TGSTKIL 07 -
Lemosho Glades Route
This magnificent variation to the Shira Route is as yet unspoilt and
little used. It takes paths through forests rich in game south of
the Shira Route. On day 3 the Machame Route is rejoined. Detailed
description.
Day 1
Londorossi Gate (2100m) - Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m)
Hiking time: 3h
Habitat: Montane forest
Your
day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 2-hour
drive from Moshi (910m) 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.
Day 2
Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m) - Shira 2 camp (3840m)
Hiking time: 6.5h
Habitat: Moorland
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.
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.Shira
Camp. 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.
Day 4
Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m)
Hiking time: 7h
Distance: Approximately 13kms
Habitat: Alpine desert
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 Karranga 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.
Day 5 - summit attempt
Barafu camp (4550m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8h to reach Uhuru Peak, 7 - 8h to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kms ascent. 23 kms descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
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). The route is not difficult and
will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and
eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest
and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner, and
washing water will be prepared as well as drinking water.
Day 6
Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3h
Distance: Approximately 15 kms
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and
scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is strongly recommended not to
pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached
the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info. 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 Springlands hotel.
Basically, the above price include: Guarantee Price, Guarantee Departure.
Free scheduled bus shuttle Nairobi-Arusha- Moshi-Nairobi.
2 nights accommodations in a mid-class hotel (Bed and Breakfast),
before and after the climb.
Accommodation in mountain tents/huts.
Meals (3 meals a day),
All park fees, including mountain rescue fees, and government taxes.
Services of our own trained English-speaking mountain guide, and a
skilled cook, and enough numbers of porters for your luggage,
Transport from your hotel to the mountain, and back to your hotel.
The price does not include: -Item of personal nature.
-Tips to guide and porters
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Your
day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 2-hour
drive from Moshi (910m) 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.
