OUR CURRENT FAVOURITES : Seven Day Lemosho Climb

 

 

 

 

CLIMB THE LEMOSHO ROUTE

The Lemosho Route is a very beautiful and unspoilt route that still enjoys sighting of wild game along the forest section. For those seeking a quiet route away from the crowds it clearly a superior option for the first two days of movement. Thereafter however, the route is precisely the same as the Machame Route. The start point of the Lemosho Route is particularly inaccessible during the wet season and climbers should be prepared to walk the final 2-5 kilometres of the road following heavy rains. The journey time to reach the start point is quite long and joined to the possibility of not reaching the end of the road by vehicle head torches may well be needed to reach Forest Camp on day 1.
  
On day two the route ascends towards the western side of the Shira Ridge, the third summit of Kilimanjaro, before bending left to round the north side of the Shira Ridge and attain the Shira Plateau to Shira 1 Camp (3504m).


Day three is crossing the gentle slope of the Shira Plateau and reaching Shira 2 or Shira Cave Camp (3875m). One can do this via the dramatic Shira Cathedral. The Cathedral is an impressive volcanic outcrop that marks the southern lip of the Shira Plateau.

Day four is where the trek gets considerably more difficult. The trek heads from Shira Camp to Lava Tower (4642m). If the weather is good, an ascent to the summit of the Lava Tower (4688m) is possible, where the views are excellent. Lunch is taken at the foot of the tower, before the descent to Barranco Camp (3984m).

Day five's trek is from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp (4681m) via the 257m high Barranco Breach Wall. Lunch is had at Karanga Camp (4040m) before ascending 640m to Barafu.

Day six is started when you are woken at around midnight for the assault via Stella Point (5752m) to the summit (5895m). This is by far the toughest section of the climb - particularly the final 500m. Stella Point is only 143 vertical meters short of the summit. Use everything you have got to push the last 1.2km.

From the summit you will turn around and descend back to Stella Point, here you can opt for the loose scree slope down to Barafu. Once at Barafu you will have about an hour or so rest before continuing the descent to Mweka Camp (3090m).

Day seven is an easy descend from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (1641m), a trek of around 3hrs. Once signing the summit register, a further 15 minutes on foot is required to Mweka village where your transport will be waiting to take you back to Arusha.

The cost of a fully ported, catered and guided seven day/six night climb is appx US$2,146 per person.





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