Lemosho glades route

KILIMANJARO ROUTE GUIDE
 
LEMOSHO ROUTE

The Lemosho route is a un spoilt, remote, beautiful and not so frequently used way up to the Shira Plateau.  The Lemoshoroute is one of the few where an armed ranger accompanies groups, as the forest around the Lemosho Glades is rich in buffalo and other big game animals.  This route can be completed in six or more days.  Accommodation on this route will be in tents.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 01
 
After arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by a representative and be transferred to Hotel Springlands in Moshi.  This hotel offers great views of mountain Kilimanjaro on a clear day.  You will overnight at Hotel Springlands.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 02
Day 01 on Kilimanjaro
Starting point The Londorossi Park gate @ +/- 1550m
End point The Mti Mkubwa  camp at +/- 2750m
Terrain Rain forest
Distance to walk +/- 16  Km
 
From hotel Springlands it will be a +/- 1˝ hour drive to the Londorossi Park Gate, the starting point on the western side of the National park.  From here you will be driven on an 11 km forest track that requires a 4WD vehicle to the Lemosho Glades (+/- 2000m).  Here you will start walking for about three hours to your camp site at Mti Mkubwa Camp.  Lunch will be provided to you in a form of a lunch packet at the gate.  Your sleeping arrangements will be in tents that is part of the package with Dream World Adventures.  No running water is available at the camp site, it is also no need for you to go fetch water at the closets river.  Your guide will be more than happy to provide you with water, and also boil it for you on request.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 03
Day 02 on Kilimanjaro
Starting point The Mti Mkubwa  camp at +/- 2750m
End point Shira camp  at +/- 3840m
Terrain Heathland / Moorland
Distance to walk +/- 18 Km
 
Start early in the morning for your next camp.  The route gradually gets steeper and enters a giant heather moorland zone then crosses the Shira Ridge.  Continue walking towards Kibo until you reach the Shira encampment.  Amazing sunsets and moon risings can be filmed from the campsite.  This day will take you approximately 9 hours.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 04
Day 03 on Kilimanjaro
Starting point The Shira camp at +/- 3840m
Highest point Lava Tower at +/- 4600m
End point Barranco camp at +/- 3860m
Terrain Alpine Desert
Distance to walk +/- 15 Km
 
From the Shira camp the route turns east towards Kibo and then south east towards the Lave Tower.  Just below the Lava tower, lunch is normally served.  At this point you will have the choice of either ascending higher to the Lava Tower, or to take the lower road down to the Barranco encampment.  It is of up most import ants to ascent very slowly hear to avoid altitude related problems.  This part is also normally very warm and dry so remember to cover up with sun block and to drink water regularly.  From Shira to Lava Tower will take you approximately 5 hours, and from Lava Tower to the Barranco camp approximately 3 hours.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 05
Day 04 on Kilimanjaro
Starting point Barranco camp at +/- 3860m
End point Barafu camp (4600m)
Terrain Alpine Desert
Distance to walk +/- 13 Km
 

Start as early as possible to cross over the great Barranco wall.  The wall looks more difficult than it is, but will still take you the best of 2 hours.  From the top of the wall a couple of valleys need to be crossed until reaching the Karanga valley.  Here you will be served a big lunch before continuing onto the Mweka route.  The Karanga valley runs a small river and this will be your last water point prior to your descending from the summit.  Your guide will also advise you on this fact.  We now continue on the Mweka route up to the Barafu camp.  This day will take you approximately 8 hours to complete. 

 

It is our recommendation to ad an extra day on the mountain to complete this day.  You will then instead of hiking all the way to the Barafu camp, split the day in half to overnight at the Karanga valley encampment.  Doing this you will shorten the following day so that you can reach the Barafu camp earlier and provide you with much more time to rest prior to your summit attempt.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 06
Day 05 on Kilimanjaro
Starting point Barafu camp at +/- 4600m
First major landmark Stella Point at +/- 5250m
Second major landmark Uhuru Peak at +/- 5895m
End point Mweka camp at +/- 3100m
Terrain Alpine Desert scree slope with ice/snow and Glaciers
Distance to summit +/- 6 Km
 
Around midnight you will have to start your final ascent to the summit.  You will be woken with tea/coffee and biscuits.  This part of your hike will be done at night to be able to reach Stella Point around first light  (+/- 6 hours from Barafu camp).  This will be by far the most difficult part of your hike, as you will not only be hiking on a slope of lose gravel, but also be doing so at altitude.  Remember to constantly be on the move, and only take short breaks every 2 hours or so to avoid getting cold.  Your equipment that you have on should be able to assist your body to warm itself, and to keep cold wind out, but when not moving this becomes more difficult.  Once arriving at Stella Point, people tend to stay to long, and subsequent to that will turn around at this point.  Do not spend more than 10 minutes here as you still have the last leg of your trip to complete.  Another +/- 1˝ hours hike and you will have reach Uhuru Peak – the highest point in Africa.  After this amazing and emotional experience you will return back to Barafu camp via  Stella Point.  This will go allot fasters than when you summated.  You should arrive back at Barafu camp just before lunch time for a light lunch and a short break.  After that you will continue down with the Mweka route to the Mweka camp for dinner and a well earned rest.
 
 
ITINERARY DAY 07
Day 06 on Kilimanjaro
Starting point Mweka  camp at +/- 3100m
End point Mweka gate at +/- 1980m
Terrain Rain forest
Distance to walk +/- 15 Km
 
No need for walking slow anymore, it is also not necessary to run.  Enjoy the scenery as you walk thought the rain forest.  Lunch will be served at the Mweka gate around 12h00.  It will take you approximately 4 hours to reach the gate from Mweka camp.  From the gate you will be collected and returned to Hotel Springlands for a celebration dinner.  All successful mountaineers that have reached Uhuru or Gilman’s point will be presented with a unique certificate to commemorate your achievement.
 
 
OTHER ROUTES:
MARANGU ROUTE
MACHAME ROUTE
RONGAI ROUTE
UMBWE ROUTE

 

DREAM WORLD ADVENTURES
 TEL : +27 12 331 6730 (South Africa)
FAX : + 27 86 500 4293 (South Africa)
E-MAIL : webenquiry@dreamworldadventures.co.za
 

Lemosho_flash_movie