9 Days Lemosho Route – Monarch Safari Guides

9 Days
Lemosho Route

Courtesy of your Vacation Matchmakers

Overview

THE SHIRA & LEMOSHO ROUTE (9 days) has several variations in the start of the climb to the final day to the summit. Shira is one of the 3 peaks of Kilimanjaro (the others are Kibo & Mawenzi) and the plateau allows acclimatization walks and even technical climbs to the Shira Needles before continuing with the ascent to the summit. The last camp is the highest of all camps on the mountain and a short two hours from the summit, so that with a slow approach, climbers who have reached this camp will almost certainly summit successfully and without sickness.

Please remember that both our Standard and All-Inclusive Packages include:

2 Nights at a Premium Hotel prior to the climb
1 Night at a Premium Hotel post climb.
In total, this trip with us takes 12 days (not including flights).

Itenerary

DAY 1: FOREST CAMP – RAINFOREST ZONE

Pick up and check out of hotel in the morning. Start driving to the Kilimanjaro National Park Lemosho Entrance Gate (3hrs).

We enter the western gate of the park (approximately 7,700ft or 2,100m) and climb to & overnight at Forest Camp (9,255ft or 2,821 m) in the Rainforest Zone.

This trek takes approximately 2-3 hrs. This part of the trip will consist of a trek through lush rainforest. You may see some black and white Colobus Monkeys as well as some Blue Monkeys.

DAY 2: SHIRA 1 CAMP – HEATHER / MOORLAND ZONE

We climb from Forest Camp (9,255ft or 2,821 m) to Shira 1 Camp (11,300ft or 3,444 m) in the Heather Zone.

We will be having a lunch break half way throughout the day. We will be camping at Shira 1 Camp tonight. This trek takes approximately 5-7 hrs. including lunch break.

Trekkers will be travelling through the Heather and Moorland Zones, consisting of more lush vegetation.

DAY 3: MOIR CAMP – HEATHER / MOORLAND ZONE

We climb from Shira 1 Camp (11,300ft or 3,444 m) to Moir Camp (13,779ft or 4,200 m) through the Heather and Moorland Zone. We will be camping overnight at Moir Camp.

This trek takes approximately 5-7 hrs. including lunch break. The landscape will begin to change to smaller plants and trekkers will start to travel through a more desert-like landscape.

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP – ALPINE DESERT ZONE

We climb from Moir Camp (13,779ft or 4,200 m) to Lava Tower Camp (15,091ft or 4,600 m) in the Alpine Desert Zone. This trek takes approximately 3 hrs.

We will spend some time having lunch at Lava Tower Camp. After lunch, we proceed to make our descent towards Barranco Camp (13,066ft or 3,983 m). We have spectacular view of the Barranco Wall. We camp overnight at Barranco Camp.

DAY 5: KARANGA CAMP – ALPINE DESERT ZONE

We climb from Barranco Camp (13,066ft or 3,983 m) to Karanga Camp (13,255ft or 4,040 m).

To get to Karanga Camp, we must cross over the Barranco Wall. This climb is not technical and you will have the guides to assist you. This trek takes approximately 4-5 hours to complete.

Afterwards we will rest for the remainder of the day. We camp overnight at Karanga Camp.

DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP – ALPINE DESERT ZONE

We climb from Karanga Camp (13,255ft or 4,040 m) to Barafu Camp (15,239ft or 4,644 m). This trek takes approximately 4-5 hours to complete.

Afterwards we will rest for the remainder of the day. We camp overnight at Barafu Camp.

DAY 7: UHURU PEAK – SUMMIT DAY – ARCTIC ZONE

Starting at Barafu Camp (15,239ft or 4,644 m) we will begin our summit trek to Uhuru Peak (19,341ft or 5,895m). This trek takes approximately 7 hours to complete. From here onwards, the climbing group has 2 options which will be decided in cooperation by the head guides, and all the climbers on the trek.

Option #1: We wake up at 6:00 AM and avoid trekking in the darkness. We will have a short break for lunch when we are nearby the summit. The trek to the summit takes approximately 7 hours.

Congratulations on reaching Uhuru Peak (19,341ft or 5,895 m). Spend a few minutes taking pictures and savoring the accomplishment of climbing to the Roof of Africa. After we have spent time at the summit, we will make our descent to Crater Camp (18,800ft or 5,730 m).

