9 DAYS KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO DOUBLE ROUTE TREK 2024

Upon arrival at Arusha /Kilimanjaro Airport you will meet your Burigi Chato Safaris guide who will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we recommend KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL). Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your 9 DAYS KILIMANJARO HIKING ASCEND VIA LEMOSHO ROUTE AND DESCEND VIA MARANGU ROUTE (WITH OVERNIGHT IN THE CRATER ON DAY SEVEN) the next day.

After breakfast you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to the Londorossi Gate at the height of 2,250 m. After the necessary registration has been completed, a bumpy drive will take you into the dense rainforest, from where your adventure commences. The moderately steep track makes its way through an unspoilt natural forest to the Big Tree Camp (2,780 m). You will be accompanied by an armed ranger for the first 2 days of your trek as wild game can be found in the area. You will spend the night in tents at Big Tree Camp.

•Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
•Distance: 6 km
•Hiking Time:3-4 hours
•Habitat: Rain Forest
•Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
•Accommodation: Mti mkubwa Camp

We continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.

• Elevation (ft): 9,498ft to 11,500ft
• Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
• Hiking Time 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Health
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

We explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east on moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then we divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

• Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800ft
• Distance: 11 km/ 7 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Heath
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Moir hut Camp

We begin the day climbing up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

• Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 15,190ft to 13,044ft
• Distance: 7 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Barranco Camp

After sleeping below the Great Barranco Wall, you get your chance to tackle this hurdle. Don’t worry…It’s much easier than it looks. Continue up until you reach just below the Heim Glacier. Then head down through the Karanga Valley. This is the last place for your porters to gather water. They will collect all the water for the remainder of the ascent here. You will settle in here at the Karanga Camp. After lunch, you can spend the afternoon doing light exploring or resting while taking in the views of Mawenzi’s towering spires.

• Distance Covered: 7km
• Time to be used: 4- 5 hrs
• Altitude: 3,960 m to 4,035 m
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Karanga Camp

Awakening to the sunlight dancing off the Kibo Summit, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting out to today’s destination – Barafu Camp. Most of the day will be spent walking through very dry desertic terrain, with Kibo ever present on your left side. After 3 to 4 hours, you will reach Barafu Camp, where you will have an early dinner and night as the highlight of your trip is only a few short hours away.

At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. Once at the camp, you can relax, have dinner and call it an early night.

• Altitude: 4034 m to 4,640 m
• Elevation: 13,235 ft to 15,295 ft
• Distance Covered: 6 km
• Time to be used: 3-4 hrs
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Barafu/Kosovo Camp

Awakening The day starts particularly early today. You’ll be up with the sunrise in order to begin the most challenging day of any you’ll spend on the mountain. After 5-7 hours of climbing the scree and ash paths of the Kibo, you will arrive at Stella Point, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. From here you will then hike down to the Crater Camp which lies at an altitude of 5730 m, making it the highest camp on the mountain. If the weather conditions are good, Crater Camp offers you staggering views of the surrounding glaciers.

• Elevation: 13,235 ft to 15,295 ft
• Altitude: 4034 m to 4,640 m
• Distance Covered: 6 km
• Time to be used: 5-7 hrs
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Crater Camp

The final ascent begins in the early morning hours with the first signs of the sunrise. Though this leg is just two hours long, the high altitude ensures that it is particularly slow and arduous. After ascending 170 meters or so you will reach the summit of Uhuru Peak (5895 m).
Now standing on the “Roof of Africa” you will be able to see the surrounding summits and landscapes in all their glory – a truly special experience.
From the summit, we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.
. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep at Horombo Hut.

•Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
•Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
•Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
•Altitude: 5895 ft to 3700 ft
•Distance: 5 km/3 miles
•Distance: 14 km down
Altitude: 4,640 m to 5,895 m
•Habitat: Arctic | Alpine desert
•Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
•Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
• •Habitat: Arctic

•Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A vehicle will meet you at Marangu village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha. Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

• Altitude: 3,700 m to 1,700 m
• Distance Covered: 18km km down
• Time to be used: 5 - 7 hrs.
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Accommodate at Moshi White house hotel

_THE END OF TREK_