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Lemosho Route ClimbingKilimanjaro, Tanzania
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MKCTK
605:
Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Lemosho Route
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The Lemosho
Route is an un spoilt, remote, little used and beautiful way up to the Shira
Plateau. It can either be used to gain the Western Breach route or followed
by the Kibo South Circuit to ascend by the easier Barafu Route. The route is
one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed
ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo,
elephant and other big game animals.
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Day 1:
Arrival -
Moshi
- On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport,
met and assisted. Transfer to Keys Annex Hotel in Moshi for an overnight rest on bed
and breakfast in readiness for the next day's hit to Kilimanjaro.
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Day 2: Londorossi Gate (2100m) - Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m)
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Hiking time: 3
hours | Habitat: Montane forest
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Your day starts
early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). The guides and porters prepare and
pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a
lunch pack and you can also buy mineral water in the village. From here a
forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2100m, 11km,
45 minutes). You will have a lunch stop about half way and will reach the
Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Walk along forest trails to Mti
Mkubwa (big tree) campsite, (2750m, 3 hours). Your porters (arriving at the
camp site long before you) will have your tent set up on your arrival. In
the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook
will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night
temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite, B,L,D.
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Day 3: Mti
Mkubwa camp (2750m) - Shira 2 camp (3840m)
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Hiking time:
6.5 hours | Habitat:
Moorland
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You rise early
at Mti Mkubwa camp and, after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top
of the forest and then the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant
heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed. A gentle walk across the
plateau leads to Shira 2-camp on moorland meadows next to a stream (3840m).
By now you will be able to see, in an easterly direction, the Western Breach
with its stunning glaciers. The porters will boil drinking and washing
water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be
colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below
freezing. Enjoy dinner and overnight, B,L,D.
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Day 4: Shira
(3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco camp (3950m)
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Hiking time: 7
hours | Distance: About
15 km's | Habitat: Semi
desert
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The route now
turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower,
where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is
served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava
Tower (4630m). Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around
this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel
symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you
descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching
the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit
of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours
and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the
Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the
Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable
sunset while you wait for your dinner, B,L,D.
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Day 5: Barranco
camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m)
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Hiking time: 7
hours | Distance: About
13 km's | Habitat: Alpine
desert
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After spending
a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you
make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally
turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim
Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The
route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and
valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route
down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after
another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut. The last water stop on the route
is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the
Swahili word for "ice" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to
spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are
pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you
familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.
The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the
same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your
summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and
camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To
prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go
to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep,
B,L,D.
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Day 6: SUMMIT
ATTEMPT, Barafu camp (4550m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
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Hiking time: 8
hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7/8 hours to
descend to Mweka | Distance: About
7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent | Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
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You will rise
around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the
night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy
scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella
point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on
the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will
be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see
(weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all
the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the
summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long,
as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue.
Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your live.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will
have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before
heading down to Mweka hut (3100m).
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Day 7: Mweka
camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m)
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Hiking time: 3
hours | Distance: About
15 km's | Habitat: Forest
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After an early
and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to
the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a
register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit
certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued
with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive
gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka
village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will
be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Moshi for a long
overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight in
Keys Annex Hotel, B,L.
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Day 8: Departure
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Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight
back home or continue with your safari schedule. End of services. B
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Tour Price: US$ 1,510 per person sharing. Single
room supplement: US$ 80
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Tour price
includes:
-Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
-Lemosho route trek as itinerary depicts
-Full board accommodation whilst on the trek.
-Meal plan as detailed: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodation at Keys Annex Hotel in Moshi for 2 nights on bed and
breakfast
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-Accommodation in huts on the mountain as
per the itinerary
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional Mountain guide on the mountain,
porters and skilled cook
-All services begin and end at Kilimanjaro Airport as per the itinerary
-Treated water on the trek
-Return airport transfers from/to Kilimanjaro Airport
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-Mountain rescue fees
Excluded:
-Tips, laundry, sleeping bags, drinks and climbing gears
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-Medical evacuation, USD 30 per person value
-International flights and taxes
-Visas
-Items of a personal nature and any other extras not detailed in the above
itinerary.
