LEMOSHO ROUTE VIA NORTHERN CIRCUIT

8 day camping trekking tour + 2 nights’ hotel stay

This is the newest and one of the most picturesque routes on the mountain, offering diverse landscapes and vegetation, spectacular views from all the different sides of the mountain and taking you to the quiet and largely untouched northern slopes.

This is also one of the longest routes on the mountain, giving you maximum time to acclimatize to the altitude and thereby increasing your chances of successfully summiting.

Highlights

Day 1

Start: Lemosho Gate (2385 m)
Finish: Big Tree Camp (2780 m)

Hike through the lush forest. Gradually climbing along a footpath.


Day 2

Start: Big Tree Camp (2780 m)
Finish: Shira Camp 1 (3500 m)
Altitude: ↑ 395 m
Walking Time: 2-3h

Many ups and downs today. Great views of Kibo and Shira Ridge as you emerge from the forest.


Day 3

Start: Shira Camp 1 (3500m)
Finish: Moir Camp (4175 m)
Altitude: ↑ 720 m
Walking Time: 4-5h

Another long day through interesting vegetation, including towering senecios.


Day 4

Start: Moir Camp (4175 m)
Finish: Pofu Camp (4030 m)
Altitude:  ↓ 145 m
Walking Time: 3-4h

Set out onto the remote northern circuit of the mountain after an imposing slope starts your day.


Day 5

Start: Pofu Camp (4030 m)
Finish: Third Cave Camp (3935 m)
Altitude:  ↓ 95 m
Walking Time: 3-4h

Vegetation becomes increasingly sparse as you head through the steep valleys of the northern circuit.


Day 6

Start: Third Cave Camp (3935 m)
Finish: School Hut (4715 m)
Altitude:  ↑ 780 m
Walking Time: 3-4h

You are likely to feel the altitude today. Enjoy stunning views across the saddle to Mawenzi


Day 7

Start: School Hut (4715 m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m), then Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1180 m   ↓ 2815 m
Walking Time: 7-9h

Begin the long and steep summit climb at midnight, reaching Uhuru Peak as the sun comes up. Descend quickly on loose ground to Mweka Camp.


Day 8

Start: Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1630 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1450 m
Walking Time: 2-3h

Traditional farewell ceremony followed by easy descent back into the rainforest to the gate.

Itinerary

Kilimanjaro Airport – Usa River

On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania, you will be welcomed by our transfer driver and taken to Meru View Lodge in Usa River where you will spend the night. The rest of your day will be free; you might want to explore the small town of Arusha, or you can just relax by the pool. Later on, our operations team will meet with you and give you a thorough briefing in preparation for your trek.

Dinner


Usa River – Lemosho Gate (2385 m) – Big Tree Camp (2780 m)

After breakfast you’ll be picked up from your lodge and taken to Lemosho Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. Your head guide will arrange the formalities. The trail follows a moderately steep track which leads you through the unique flora and this section. You’ll see the endemic and colourful Impatiens Kilimanjari en route, and possibly some rare primates too. Your destination for today, Big Tree Camp (2780 m), is about 3 or 4 hours away and your mountain crew will have already set up your tents before you arrive. You can rest and enjoy the beautiful forest surroundings in which you will camp tonight.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 2 Big Tree Camp (2780 m) – Shira Camp 1 (3500 m)

The destination for today will be Shira Camp 1, which sits at an altitude of 3500 meters. You will start the day on a thin trail through the rainforest, but soon you enter a terrain of heath and moorland where Lobelia plants and Erica trees regularly punctuate the landscape. Not long after climbing around the northern slopes of the Shira Ridge you will arrive at Shira Camp 1, where you can put your feet up and enjoy a hearty meal. The camp offers magnificent views across the plateau towards Kibo.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 3 Shira Camp 1 (3500 m) – Moir Camp (4175 m)

After a good breakfast, you continue your trek over the Shira Plateau. Once again the landscape changes and you will pass big Senecios that can grow to an astonishing height of about 9 meters. Leaving behind the remains of Fischer Camp, we head towards our camp for the night, Moir Camp at 4175 meters. After a short rest you can go towards the top of the ridgeline for further acclimatization. The ridgeline is only about 2 km away and about 130 meters higher than the camp. After arriving back at camp dinner will be served.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 4 Moir Camp (4175 m) – Pofu Camp (4030 m)

