Lemosho Route 9 Day Itinerary
Our trips begin and end at Ilboru Safari Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania. Clients may arrive at any time on day one. There is a pre-trip meeting around 5:30pm and the included dinner is served at 6pm. Private transfers from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Ilboru Safari Lodge can be arranged for an extra fee. Download the Peak Planet Lemosho 9 Day Itinerary here.
To book a group climb please take a look at the group climb schedule. To book a private climb, please take a look at the private climb pricing page.
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ITINERARY
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DAY 1
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Arrive anytime at Ilboru Safari Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania. With prior arrangement, airport pick up and private transfers to Ilboru Safari Lodge are available from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), or simply make your own way by taxi. We will gather in the evening for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check. We will also confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance. |
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DAY 2
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After completing the neccessary registration
formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, we drive through
varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho
roadhead. We often have our lunch in the glades before starting
to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through beautiful
and lush forest. This area has a variety of game, including buffalo.We
camp at Lemosho Forest camp (8,700 ft). |
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DAY 3
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We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland
zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views
to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense
of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in
the center of the plateau at Shira One (11,000 ft). |
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DAY 4
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An easy day to help acclimatization and to explore
the volcanic rock formations of Shira Plateau. We walk to the summit
of Shira Cathedral (12,300 ft) before reaching the next camp
at Shira Hut (12,600 ft). This campsite has stunning views,
close to the glaciated dome of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira
Plateau. The views from here of Mt. Meru floating on the clouds
are simply unforgettable. |
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DAY 5
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In the morning we cross part of the plateau heading
north to reach our campsite at Moir Hut (13,800 ft) for lunch.
After which there is an excellent acclimatization walk up onto the
Lent Hills, the summit of which is at 15,400 ft.. |
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DAY 6
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A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views,
leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath
the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower,
we descend to the bottom of the Barranco Valley to camp at
Barranco Camp (12,790 ft), sheltered by towering cliffs
and with extensive views of the plains far below. |
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DAY 7
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A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an
undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb
vistas of the Southern Icefields. The terrain changes to scree,
with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there
is only a short distance to our camp at Karanga (13,100 ft),
the last water point on the way to the summit. |
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DAY 8
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We follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide
views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu Hut
(14,800 ft) for lunch. There is a short acclimatization walk to
the plateau at the bottom of the South-East valley. The remainder
of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning
final ascent. |
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DAY 9
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We start our ascent by torchlight about 1 a.m. so
that we can be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb
over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow
but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (18,800 ft),
in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time
to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong
can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim
to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular
glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments,
we continue to descend to reach our final campsite, Millenium
Camp (12,500 ft). |
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DAY 10
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A sustained descent on a well constructed path takes
us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting
lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route
winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka
(5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village,
where we are transferred to Ilboru
Safari Lodge in Arusha. |
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DAY 11
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After breakfast, we can arrange for a private transfer or taxi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). |
Trip Profile
Trip Profile
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Trip
Duration:
11 days |
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Days on Mountain: 9 days |
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Difficulty:
high |
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Success
Rate : |
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Distance:
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Accommodations:
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Meals:
all meals during climb plus breakfast and dinner at lodges |
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Park
Fees:
all park fees are included |