This route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west. It offers a chance to visit Shira Plateau (Cathedral peak) and Shira Caldera. The Lemosho Route crosses from Shira Ridge to Shira 2 Camp, in a pleasant hike. Climbers encounter low traffic and scenic views of the other side of the mountain.
Elevation: 1,000m to 1,200m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45Min
Habitat: Town
African Savannah staff will meet and pick you up from JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi for overnight B/B.
Elevation: 1,200 m to 1,950 m to 2,850 m
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
We will pick you up from your hotel and transport you to Londorosi gate for registration. After this formality, you board the vehicle and drive again to Lemosho glade. From this point you will start the trek across undisturbed Montane forest decorated with Black and White Colobus Monkey to the camp where dinner and overnight will take place.
Elevation(m): 2850m to 3500m
Distance: 13km
Hiking time: 8 hours
Habitat: Moorland and heather land
This is an acclimatization trek because you will gain over 650m by starting walking across a beautiful valley outside Shira caldera rim (3600m). After few hours you will reach into Shira caldera. A high altitude desert, Shira is the one among the three peaks which erupted in Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The peak ltaer collapsed and formed a crater which eventually became filled with the lava flow from Kibo peak. Its rim is eroded and blasted away by weather and volcanic action. Camp and overnight at 3500m elevation at the Shira one campsite.
Elevation: 3500m to 4155m
Distance: 11km
Hiking time: 7 hours
Habitat: Moorland
It is a really good day whereby you will follow the trail to Shira two campsite the Lava Tower (4,542 meters). This day allows you to climb high and sleep low and is critical for acclimatization. Stronger hikes may continue to the ruined camp at Arrow Glacier (4,871 meters). Continue hiking from Lava Tower to Moir Hut.
Elevation: 4155m to 4145m
Distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4 hours.
Habitat: Moorland
Today you will start the hike by hiking out of the Moir Valley. Hike to the summit of Lent Hills before returning to the main trail. Continue east through a rock field. Finally reach Buffalo Camp at the end of the day.
Elevation: 3936m to 4717m.
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking time: 5 hours.
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Begin the day by backtracking yesterday’s trail until the dry riverbed. Head west toward Kibo on a steady upward climb. By the early afternoon, reach School Hut on the eastern slopes of Kibo. The Saddle to Mawenzi lies just a few minutes from the camp. Prepare for your midnight ascent to Uhuru Peak.
Elevation: 3936m to 4717m.
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking time: 5 hours.
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Begin the day by backtracking yesterday’s trail until the dry riverbed. Head west toward Kibo on a steady upward climb. By the early afternoon, reach School Hut on the eastern slopes of Kibo. The Saddle to Mawenzi lies just a few minutes from the camp. Prepare for your midnight ascent to Uhuru Peak.
Elevation: 4717m to 5895m to 3100m
Distance: 15km
Hiking time: 10 – 12 hours
Habitat: Desert and ice.
Due to the steep ascent at high altitude, this is the most challenging day of the ascent. Leave School Hut around midnight to begin your hike to the top of Kibo Crater. It is important to remember to snack during the ascent to keep your energy up. You will likely lose your appetite during this day and begin to feel new effects of altitude sickness. Reach Gilman’s Point on the Crater rim. Continue on to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The hike to the summit is slow, and will take approximately 1.5 hours from Gilman’s Point. After reaching the summit, descend to Barafu Camp for a rest and brunch. Around 1pm, descend to Millennium Camp. Reach Millennium Camp at approximately 6pm.
Elevation: 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 9km
Descending time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane forest.
Today is your last day on the mountain. After breakfast you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across Montane forest. This descent will take 3-4 hours. Here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel for your certificate presentation and a well deserved celebration.
Elevation: 1,200m to 1,000m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45Min
Habitat: Town
Breakfast followed by transfer from Moshi and transfer you to JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) for your flight. Better still you cam proceed on a Safari for a few days.
Personal equipments you need to bring:
End to End Excellence with Heart - I went on my lifelong dream trip to Africa with my brother and four friends in October 2024. I was introduced to Paul at the Travel and Adventure Show... read more in Los Angeles by a friend who is an extensive traveler and a very satisfied customer of African Savannah Holidays. From the moment I met Paul, I knew I would put my dream vacation in his hands.
Working with him could not be easier. He listened carefully to my long “wish list” and my budget considerations; then prepared an itinerary that met every wish with thoughtful care. His communication was always professional, prompt, concise, and friendly.
He met us upon arrival bearing gifts, and provided an orientation of our three weeks in detail. It included Kenya, Amboseli National Park, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti, Masai Mara, and finally Zanzibar. Every single aspect of this trip exceeded our expectations: friendly, charming, and informative guides, lodgings that frankly blew me away, food, and the hot air balloon ride. Every day was so exciting and yet, every following day was better than the last.
Our guides knew just where to take us so that we had encounters with four of the Big Five- with the black rhino as the hold out, and we were moved by the experience of being in the wild with all the magnificent animals. At times, we were alone with lions, cubs, cheetahs, leopards, giraffe, baboons, elephants, hippos, and birds we have never seen before! Being there in Africa’s spring meant that we not only saw babies, but it was also not crowded, the temperature was moderate, and there were no mosquitos!
More than the excitement, was a deep sense of the Beautiful. African Savannah Holidays embodied the culture of Africa that values harmony, respect, and love. With them, we brought back something that can’t be captured in pictures. Our goodby to Africa, Paul, and African Savannah Holidays was gratifying, as the six of us made new friends, deepened our friendship, and emblazoned the sights and sounds of Africa forever in our hearts.
If you are considering a trip to Africa, you must find the African Savannah Holidays on line or come meet Paul at the Travel and Adventure Show at the Los Angeles convention Center in February 2025 . Maybe I’ll see you there!
Beautiful Samburu, our African Savannah Adventure - We have travelled previously on safari with African Savannah Holidays and this year we chose to visit the semi arid Samburu Region in northern Kenya. We stayed at Ashnil Samburu... read more Camp and at Samburu Intrepids Camp chosing to fly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi in order to avoid a 6 hour road trip into the bush, the flight was just 45 minutes. Camps were very good with a preference for Ashnil and wildlife in Samburu was excellent. Paul Mgubwa is Director, his service was first class, our guide James Maina was excellent, he was a patient driver and had respect for the animals we saw. Our safari overall was a good one, quite hot 32 degrees at times but its a dry heat so was not uncomfortable.
All of our arrangements from meet and greet in Nairobi through to departure was extremely well organised, we had a fabulous safari and felt we were in really good hands throughout. Sincere thanks Paul we would certainly recommend you to friends wishing to try a safari, it was all that we wanted, just perfect.
Nairobi National Park - Wonderful experience! We went for a safari in Nairobi National Park. Professional and friendly driver, nothing was too much trouble for him. We were picked up from our accommodation, spent... read more day in national park, had a late lunch and came back to our accommodation. From the start to the end it was a fantastic experience.
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