Overview
The 8-day Lemosho route with a crater camp overnight is an exceptionally immersive Kilimanjaro trek that approaches the mountain from the pristine western rainforest, crossing the vast shira plateau before ascending through alpine desert via the barranco wall and barafu base camp. Instead of the typical midnight summit push, trekkers climb to the rim on Day 7 and drop into the inner volcanic crater to set up camp at an extraordinary 5,730 meters (18,800 feet), allowing ample daytime hours to explore the shrinking furtwängler glacier and the dramatic ash pit. After spending a freezing night inside the crater requiring heavy arctic gear to endure sub-zero temperatures and high-altitude hypoxia climbers take a short 45-minute final walk to reach Uhuru peak (5,895 meters / 19,341 feet) at sunrise before making a long, steady descent down through Mweka camp to the gate on Day 8.
Tour Features
Hut Camping
This is a camping route
Private Tour
This safari is arranged privately for your group.
Solo Travelers
Suitable for solo travelers.
Customizable
This itinerary can be customized.
Children Policy
Minimum age accepted is 12 years and above.
Start Date
This safari can start on any day.
Highlights
Arrive in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
Moshi to Lemosho Glades (2,100 m) to Big Tree Camp (2,650 m)
Big Tree Camp (2,650 m) to Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m)
Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m) to Barranco Camp (3,900 m)
Barranco Camp (3,900 m) to Karanga Camp (3,995 m)
Karanga Camp (3,995 m) to Barafu Camp (4,673 m)
Barafu Camp (4,673 m) to UHURU PEAK (5,895 m) to Crater Camp (5,790 m)
Crater Camp (5,790 m) to Millennium Camp (3,790 m)
Millennium Camp (3,790 m) to Mweka Gate (1,640 m) to Moshi
Depart Tanzania
Your Safari Map
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Safari Itinerary
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day. The hotel check in start from 12:00 PM.
Accommodation
Park View Inn
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.
Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi
Approx. time taken: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
big tree camp or mti mkubwa camp
Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as we head towards our destination which is Shira 2. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude as we head towards Shira 1 and parts of the route are fairly steep. As you proceed towards Shira 2 you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views.
Distance covered: 16.5km / 10.3mi
Approx. time taken: 9 - 10hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Shira 2 Camp
Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4,640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3,900 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.
Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Barranco Camp
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great barranco wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the heim and kersten glaciers, we head towards the karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from karanga valley to our night’s camp at karanga camp, set at 3,995 m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4,200 m before descending back to camp for the night.
Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Karanga camp
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4,673 m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Barafu camp
Wake before dawn to start your summit approach. You'll reach Uhuru Peak in the early afternoon, when few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier. Crater camp is not a route in it's own right but a challenging extension which in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers.
Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 5-6 hours & 1-2hours to Crater.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Crater camp
In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi
Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Millenium camp
Today you walk down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to your arranged hotel in Moshi.
Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi
Approx. time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
Accommodation
Park View Inn
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport. Hotel check out is at 10:00 AM. Meals: Breakfast Included
Tanzania