue to acclimatize.
We walk up a ridge and into
a valley, which we then ascend to camp, arriving in time for lunch. We are
now in the high desert zone, where only hardy everlastings and small
senecios survive, and we are just below the Lent Group, a collection of massive volcanic dykes. Immediately
above us is a huge circular bowl, created by glaciers, and there are numbers of lava tube caves in the cliffs at
the uppermost edge. Above that is the Kibo Massif and the Northern Ice Field. Below we have extensive views
of the Shira Plateau, a giant sloping depression, where we can see much of the area we have walked
recently.

We descend the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4530m) for lunch. Those
who feel up to it can undertake and optional rock scramble (non-technical) to
the top of Lava Tower where you will have spectacular panoramic vistas of
the Karanga Valley below, Shira Plateau and the spectacular Western
Breach above. From Lava Tower, we descend steeply for 2 hours down
more than 600m into the Great Barranco Valley. This descent affords
fantastic views and some great photo opportunities of the Western Breach
and Breach Wall. You will also feel the clear benefits of this acclimatization
day as we lose altitude.

Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed
on three sides by the Breach Wall and the Kibo Massif itself. Hanging glaciers shimmer in the sunshine above
amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels, and the uniquely endemic giant lobelia.
This is definitely the toughest day so far, but incredibly beautiful.

Today we undertake the Great Barranco Wall – an imposing face above
Barranco camp. A steady climb up the eastern wall takes us just below the
Heim Glacier, where we may have some breathtaking views of the Heim
Glacier and Mt. Kilimanjaro depending upon the weather and any cloud
cover. Our trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley,
where we finish this second acclimatization day at Karanga Camp at 4046m.

Our trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley. Here
the temperature will grow colder as we follow the trail climbing through this
barren and dry landscape up to the Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word
for “ice”, and the camping area is on a ridge in a narrow and exposed flat
area. Here there are ever-present powerful winds blowing down from the
mountain peaks. Our campsite at 4600m offers spectacular views of the
nearby peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. 

In preparation for your final ascent
tonight, you will familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark, and prepare
your equipment and thermal clothing for the summit attempt. Sleep will be
difficult, though you will have to retire to your tents after dinner to rest for the

1385m final ascent to the roof of Africa.

We will rise early to leave camp at around 12am and after a warm drink and
a light snack, you will begin the most difficult though most rewarding day of
the trek – your hike to the roof of Africa. After approximately 6 hours of slow
but strenuous hiking, you will reach the rim of the main crater, Stella Point,
at 5685m. 

At this point we stop to rest, eat and take in the views over the
clouds. From Stella Point the trail is normally snow-covered, and every step
of the two-hour final ascent to Uhuru peak is challenging. Passing alongside
the iridescent blue Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers we reach Elveda Point
(5882) we can see Uhuru Peak now only minutes away. The roof of Africa is
within your grasp. Arriving at the summit you feel a huge sense of elation
and accomplishment you have done it, you have made it to the highest point
in Africa. We spend as much time as you need to appreciate your accomplishment, as this is a day to
remember for the rest of your life! The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather
conditions and temperature.
We start back down the same trail, and descend to Barafu camp. Here you will have a well-earned but short
rest and remove some of your many layers of clothing as the day begins to heat up. We head down the rock
and scree path into the moorland zone, reaching the forest, and eventually arriving at Mweka Camp in the
early afternoon where a hot shower and meal awaits. Today is the longest, and the most mentally and
physically challenging of the trek. But a life changing day that will stay with you forever, as you conquered the
summit of Kilimanjaro.

Today your legs will be further tested as the trail descends steeply through the lush Mweka rain forest. The trail is steep in places and the going slippery if wet. The route follows the crest of a broad ridge separating two river valleys until it meets with a road that leads us for the last 40 mins to the Mweka Park Gates where we stop for a well-deserved picnic lunch where successful hikers will receive their summit certificates (gold for Uhuru Peak, Green for Stella point) from the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Post celebrations, we are taken by private bus to your hotel. Overnight at Ameg Lodge

Departure transfer to the airport for your flight