Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climb
7 – 8 Days Rongai Route
Overview
The Rongai Route is one of the easiest routes and the success rate is very high.
The route starts on the north side of the Kilimanjaro Mountain just south of the Kenyan border, and is one of the least traveled routes. The descent is down the Marangu Route on the south side of the mountain, so climbers see the mountain from many view points.
The drive to the trail head takes about 3 hours from Moshi through many villages and coffee plantations, including a stop to register climbing permits at Marangu.
The Rongai Route can also be accessed from Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Allow 2 hours including border crossing. We will need copies of passports ahead of time.
Rates Per Person
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Group size2 Pax3 Pax4 Pax5 Pax6 Pax7 pax
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Price$2050$1800$1650$1550$1500$1470
Safari Itinerary
Arrival Day: Pre-trek Briefing
If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive atleast one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend in having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
Day 1: Hotel to Mti Mkubwa Camp
After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (about a 3-hour drive). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 2 Camp
After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge past the Shira 1 camp and on to the Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 16km/10mi
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Hotel
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Monkey Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
Day 1 – Lemosho Glades
We’ll start our adventure by departing from your lodge and making our way to the Londorosi gate, located on the Western side of Mount Kilimanjaro. From there, we’ll begin our hike at the Lemosho trailhead. Please note that in rainy/muddy conditions, extra hiking may be required if the vehicles can’t reach the true trailhead. After a picnic lunch, we’ll hike for about 4 hours to the forest camp, where exotic moss and flowers await. Keep an eye out for Black and White Colobus monkeys and signs of elephants in the area. Overnight at Forest Camp.
Day 2 – Shira Plateau
Leaving the Montane Forest, we’ll enter the Hagenia zone where we’ll catch our first glimpse of the Kibo peak. This is a good acclimatization hike, as we go up and down several ridges along the way to our highest point of the day at 11,500′. We’ll then descend to camp and overnight at Shira 1 Camp.
Day 3 – Moir Camp
We’ll traverse the Heath zone of the Shira Plateau and begin climbing the western slope of the Kibo Massif. Along the way, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at Scott Fisher Memorial Camp before continuing to the upper heath zone and Moir Camp. Depending on the weather, acclimatization hikes can be arranged in the late afternoon. Overnight altitude is approximately 13,650′.
Day 4 – Barranco Camp
We’ll leave the heath zone and enter the alpine zone, hiking 4-6 hours past Lava Camp with its volcanic landscape and then down a bit into the scenic Barranco Valley to camp. Overnight altitude is around 13,044′.
Day 5 – Karanga Camp
We’ll ascend the Great Barranco Wall with views of Kilimanjaro mountain ice fields, then hike up and down across some small valleys on our way to Karanga Camp. Overnight altitude is approximately 13,106′.
Day 6 – Barafu Camp
Hike about 3-5 hours to Barafu Camp, with ups and downs across small valleys. After settling into camp, we’ll have a demonstration on the use of safety equipment such as the Gamow (hyperbolic) bag and oxygen. Early supper and rest in camp before your wake-up call to start your summit ascent around 11:00 PM or midnight. Overnight altitude is around 15,100′.
Day 7 – Summit and Mweka Camp
It’s summit day! We’ll start our ascent to the summit (19,340ft – 5,896m) around 11:00 PM or midnight the night prior. Our goal is to reach the peak right at sunrise, but there is a several hour span where most climbers reach the summit due to differences in hiking speed, energy, and altitude acclimatization. Using headlamps (bring extra lithium batteries, which last much better in cold dark conditions!) you will ascend 6-7 hours to Stella Point and then another 1-2 hours to Uhuru Peak, the summit. After a summit celebration and photo, we’ll descend to Barafu camp for lunch and then to Mweka camp to sleep overnight. Summit typically takes 12-17 hours, and the overnight altitude is around 10,448′.
Day 8 – Mweka Park Gate
We make the final descent to the trailhead today, about 3-5 hours hiking. Here we will have lunch and say goodbye to our mountain crew before leaving Mount Kilimanjaro and heading back to town. Arrive at your lodge usually between 3-5 PM.
Hiking: 3-5 hours
This will be the end of your lemesho route 8 days of experience. We welcome you to review our safari packages.
What's Included
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Arusha/Moshi hotel
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
- Sleeping Mattress
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Quality Mess Tents with tables and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Rescue fees (Part of Park fees)
- Camping or Hut fees
- VAT (18% Charged by the government)
- Kilimanjaro Summit Certificate
What's Not Included
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
- Additional Meals
- Medical Expenses
- Personal Equipment
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