Today we set out onto the remote northern circuit of the mountain. You will tackle the hardest part of the day right at the beginning: a bleak and imposing slope rising up to 4300 meters. Continuing up and down through the undulating valleys on the northern face of Kibo, you’ll reach the first Pofu Campsite after 3 to 4 hours. Our destination is now only about an hour away. We will pass through an area of rock slabs before arriving at the second Pofu Campsite. If the cloud cover opens up you might get a glimpse of Kibo and the views over the plains that stretch out far below can be exceptional.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 5 Pofu Camp (4030 m) – Third Cave Camp (3935 m)

After breakfast you leave the camp behind and proceed on a trail leading through the remote valleys around the northern slopes. The vegetation becomes increasingly sparse during this stretch, which takes about 5 hours in total. Although there are no steep passages to tackle today, you may well still be tired by the time you reach Third Cave Camp.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 6 Third Cave Camp (3935 m) – School Hut (4715 m)

Although your body will have had a good amount of time to acclimatize over the last days, you are likely to feel the altitude weighing down on you as you steadily climb higher towards School Hut (4715 m). Make sure to drink lots of water and stick to your guide’s slow pace. Take a few breaks to rest when possible and enjoy stunning views across the saddle to Mawenzi. After 4 to 5 hours you will arrive at School Hut. In preparation for the final stretch to the summit, you will have an early dinner before going to bed to rest for a few hours before the final climb.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 7 School Hut (4715 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3080 m)

Your guide will wake you up around midnight and after some hot tea and snacks you will start the slow ascent towards the crater rim of Kibo. After a brief stop at Hans Meyer Cave (5520 m), you will make your way to Gilman’s Point (5681 m) on the crater rim. The sun dhould be just beginning to rise as you continue via Stella Point (5730 m) to the highest summit of Kilimanjaro – Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters. You can now witness the awe-inspiring views from the highest point on the African continent – a truly unforgettable experience. After taking some pictures you will head back to Stella Point and then on to Barafu Camp. The descent will be fast and dusty. At Barafu Camp you can take a well-earned rest and have a warm meal to replace the lost energy before continuing your descent. You will spend the night at Mweka Camp (3080 m) which should be reached after about 3 to 4 hours.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Day 8 Mweka Camp (3080 m) – Mweka Gate (1630 m) – Usa River

After breakfast the final day of your adventure begins with a traditional farewell ceremony with all the members of your crew. Walking down the last 2 to 3 hours to Mweka Gate gives you another opportunity to experience the beauty of the rainforest. Once you have reached the gate our driver will take you back to Meru View Lodge in Usa River. You may choose to enjoy a swim in the pool or enjoy a drink or two at the bar to celebrate your remarkable achievement.

Breakfast; Dinner 


 

Usa River – Kilimanjaro Airport

The following morning you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport to fly home, or you can continue with your further travel plans, perhaps setting off on safari or extending your stay on Zanzibar.

Breakfast

Price includes:

  • Trekking tour according to the itinerary
  • Accommodation in tents and hotels as indicated in the itinerary
  • Professional English-speaking guide
  • Personal porter
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Drinking water
  • Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
  • Camping equipment – tents, sleeping mattress and camping furniture
  • Portable toilet and toilet tent
  • National park fees
  • Rescue fees

Price excludes:

  • Flights (international and domestic)
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Beverages other than water (alcohol and soft drinks)
  • Visa, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance
  • Sleeping bag (can be rented, please ask us at the time of the booking)

FAQ

  • The group size is between five and a maximum of ten persons
  • On a private climb, you choose your hiking partners. You will not be teamed up with strangers. We can accommodate private groups of up to 100 or so.

As per the national park authorities, the minimum age for climbing Kilimanjaro is 10 years but seeing that children are more prone to altitude sickness than adults, we recommend a minimum age of 12. There is no maximum age restriction, but a medical check-up is advisable for people over the age of 60.

Kilimanjaro is one of the few mountains of its height that can be summited without mountaineering skills or experience. You should however be healthy and fit enough to manage the 4-6 hour hike each day, as well as the 12-14 hour hike on the day of the summit. For the last stretch, much endurance and willpower is needed.

Generally yes. We however discourage any attempts during the main rainy season (end of March to beginning of June). During the short rainy season (November), daily short rainfalls and cloudy views can be expected. From December until the end of February, temperatures are at their highest and rainfall is at its minimum. These are the busiest times. Between the end of June and the middle of October is also a good time to climb. Temperatures are a little lower but there is almost no rain.

The Lemosho route begins on the rather remote western side of Kilimanjaro, but meets up with the Machame route on day 3 at the Shira Plateau. The Lemosho route is the longest route and it covers the most kilometres, which is why one should allow a minimum of seven days for the climb.

