Overview
The hike up towards the Western breach starts from Barafu camp.
If you want a real adventure and to trek on parts of Kilimanjaro that few other people have had the privilege of experiencing – then our extreme adventure is the trip for you.
This is an expedition which involves camping on the glacier overnight – and the photographic opportunities are outstanding.
We recommend this trip for people who have previous mountain climbing experience and who have hiked at high altitude before.
Itinerary
Day : 1 Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
From your hotel you will be driven to the starting point of our Kilimanjaro climb, the Lemosho trail. Here you meet the rest of your crew and set out at a leisurely pace into the jungle. The Lemosho route is unspoilt, remote and little used. It's a beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau with spectacular views. The route is one of the few where you are accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are inhabited by buffalo, elephant and other wildlife. You can also see white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys and different species of birds plus a lot of indigenous plant-life. Lunch is taken on the trail and camp is reached mid-afternoon.
Day : 2 Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out onto the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. Look out for the pretty plant 'Senecio Kilimanjaro' and many other interesting species. Lunch is taken on the trail and you arrive at camp in mid-afternoon.
Day : 3 Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 Camp
After a relatively long hike and the significant altitude gain yesterday, today is a short day and you arrive in Shira 2 camp in time for lunch. A good day for acclimatization with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides.
Day : 4 Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp
The route to Barranco via Lava Tower takes you into the semi desert zone. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperatures. You will have a hot lunch at Lava tower, and after lunch you descend into Barranco camp. This is ideal for acclimatization. Having reached 4600meters you descend and then spend the night at the lower altitude of 3950meters.
Day : 5 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
You spend a relatively long time in Karanga camp. The selection of Karanga camp is strategic. Significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatization and in the late afternoon you arrive in camp. You will see a lots of giant senecios Kilimanjaro and lobelia plants. Sunsets here are spectacular with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields towering 1000 meters (over 3000 feet) above you.
Day : 6 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Today is another half day ascending to Barafu camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi volcano are the norm. Look out for the ravens and the mountain buzzards. These are big birds and mainly eat the common 'four stripe mouse' which you will see running around.
Day : 7 Barafu Camp to Crater Camp
Unlike other routes with a night time ascent, the expedition affords you a daytime ascent to Kibo crater. The going is slow but with constant encouragement from your climb team the rim of Kibo is reached before descending a little way into the caldera to Crater camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and short walks can be taken with one of your guides.
Day : 8 Crater Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
After a night in the crater you now have the shortest final summit bid of any route. With such a short distance to the summit from the crater (around 1 hour) means that timing arrival with the sunrise is much easier and quite spectacular. The summit of Kilimanjaro is the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world. After your summit bid you then descend for a final night on the mountain at Mweka Camp passing back through the heath zone. Endemic Proteas, pollinated by Malachite Sunbirds are plentiful.
Day : 9 Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
After breakfast you descend once again through mountain forest and around mid-day after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your hote
Included
- Pick-Up And Drop-Off From Airport
- Meet And Greet Service
- 2 Nights BB in Moshi
- 8 Nights FB in Camping
- All Park Fees
- All Meals On The Hike
- Hiking And Safety Equipment
- Personal Gear Rentals
- Mountain Guide And Porters
- Transportation
Excluded
- Airline Tickets
- Visa Fee
- Lunch And Dinner At The Hotel (Before And After The Ascent)
- Tips For The Mountain Crew
- Rental Gear
- Alcholic Drinks and snacks
- Travel Insurance
- Medical (Medications, Vaccines, Tests)