8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Trek Via Lemosho

Today we start the journey of conquering Africa’s highest mountain. Tupae adventures climbing support team will meet you at your hotel ready for the ride to Lemosho gate, which is the starting point. With the help of your head guide, you will finalize all registration for the trek at Lemosho gate then start the trek immediately. You will have a packed lunch on this day; your guide will find a nice spot along the way for a bush lunch. It will be a beautiful day as you hike through a beautiful thick forest where you will be able to spot some wild animals. If you are lucky you may spot elephants and buffalos. Today’s final destination is Mti Mkubwa Camp where you will have your hot dinner. In the afternoon you should have stopped somewhere and had a packed lunch. Distance: 7km Trekking time: 3-4 hours Zone: Tropical Rainforest Altitude gain: 400 meters

After breakfast at the camp, you will start this trek towards Shira 1 Camp, leaving the tropical rainforest zone and enter the Heath zone. You will have your first great view of Kibo peak after you have crossed the Shira Ridge. Distance: 8km Trekking time: 5-6 hours Zone: Tropical Rainforest then Heath zone Altitude gain: 960 meters

After breakfast, you will start a long and tough trek leaving the Shira plateau towards the Moir Hut Camp. Before reaching the Moir Hut Camp, you will enjoy great views of the Shira plateau and Shira caldera. This is one of those days where you will have great scenery for photo taking. Prepare your camera!. The hike is long so your lunch will be dished between Shira 1 and Moir Hut, and it will hot lunch. Distance: 10 km Trekking time: 6-8 hours Zone: Low Alpine Desert zone/ High Alpine Desert zone Altitude gain: 590 meters.

After breakfast, you will start a long and tough trek leaving the Moir Hut for the Barranco Camp. Before reaching the Barranco camp, you will pass the well-known Shark’s Tooth formation called Lava Tower. Notice climbing high to 4600 meters then going to sleep at Baranco camp 3900 meters will allow you to acclimatize. Distance: 12 km Trekking time: 5-7 hours Zone: High Alpine Desert zone Altitude gain: 400 meters then attitude loss of 700 meters

Today you will climb the Great Barranco Wall to reach the top of Karanga Valley. The 257 meters rock face may look intimidating but climbing it is easier than you may think. You will need to be extra careful as you scramble towards the top of the wall. You need neither technical skills nor any special trekking gear to climb the Barranco Wall. Once you reach the top of the Barranco Wall you will be welcome with great views, it is time to pause and take great photos before you start trekking through a series of inclines and declines to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters). Distance: 6 km Trekking time: 4-5 hours Zone: Moorlands Altitude gain: 95 meters

After breakfast at Karanga Camp, you will start the trek to finish the Southern Circuit. You are likely to meet people on their way down to Mweka at the Mweka Trail junction. From the junction, you will continue towards your final destination of the day, Barafu Camp. At Barafu Camp, which is the base camp, you will have an early dinner before you rest to prepare yourself for the summit attempt. You will have great views of Mawenzi peak and Kibo peaks at Barafu camp. Distance: 4 km Trekking time: 4-5 hours Zone: High Alpine desert zone Altitude gain: 678 meters

Summit night on Kilimanjaro is the ultimate test of endurance. Your ascent begins around 11:00 PM or midnight, depending on your guide’s assessment. Dress warmly, ensuring your water and snacks are inside your jacket to prevent freezing. The steep climb to Stella Point (5,756m) follows the "pole pole" (slowly, slowly) approach. After a short rest with tea and snacks, you continue to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. The thin air makes each step difficult, but reaching the summit at sunrise is a moment of triumph. After taking photos, you begin the tough descent. Returning to base camp, you rest briefly before descending further to Mweka Camp (3,100m), where the oxygen is richer, allowing better recovery. The journey is exhausting but rewarding, a true testament to your resilience and determination. Kilimanjaro is not just about reaching the summit; it’s about the journey, the challenge, and the personal growth gained along the way.

After your breakfast at Mweka Camp, you will start a final descend to the exit gate. The walk on this day is through a tropical rainforest. At the Mweka Gate, you will have to sign out and be handed certificates of completion. If you successfully reach Stella Point you will be handed a green certificate. If you successfully reached Uhuru peak, a gold certificate will be handed to you. After all administrative procedures have been completed at Mweka Gate, you will be transported to your hotel. Distance: Total 10 km Trekking time: 3-4 hours. Zone: Moorlands at Mweka Camp then descending to Montane forest zone at Mweka gate. Altitude loss: 1460 meters