Lemosho Crater Route

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival

We pick you up upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and bring you to the lodge located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, approximately 2 hours from the airport.

Meals: D

Day 2: Village Walking, Kilimanjaro

You have the morning to rest and relax. In the late afternoon, we will have coffee tours and waterfall walks to prepare for Kilimanjaro the next day. Before dinner, your trip leader provides a climb orientation and equipment check.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 3: Lemosho to Big Tree Camp

After breakfast, we drive to the Lemosho Gate for check-in, where you will meet your other guides and mountain crew. We enter Kilimanjaro National Park from the Lemosho trailhead and hike through thick and undisturbed montane forest to our camp for the night. Along the way, we may see beautiful flowers and colobus monkeys. In the evening, you may hear the unforgettable shrieking call of the tree hyrax.

Overnight: Big Tree Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4: Big Tree Camp to Shira 1 Camp

Today we hike for 6 hours to reach the west side of the Shira Plateau. Walking through the forest allows us to observe animal and bird life. The hike transitions from montane forest to heather zone, where old lava flows are visible. Your guides will point out unique environmental differences along the way. After a picnic lunch, we reach our camp with dramatic views of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers.

Overnight: Shira 1 Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 5: Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

A relaxed acclimatization day with a 4 to 5-hour hike. Camp is set higher on the Shira Plateau with more expansive views of Kilimanjaro. In the afternoon, a conditioning hike allows you to explore clusters of giant lobelias and senecios at this elevation.

Overnight: Shira 2 Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 6: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower Camp

Another acclimatization day as we hike for 5 hours to an elevation above 15,000 feet. The route passes through the alpine moorland zone with hardy plants like lichens, grasses, and heather, before reaching Kilimanjaro’s alpine desert zone.

Overnight: Lava Tower Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 7: Lava Tower Camp to Karanga Camp

After descending from Lava Tower Camp, we climb the Great Barranco Wall—an exhilarating challenge made accessible with the pole pole (“slowly” in Kiswahili) technique. From the top, enjoy breathtaking views of the Heim Glacier. After descending into the Karanga Valley, we climb again to our ridge-top camp.

Overnight: Karanga Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 8: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

The trail turns steadily uphill. The landscape becomes sparse, and temperatures drop as we reach Barafu Camp. Barafu means “ice” in Kiswahili. This is our staging point for the summit attempt. After an early dinner, we have a summit briefing and prepare our equipment before resting.

Overnight: Barafu Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 9: Barafu Camp to Crater Camp

We make a slow ascent from Barafu to the crater rim by afternoon, enjoying magnificent views of Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro’s second-highest peak. From the rim, we descend across the crater floor to Crater Camp, set near the indigo-streaked Furtwangler Glacier.

Overnight: Crater Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 10: Crater Camp to Uhuru Peak to Millennium Camp

After an early breakfast, we ascend to Uhuru Peak (19,340 feet), reaching the summit by 8 a.m. Before the clouds roll in, enjoy breathtaking views of Africa in all directions. After a brief stay for photos, we descend 2 to 3 hours to Barafu Camp for lunch and rest before continuing downhill to Millennium Camp—7,000 feet below the summit!

Overnight: Millennium Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 11: Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate; Moshi Town

A final 4 to 5-hour descent takes us to Mweka Gate. The forest trail is steep in places and may be slippery if wet. After a celebration lunch with the entire team, we transfer to Moshi Town to relax at the hotel.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 12: Moshi Town

Those heading out on safari or to Zanzibar will depart after breakfast. For those returning home, we offer a guided tour of Moshi Town’s colorful market and curio shops. Lunch is available in town or at the lodge (not included). Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.

Meals: B

INCLUSIONS ✅

✔️ All accommodations for 12 days / 11 nights
✔️ All meals as indicated (B, L, D)
✔️ Bottled or filtered water, coffee, teas, and cocoa
✔️ Services of trip leader, climbing guides, and mountain crew
✔️ Kilimanjaro National Park entrance, camping, and rescue fees (including supplemental Crater Camp fee)
✔️ All camping and dining equipment (excluding sleeping bag and pad)
✔️ Portable private toilet with a bio-degradable waste system (Clean Waste) at all camps
✔️ Supplemental oxygen for emergency descents
✔️ Transfers to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport and park gates
✔️ Guided Marangu Village walking tour
✔️ Guided Moshi Town walking tour

EXCLUSIONS ❌

❌ Tips & gratuities for guides, crew, or staff
❌ Cold drinks & alcohol
❌ Additional accommodations & meals due to airline schedule changes or inability to complete the climb
❌ Pre-trip expenses (immunizations, travel insurance, passports, visas)
❌ International airfare & airport departure taxes
❌ Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, etc.)

DISCLAIMER

Trip prices are based on Rocky Africa Experience costs at the time of booking. Rocky Africa Experience reserves the right to adjust trip prices due to:

• Inflation, fuel, labor, or material costs

• Exchange rate fluctuations

• Increased park fees (TANAPA), hotel/lodge rates, airline fares, or other service provider costs
  Should these changes occur, additional payment may be required from the client.