- Mount Kilimanjaro makes up one of the Seven Summits (i.e. highest mountains on each of the seven continents). There are seven routes to the summit and the climb can be done in as little as five days (with major altitude issues) upto 9 days. We are planning to do a conservative eight dayclimb on the remote Lemosho route with few other trekkers. The most popular routes are the Marangu and the Machame route which are very crowded and we will avoid them.
The Lemosho route around 70 km is done in 8 days and other than the summit day all walks are within 5-7 hours. It is a longer route on Kilimanjaro and allows for optimum acclimatisation time for the summit itself. The additional time on the mountain means that success rates for the LEMOSHO route trekkers are relatively high. Moreover the last high camp on this route is at 4880m which is 200 metres higher than other routes thereby reducing the time to the summit on the penulimate day.
Approx. 35,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year. The chances of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro is highly dependent on the number of days taken to trek the mountain. The more days, the higher the probability of success as your body has more time to adapt and acclimatize. Here are the success rate figures as published by the Kilimanjaro National Park. These numbers are admittedly quite old and success rates are most likely higher as route configurations have improved and the number of people taking 5 day treks has almost ended.
- All climbers, all routes 45% (we estimate this figure is closer to 65% today)
- All climbers, all 5 day routes 27%
- All climbers, all 6 day routes 44%
- All climbers, all 7 days routes 64%
- All climbers, all 8 day routes 85-90%
KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO ROUTE – 8 DAYS 70 KM
Day 1 - ARRIVE KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – TRANSFER TO AND OVERNIGHT at Planet Lodge https://planet-lodges.com/arusha_planet_lodge/
Day 2 - Rest day at Planet Lodge BD
Day 3: LEMOSHO GLADES 2389m – FOREST (BIG TREE CAMP) 2785m 5.1 km 3 hours
From Arusha we set out in vehicles to the starting point of the Lemosho trail. Here you meet the rest of your crew and set off at a leisurely pace into afromontane forest. Lunch is taken on trail and camp is reached mid afternoon. Overnight Forest Camp BLD
Day 4: FOREST (BIG TREE CAMP) – SHIRA 1 3504m 8 km 6 hours
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. Lunch is taken on trail and you arrive in camp mid afternoon. Overnight Shira 1 Camp BLD
Day 5: SHIRA 1 CAMP – SHIRA 2 CAMP 3840m 7.5.km 5 hours
After Breakfast, you leave the heather to continue on an ascending path, through the Moorland and, to the east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira 2 camp. You only gain 340m in elevation - this allows you to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are nothing less than spectacular. Overnight at Shira 2 Camp 3840m BLD
Day 6: SHIRA 2 CAMP – BARANCO HUTS 3986m 10.5 km
Semi desert. From the Shira Plateau, you continue to the east, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As you continue, the direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower 4627m , called the “Shark’s Tooth”. It is usually at these point where for the first time some climbers will start feeling symptoms of breathlessness and headache due to high altitude and one should walk slowly –POLE POLE as they say in Kiswahili. You now continue downwards to the Barranco Camp at an altitude of 3,986 meters, situated in a valley below the breach and the great Barranco Wall. Here, you rest enjoy dinner and camp overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation, as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization (climb high and sleep low) and will help your body prepare for the successful summit day BLD
Day 7: BARANCO HUTS TO KARANGA CAMPSITE 4035M 6.5 KM
Habitat: Alpine desert After Breakfast, you will depart from Barranco Camp and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall through the Karanga Valley at 4035m and it is the LAST WATER STOP as you shall not find water at the Barafu Camp. Here, one gets a better chance to view the glaciers at a very near distance. You shall have hot Lunch at Karanga Valley. After a short rest, you can view the Mawenzi Slopes as well as the Tanzania Sugar Plantation farms. (TPC) with a short walk to see the sedimentary rocks which sound like iron when stepped on and return to the Karanga Valley Campsite for dinner and overnight. BLD
Day 8: KARANGA CAMPSITE TO KOSOVO CAMPSITE VIA BARAFU HUTS 4870m 7.5 km
After Breakfast, you will depart from Karanga Valley campsite at (4200m), for the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. You continue to the Barafu Hut, which is located at an altitude of 4600 meters. You have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views for the summit from many different angles. There is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Kiswahili word for “ice”. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Continue on the Kosovo camp about 2 hour’s way. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, and drink a lot of fluids Here you can, rest, enjoy dinner and go to bed for a few hours of precious sleep BLD
Day 9: KOSOVO CAMP TO STELLA POINT 5745M TO UHURU PEAK 5895m –TO MILLENIUM CAMP 3827m OR MWEKA CAMP 3106m – Kosovo Camp to Summit via Stella Point 4.5 km Summit to Mweka Camp: 11.5km Total = 16 km
Rising early normally before midnight you start out from Kosovo Camp towards the peak. At night time the scree sections are normally much firmer and the night time start enables the best chance of a clear summit attempt. It is a hard climb primarily due to the lower oxygen levels. It takes around 5 hours or so to reach Stella Point and then a further 1 to 1.5 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest free standing point in the world and the highest point in Africa. From the summit it is a steady downhill which is taxing on the knees all the way past Barafu Camp 4662m and then down to Millenium Camp. From Barafu you will usually descend to Mweka Camp 3106m for overnight. If your guide judges that a shorter day will benefit you and preserve sore knees and ankles, he may decide to stop short at Millennium Camp 3827m instead. Overnight Millenium Camp or Mweka Camp BLD
Day 10: MILLENIUM CAMP 3827m OR MWEKA CAMP to MWEKA GATE 1635m – END Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate 9.1 km
The final descent takes you back through the heath zone and forest to the Marangu gate. Here you are met by drivers and transferred back to your hotel for a well deserved shower and celebratory dinner. https://planet-lodges.com/arusha_planet_lodge/ BLD
Day 11- Departure Day: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for those returning home
details soon