8-DAY GROUP TOUR OF LEMOSHO ROUTE KILIMANJARO FEBRUARY 6TH TO FEBRUARY 15TH

You will be transferred by road from Moshi (09:00) to Lemosho Gate. After check-in, you continue on the 4x4 track to the trailhead where you begin your trek through the rainforest area with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora and fauna, and there's a chance of rain this afternoon, which is common in this area, making the trail slightly slippery. A short, winding trail will gradually lead you to the first camp.

Approximate distance by car: 2-3 hours 

Approximate trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi

Starting altitude: 2100m or 6890ft

Final altitude: 2780m or 9120ft

Highest altitude reached: 2780m or 9120ft

Altitude gain / loss: +680m or +2230ft 

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

This morning, you quickly leave the forest area on a steep trail, as the dense vegetation slowly fades to give way to heather and moorland. The rest of the day is devoted to a regular hike along the Shira ridge, from where you can see Shira Peak (the third of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones), which offers a spectacular, jagged landscape of this eroded peak.

Approximate driving distance: None Approximate trekking time: 4-5 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi Starting altitude: 2780m or 9120ft

Final altitude: 3505m or 11500ft Highest altitude reached: 3505m or 11500ft

Altitude gain / loss: +725m or +2380ft Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today's hike takes you gradually across the Shira plateau, through heather and moorland, with an optional extra hike to Shira Cathedral Peak (3880 m), before gradually leading you to Shira Two camp. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones and has been shaped by lava and volcanic activity to create a stunning jagged peak and offer a unique western view of Kibo, the highest of the peaks and your final destination.

Approximate driving distance: 0 hours

Approximate trekking time: 3-5 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 6km / 4mi

Starting altitude: 3505m or 11500ft

Final altitude: 3845m or 12615ft

Highest altitude reached: 3872m or 12705ft

Altitude gain / loss: +340m or +1115ft / -27m or -90ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today's hike takes you to the Kibo cone, climbing steadily and crossing the edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). This day will help you acclimatize and will be a good indicator of how your body copes with altitude. From the lava tower, you begin a steep, counter-clockwise descent around Kibo and into the Barranco valley, passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios), unique to Kilimanjaro. The day ends at about the same altitude as the start, on the edge of heather and moorland.

Approximate trekking time: 6-8 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 10km / 6mi

Starting altitude: 3845m or 12615ft

Final altitude: 3960m or 12990ft

Highest altitude reached: 4630m or 15190ft

Altitude gain / loss: +785m or +2575ft / -670m or -2200ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

This morning, you'll leave the camp and climb the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical climb that feels like mountaineering (without prior experience or advanced equipment) and is rewarded with a superb view of the camp and the Heim Glacier on the peak from the summit. The rest of the hike is through alpine desert, winding slowly around the mountain to the Karanga Valley, where you descend and ascend to your camp. The Karanga valley is the last watering place.

None Approximate hiking time: 3-5 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 6km / 4mi 

Starting altitude: 3960m or 12990ft

Final altitude: 4040m or 13255ft 

Highest altitude reached: 4250m or 13945ft

Altitude gain / loss: +290m or +955ft /-210m or -690ft 

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Karanga camp to Barafu camp

Today, you climb almost casually through the empty landscape of the alpine desert, where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. The Kibo cone begins to close in, and you can finally see Mawenzi Peak (Kilimanjaro's second highest peak) to the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at summit camp to rest and prepare for tonight's summit attempt.

Approximate distance by car: None Approximate trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 4km / 2.5mi Starting altitude: 4040m or 13255ft

Final altitude: 4640m or 15225ft Highest altitude reached: 4640m or 15225ft

Altitude gain / loss: +600m or +1970ft Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Early in the morning (around 00:00), you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over volcanic scree in the cold dark night, and proceeds at a slow zigzag pace to Stella Point (5685m or 18650ft), which is your first stop on the rim of the Kibo crater. From here, a short (but challenging) hike takes you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), Africa's highest point. You won't usually spend much time at the summit due to the extreme altitude, and will return to base camp for breakfast/brunch. After stowing your gear, you'll continue the descent through alpine desert, heather and moorland, finally stopping at Mweka camp in the rainforest zone for a well-deserved rest.

Approximate trekking time: 14-18 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 19km / 12mi 

Starting altitude: 4640m or 15225ft

Final altitude: 3080m or 10105ft 

Highest altitude reached: 5895m or 19341ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +1255m or +4116ft / -2815m or -9236ft 

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Your last day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rainforest to Mweka gate, where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. This is the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to your team, who usually head straight home from the gate.

Approximate distance by car: 1 hour

Approximate trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 10km / 6mi 

Starting altitude: 3080m or 10105ft

Final altitude: 1630m or 5350ft 

Highest altitude reached: 3080m or 10105ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: -1450 or 4755ft

Meals included: Breakfast