8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip

8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip – SAFARI OVERVIEW

This 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip is an 8 days Kilimanjaro trekking safari in Tanzania tour, offering you the once-in-a-lifetime achievement of climbing to the top of Africa’s highest mountain, the iconic snow-capped Uhuru Peak at 5,895m (19,341ft) above sea level.

Your 8 days Kilimanjaro climbing trek takes Lemosho Route on the western side of Kili. There are many routes to the summit for all levels of fitness but Lemosho is one of the most enriching. At 8 days, it allows for more time at the summit, better acclimatization, and some of the most spectacular scenery of any route.

You trek through the indigenous Afromontane forest, the Shira plateau, Kibo ice fields, and the alpine desert until that wondrous moment when you stand on the “Roof of Africa!” And, because of its remoteness, you encounter less foot traffic along much of your Kilimanjaro trekking tour.

Please note that 6 and 7 days hikes are also available on this route, so you can choose depending on the amount of time at your disposal. Longer programs are always recommended over shorter ones for better acclimatization.

If you would like to book/customize this 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip to your special interests and desires – please let us know.

8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip – PRIME SAFARI ACTIVITIES

  • Climb to the highest peak in Africa, 5 895m (19 340ft)
  • Trek past rainforest, moorland, glacial valleys & Alpine desert
  • See the spectacular Shira Plateau & Kibo ice fields
  • See the incredible Mount Mawenzi & Kibo cone
  • Sleep in comfortable tents on the mountain
  • Watch the sunrise from Uhuru Peak

8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip – SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Hike from Londorossi Gate (2,200 m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m).

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m).

Day 3: Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m).

Day 4: Shira 2 Camp to the Lava Tower (4,630 m) & Barranco Camp (3,960 m).

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,035 m)

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Day 7: Ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) & Descent to Millennium Camp (3,820 m)

Day 8: Descent from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (1,650 m)

8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2,200m) To Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780m)

On the first day of your 8 days Kilimanjaro climbing trek, you will begin your trek to the “Roof of Africa.” Your guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at your place of stay in Arusha in the morning to meet you.

After a quick briefing, you will be driven for about 2½ hours to the western entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park: Londorossi Gate (2,200m). After receiving a climbing permit and registering with the search and rescue service, start hiking towards the first camp of the route: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780m).

You trek through pristine, cool, and humid Afromontane forest; look out for colobus monkeys and exotic birds.  By the time you arrive at the campsite, our expert mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents, and cook lunch for you. After lunch, embark on an acclimatization hike towards Shira 1 Camp which features a 300m gain in altitude. Then descend to Mti Mkubwa for a hot dinner.

Please note: Acclimatization increases your chances of successfully climbing Kili and saves you from the consequences of altitude sickness. And one of the most proven ways to acclimatize to increasing altitude is to ‘climb high, and sleep low, which involves hiking to a point above your camp and then returning to camp to rest.

Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp

Meal Plan: Lunch, & Dinner

Altitude: Climb 895m, Descend 300m

Hiking Distance: 2km

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

Difficulty: Low

Habitat: Rainforest

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp (3,505m)

Day two of your 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip starts with an early breakfast at Mti Mkubwa Camp. You then leave the Afromontane forest behind and gradually trek upward past podocarpus and juniper trees until 3,500 meters.

At that point for the first time, you will be able to see stunning views of Shira Plateau and the snow-capped summit of Kibo peak.

The scenery changes dramatically as the trees are left behind and the heath opens out before you. Overall, the trek from Mti Mkubwa Camp to the second high-altitude Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This allows you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is essential for good trekking.

When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will cook you lunch and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or walk around the nearby area.

Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Altitude: Climb 725m

Hiking Distance: 5km

Hiking Time: 5 – 6 hours

Difficulty:  Low

Habitat: Meadows

Day 3: Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp (3,900m)

After two relatively easy-going days, day three of your 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip sees you taking another light trek towards the second high-altitude camp: Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m).

Today’s hike covers much flatter ground at a more leisurely pace. Take your time to enjoy the rugged scenery of grasses, shrubs, and rocky terrain dotted with striking giant lobelias. Soak up the beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Meru and then tread on ground that was once flowing lava.

You will reach Shira 2 Camp in time for lunch. After lunch, have a two-hour rest and then take time to acclimatize to the reduced oxygen levels by hiking towards Lava Tower Camp which features a 370m gain in altitude. Descend back to Shira 2 Camp for a well-deserved dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Altitude: Climb 765m, Descend 370m

Hiking Distance: 9km

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Difficulty: Low

Habitat: Moorland

Day 4: Shira 2 Camp to the Lava Tower (4,630m) & Barranco Camp (3,960m)

After breakfast on day four of your 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip, we climb up to the Lava Tower (4,630 m), hiking through dramatic boulder-strewn landscapes.