You will be able to see the Furtwangler Glacier next to Crater Camp. Overnight at Crater Camp. This descent portion takes approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete.

The benefit of Option #1 is that we get to reach the summit during the mid-day, when there are the least crowds at the summit. You also get to sleep at Crater Camp next to the Furtwangler Glacier, which is situated next to Kibo’s Ash Pit (the heart of the volcano).

Option #2: We wake up at 11:00 PM the night before to prepare for our summit day. We eat breakfast and begin our trek around 12:00 AM (midnight). It takes approximately 7 hours to reach the summit Uhuru Peak (19,341ft or 5,895m). You will be reaching the peak around sunrise.

After you have reached the summit and had a snack, you will begin to make your descent back to Barafu Camp. This descent portion takes approximately 3-4 hours.

DAY 8: DESCENT TO MWEKA CAMP – HEATHER / MOORLAND ZONE

Option #1 Continued: Wake up at Crater Camp (18,800ft or 5,730 m) in the Arctic Zone and begin making our descent to Mweka Camp (10,204ft or 3,110 m). This descent portion takes approximately 6-8 hrs.

Option #2 Continued: Wake up at Barafu Camp (15,239ft or 3,983m) and continue making our descent to our next camp – Mweka Camp (10,204ft or 3,110 m). This descent portion takes approximately 4-5 hrs. Overnight at Mweka Camp in the Moorland/Heather Zone.

DAY 9: MWEKA GATE & OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE

After breakfast, we continue to climb down to Mweka Gate (5,423ft or 1,653m) where we sign the Official Kilimanjaro National Park Register, have a cold drink, and get presented our official Kilimanjaro Certificate by our Head Guide. This last descent to the gate should take approximately 3-4 hrs.

We then head to our bus and head back to the Premium Hotel in Arusha. This drive takes approximately 3 hrs. You should be arriving back at the hotel in the mid-afternoon around 3 PM (depending what time you leave your camp in the morning).

$ 5,150

4 persons - $1850 per person
5 - 8 persons - $1750 per person
9 - 12 persons - $1650 per person

Book Tour

Costing is inclusive of:

Full Kilimanjaro briefing,

Park entrance fees,

Camping fees,

Rescue fees,

Park commission,

Kilimanjaro certificate,

Food for climbers (3 meals a day),

Salaries to the climbing crew (guide, porters and a cook),

Professional and experienced mountain guides

Professional and experience cooks

Radio and cell phone – communication that helps us to stay in contact within and outside the group.

Enough number of porters for your luggage, food, water and camping equipment’s

Costing is exclusive of:

International flights

Tanzania visa (approx. $50)

Medical and Travel insurance

Items of a personal nature

Gratitude/Tips

Tips for Lead guide (we recommend 40$-50$ per day

Tips for Chef and Assistant Guide (we recommend 25$-30$ per day

Tips for porters (we recommend 15$-20$ @ per day

porters (we recommend $80-120 per climber)

What To Bring With You?

1)Sleeping bag – Winter

2)Four Season Duvet Jacket

3)Waterproof layer for big bag

4)Rain covers for day pack

5) Dry sacs for wet gear

6)Sun hat/cap

7)Woolly hat/toque

8)Scarf

9) Balaclava

10)Sunglasses

11)Wet weather jacket

12)Wet weather trousers

13)Warm upper body layers

14)Thermals

15)Thick waterproof gloves

16)Thin gloves

17)Gaiters

18)Thick socks

19)Thin socks

20)Hiking boots-waterproof

21)Spare laces

22)Jogging shoes/flip flops

23)Walking poles

24)Water bottles – 2 to 3ltr

25)Water bladder

26)Iodine water purification tablets (optional)

27)Snacks

28)Protective Eye Goggles

29)Head torch/hand torch

30)Spare bulb, if needed

31)Spare batteries

32)Camera

33)Memory cards

34)Towel, i.e., quick dry type

35)Toiletries

36)Repellent (first day)

37)Face lotion

38)Lip balm

39)Sunscreen

40)Hand sanitizer

41)Wet wipes

42)Personal first aid kit.

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Overview

PRICE PER PERSON

Costing is inclusive of:

Costing is exclusive of:

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