This route is one of the longest that traverse the large area of the mountain making it the highest success rate route because it give enough acclimatization time to climber. The route is also recommendable because of less crowded and has panoramic vistas with lots of adventures including trekking through Shira Plateau.
ITINERARY DETAILS
DAY 1: ARRIVING AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport pick up and transferred to the booked hotel for Dinner, Overnight stay, breakfast the next morning and checklist all requirement for the trekking program ahead.
DAY 2: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO THROUGH FARMLAND
After completing the necessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. The last section of the road is of poor quality and difficult to drive after rain, sometimes we start walking a kilometer or two below the road head. We often have our lunch at the road head before starting to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through beautiful and lush forest. We camp at Lemosho Big Tree Camp.
DAY 3: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO THROUGH MOORLAND
We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the centre of the plateau at “Shira One” (3,550 m).
DAY 4: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO SHIRA PLATEAU
We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut (3,840 m). This campsite has stunning views, close to the glaciated dome of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau. The views from here of Mt. Meru floating on the clouds are simply unforgettable.
DAY 5: TREKKING THROUGH CAMPSITES In the morning we cross part of the plateau heading north to reach our campsite at Moir Hut (4,200m) for lunch. After which there is an excellent acclimatization walk up onto the Lent Hills, the summit of which is at 4,700 meters.
DAY 6: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO THROUGH MOORLAND PLATEAU
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550 m) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barrancovalley (3,900 m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.
Day 7: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO ICE FIELDS.
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields. The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to our camp at Karanga (4,000 m), the last water point on the way to the summit.
DAY 8: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO THROUGH VALLEY We follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m) for lunch. There is a short acclimatization walk to the plateau at the bottom of the South-East valley (4,800 m). The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.
DAY 9: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO MAWENZI AND UHURU PEAK
We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,800 m) Millenium.
DAY 10: TREKKING TO KILIMANJARO RETRACE THROUGH MWEKA VILLAGE
A sustained descent through lovely forest with lush undergrowth takes us to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m) and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village already waiting vehicle and drive back to Moshi to the booked hotel for overnight stay. End of the service