This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least one to two hours here, so this is where lunch will be.

Then hike down to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the Great Barranco Wall, sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below. Tomorrow, you’ll be climbing it, but don’t worry: it features an easy hiking trail. When we reach Lava Tower, take a break to rest and acclimatize to the higher altitude. Then, hike down to Barranco Camp for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Altitude: Climb 730m, Descend 670m

Hiking Distance: 12km

Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Habitat: Moorland

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,035m)

Your day five of 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip starts with an early breakfast at Barranco Camp. After breakfast, you will start summiting the Great Barranco Wall. Hiking up the wall is not difficult and only takes about one hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route and superb vistas of the southern ice fields. The terrain changes to volcanic scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and a powerful sense of mountain wilderness

After reaching the camp, enjoy a warm lunch. And after a couple of hours, complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 200-meter gain in altitude, and then descend back down to Karanga Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Karanga Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Altitude: Climb 680m, Descend 200m

Hiking Distance: 7.5km

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Habitat: Moorland

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,640m)

On day six of the 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip, begin your hike through an afro-alpine desert to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax.

After regaining strength, you take a short acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, from where you can enjoy astounding evening views of craggy and jagged Mount Mawenzi. You will be served a hot dinner.

It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting in preparation for the final ascent which includes a very early night.

Accommodation: Barafu Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Altitude: Climb 765m, Descend 160m

Hiking Distance: 8km

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 7: Ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) & Descent to Millennium Camp (3,820m)

After getting a hot breakfast on day seven of 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Vacation Trip, you start your hike by torchlight around midnight so that you can summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) before the incredible sunrise above the cloud line.

Technically, this is a relatively simple climb, but the most challenging part is the high altitude. Each pair of climbers is given a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor their physical and mental conditions.

The thrill of standing on the highest point on the continent is compounded when you finally begin your descent. After your successful ascent to Uhuru, you’ll return to Barafu Camp for a 2 hours rest. As the oxygen levels increase, you will likely feel intense euphoria and a sense of enormous well-being.

You then descend to the heath zone and come across endemic proteas and flittering malachite sunbirds. Continue to the Millennium Camp (3,820 m) for a delicious dinner. Your final night on Kilimanjaro will probably be filled with reminiscing about the past days: the literal and figurative ‘ups and downs of taking on the world’s highest free-standing mountain!

Accommodation: Millennium Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Altitude: – Climb 1255 meters, Descend 2075 meters

Hiking Distance: 15km

Hiking Time: 8-12 hours

Difficulty: High

Habitat: Arctic

Day 8: Descent from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (1,650m)

Enjoy your final ‘mountain breakfast’ and then pick your way through the lovely Afromontane forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest.

Your route winds down to the national park gate at Mweka (1640m). After your descent, the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip in the guestbook. Lastly, you will be given a commemorative certificate.

Then it is back aboard your transfer vehicle to the very welcome soft bed and warm showers at your hotel of choice in Arusha for a blissful overnight stay.

Please note: An affordable Tanzania wildlife safari and/or Zanzibar Beach Holiday can easily be added to your booking as an extension to your 8 days Kilimanjaro Hike. Also, extensions to Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking or a safari to Kenya parks can easily be arranged. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more details.

End of the 8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip

8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

  • Tented accommodation on Kilimanjaro – modern comfortable 4-season tents.
  • All meals on the hike.
  • 4×4 Safari Car Transfers
  • All Kilimanjaro National Park fees.
  • All drinks on the hike – coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water.
  • 4-inch thick and comfortable sleeping mats.
  • All group equipment – dining tent, table, chairs, crockery, and cutlery.
  • GPS-tracking service.
  • Oxygen cylinders and oximeters.
  • Complete medical kits including Diamox.
  • Professional guides licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park.
  • Taxes: 18% VAT, 1% TDL and 0.3% Service Levy.
  • Dedicated support crew – assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.

8 Days Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing Trekking Safari Lemosho Route Tanzania Trip − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

  • General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff,
  • Laundry Services
  • Visa fee
  • Optional Activity fees
  • International flights
  • Airport transfers – can be arranged on request.
  • Accommodation in Arusha – can be arranged on request.
  • Personal gear rentals
  • Lunch and dinner at the hotel – before and after the climb.
  • Portable toilets – if required.
  • Mountaineering insurance. You’ll need special insurance for climbing Kilimanjaro that covers high-altitude trekking up to 6000m.