Experience the various exciting tour and travel Route and Make hotel reservations, and events
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It stands an impressive 19,341 feet tall over the Tanzanian plains. Mount Kilimanjaro is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, meaning it is not part of a mountain range (such as Mount Everest and the Himalayans).
Many people climb Kilimanjaro every year. The activity is not just for hard core backpackers and experienced mountaineers. Everyday people, including accountants, engineers, food servers and teachers, successfully reach the top. Children as young as 6 years old and seniors as old as 82 years old have done it. Experts agree that anyone who is in average physical shape can climb Kilimanjaro, which is why the mountain is so popular amongst the general adventure seeking population. No technical mountaineering ability is required.
There are six major routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. Each is well maintained, and each route has different pros and cons. Foot traffic on the routes is regulated by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. It is required to have a guide while trekking on Kilimanjaro, and there is no shortage of guide operators who can take you to the summit.
The weather on the mountain varies widely depending on the elevation and season. It can be extremely cold near the summit, so warm, windbreaking clothing is a necessity. Heavy rain is also possible at any time, so quality waterproof gear is mandatory. All climbers should be well equipped.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the dry season. January, February, July, August, September, October are the best months to go. The rainy season occurs during the months of March, April, May, June, November and December
We offer a seven day and an eight day climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro using the Lemosho route. Both offer good acclimatisation and wonderful views enroute. This route has a beautiful approach through the forest on the first day through the Lemosho Glades from the west before joining the Machame trail at the Shira Plateau and contouring around the dramatic southern flank of the mountain via Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp and then on to Barafu camp for the summit push. The descent is via Millennium Camp and through Mweka Gate.
The Lemosho Route is a camping trip for an average group size of 4 using top quality mountain tents, comfortable mattresses, and qualified guides, porters who carry the bags and equipment, and cooks who provide fresh, tasty food every day. The ratio of guide:climber is 1:2. Our local guides have been with us for many years and are all trained, qualified, experienced and great fun.
The 8-day option has a particularly good summit success rate, the extra day makes a difference to how you feel and there are three nights sleeping at the same altitude. The 7 day option is about an 85% summit success rate and we don't offer anything less because it is just too dangerous to consider climbing Kilimanjaro in 6 days.
We provide an experienced personal service throughout, and you can chat with us in the office about the climb. Gavin has been guiding the mountain since 1994 and makes several ascents a year, and we have been using the same team of guides and cooks since 2001.
Lemosho was introduced by the park to handle increasing numbers of visitors and it is true to say that Lemosho has a slightly easier gradient through the forest and onto the Shira plateau. However, the gate at Londorossi is further away than Machame Gate so on the first morning you have to drive for about three hours to register at the Londorossi Gate and then drive a little further on to the start of the trek. This means normally beginning to trek after lunch, although the first hike to Big Tree Camp is quite short at just a few hours.
Lemosho route is around 70 kms or 42 miles whether you opt for the 7- or 8-day version. It joins up with the Machame Route between Shira and Barranco so the terrain is very similar.
| Day | from | To | Via | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moshi(890mm) | Big Tree Camp(2700m) | Londorosi gate(2360) | 5 km | 3 Hrs |
| 2 | Big Tree Camp 2700m | Lower shira Pleteau (3500m) | Forest | 7 km | 4 Hrs |
| 3 | Lower shira Pleteaus(3840m) | upper Shira plateau(3840m) | Shira plateous | 7 km | 3 Hrs |
| 4 | upper Shira plateau(3840m) | Barranco Camp(3950m) | Lava Tower | 9 km | 7 hrs |
| 5 | Barranco Camp(3950m) | Karanga valley Camp(3995m) | Barranco Wall(4650m) | 4 km | 5 Hrs |
| 6 | Karanga valley Camp(3995m) | Barafu Camp(4550m) | Mweka Junction(4275m) | 4 km | 4 Hrs |
| 7 | Barafu Camp(4550m) | Millenium Camp(2800) | Summit Uhuru Peak(5895) | 4+4 km | 7+4 Hrs |
| 8 | Millenium Camp(2800m) | Moshi(890m) | Mweka Gate(1650m) | 11 km | 5Hrs |
World's leading tour and travels Booking website,Over 30,000 packages worldwide. Book travel packages and enjoy your holidays with distinctive experience
Big Tree Camp and Millennium Camps are on the tree line and have a number of campsites set in small clearings in the forest. You will see a central ranger station and a number of drop-hole latrines. Mobile coverage here and it is quite easy to descend back to the gate if necessary.
Shira Plateau 1 & 2 are situated on different sides of the vast Shira plateau which is a volcanic spill-off from the last explosion some 100,000 years ago. Open and exposed and often dusty with smaller, more fragile plants amongst the rocks. Latrines and Ranger huts are around and the area is so huge it is easy to have some privacy. Depending on your route choice (7- or 8-day versions) you may spend one or two nights on the plateau.
Barranco Camp is in a big clearing at the head of the steep valley which drops down into the Umbwe route, with dramatic cliffs around and right below the ice fields of Kibo, a stunning location for a camp.
Karanga Camp is a very open camp on the side of a hillside with great views of the summit massif and the expanse of land beyond the mountain. Many people go direct from Barranco to Barafu, so Karanga is traditionally a bit of half-way stop, but there are still latrines and a Ranger hut here.
Barafu, meaning ‘ice’, is now no longer covered in permanent snow but it is cold and rocky and exposed. People definitely feel the altitude here and you can expect snow and sometimes high wind. The camp sites are dotted amongst nooks and crannies in the rocks, perched on a sort of ridge