Overnight accommodation will be in two-man tents and sleeping mats are provided. Single travellers usually share a tent with another group member of the same gender. Single tents can be provided on request at additional cost.

There are no ablution facilities except for basic long-drops (very simple latrines), but on private climbs mobile chemical toilets are included.

  • Fresh water will be collected from the available sources on the mountain and is boiled before it’s served. Porters will carry water in canisters for the higher areas, where no more fresh water is available. All meals are freshly prepared by your cook.
  • Meals are included as indicated in the itinerary.
  • Breakfast usually consists of fruit, scrambled eggs, porridge, toast and jam, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. For lunch you are usually provided with a lunch box that contains sandwiches, boiled eggs, chicken etc.
  • For dinner you will be served a soup and bread followed by the main course that either consists of red meat or poultry served with some sort of starch (chips, mashed potatoes, pasta or rice) and vegetables. For dessert you will get fresh fruit, hot chocolate, coffee or tea and milk.
  • Breakfast and dinner are served in a mess tent that is equipped with a table and chairs while lunch is usually enjoyed en-route.
  • We are able to provide meals for vegetarians or people with other dietary requirements or food allergies but we need to know in advance in order to cater for special requests.

Almost every hiker attempting Kilimanjaro will notice the altitude and the thinner air. Fitness fanatics are just as likely to suffer from it as couch potatoes. Symptoms include headaches that are often accompanied by fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea. More often than not, symptoms are mild, allowing you to continue to ascend. Occasionally the symptoms are more severe and a rapid descent is required, after which your body tends to recover quite quickly. Please however always keep in mind, that severe altitude sickness can be life-threatening and it may even lead to death. We do not recommend the use of medication, as it suppresses the symptoms of altitude sickness. We do however encourage you to drink enough water to replace the fluids lost from the physical activity. Two to four litres per day are recommended, as well as mineral supplements (magnesium etc.) to help replace lost minerals and to prevent muscle cramps.

  • Unfortunately there are no state of the art mountain rescue services like the ones to be found in the European Alps for example. If you no longer have the ability to walk, you will either be carried or transported on a wheeled stretcher. This is by no means a pleasant experience which is why we encourage you not to overstrain your body and to travel safe. Helicopters can only land at a lower altitude and are therefore rarely used.
  • Please ensure that you are covered by your health insurance while travelling. If you do not have sufficient coverage, we highly recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance. Your insurance should cover all your medical expenses including costs for rescue and repatriation.
  • It is common practice to tip the members of your mountain crew after the climb. Tips make up a large portion of their income and are therefore highly appreciated. Below are some guidelines based on a group (not per person)
  • Guide: 15-18 USD / day
  • Assistant Guide: 12-15 USD / day
  • Cook:   8-10 USD / day
  • Waiter: 7-9 USD / day
  • Porter:   6-7 USD / day
  • Of course the above is just a guideline. If you are happy with the service received, you are welcome to show this when it comes to tipping.
  • If you plan to tip in USD, please make sure the notes have been printed after 2004 as any earlier dated bank notes are not valid and can therefore not be used in Tanzania.
  • Travel bag, backpack or kitbag, weighing no more than 12kg. Please do not bring a suitcase or trolley bag, as this type of luggage cannot be carried by the porters.
  • Day backpack with rain protection.
  • High quality sleeping bag for harsh conditions (at night temperatures can drop to -20°C).
  • Different layers of clothing including thermal base layers, fleece clothing, trekking pants, warm jacket and water-resistant top layers as well as a warm headgear.
  • Water-resistant and comfortable hiking boots and a variety of trekking socks.
  • Please note that the above list is not complete and these are just a few things that you will have to bring with you. Once we have confirmed your booking, you will receive a more detailed list.
  • Citizens of all nationalities need to contact the embassies of their travel destination to check the visa regulations.
  • In general, European citizens can apply for a Tanzanian Tourism Visa upon arrival in Tanzania.
  • It is the sole responsibility of every traveller to be in possession of the required documents and visa that allows them to enter their holiday destination.
  • Tanzania is no longer a yellow fever region, so a yellow fever certificate isn’t generally a requirement. If visiting any other countries in the region either before or after Tanzania, be sure to check if a yellow fever vaccination is required
  • Although there are no mosquitoes at high altitude, Tanzania is within a malaria region. It is up to you if you wish to take medication, but we suggest that you speak to your doctor or travel clinic about the different prophylaxis and their effects and side-effects.
  • Although Tanzania does not require proof of immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A and B, we nevertheless recommend those vaccinations.

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