9 Days Western Breach

Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa camp (2821m) Ascent: 2380meters to 2895meters<
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.

Overnight at Forest Camp (all meals included)

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa To Shira Ascent: 2895meters to 3450meters
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 Kilimanjari’ and many other interesting species.

Overnight Shira 1 Camp (all meals included)

Day 3: Shira I To Shira II Ascent: 3450meters to 3870meters
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 acclimatisation with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides.

Overnight at Shira2 camp (all meals included)

Day 4: Shira II To Barranco camp via lava tower Ascent: 4175meters to 4600meters to 3950meters
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 descendinto Barranco camp. This is ideal for acclimatization. Having reached 4600meters you descend and then spend the night at the lower altitude of 3950meters.

Overnight at Barranco Camp (all meals included)

Day 5: Barranco – Karanga camp.Acscent: 3950meters to 3930meters
You spend a relatively long time inKaranga camp. The selection of Karanga camp is strategic. Significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatisation and in the late afternoon you arrive in camp. You will see a lots of giant senecioskilimanjari 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.

Overnight KarangaCamp (all meals included)

Day 6: Karanga – Barafu CampAscent: 3930 to 4600meters
Today is another half day ascending to Barafucamp. 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.

Overnight Barafu Camp (all meals included)

Day 7: Barafu – Crater Ascent: 4600meters to 5730meters
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.

Overnight Crater Camp (all meals included)

Day 8: Crater – Uhuru – Mweka Camp  Ascent/Descent: 5730meters to 5895meters to 3997meters
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.

Overnight Mweka Camp (all meals included)

Day 9: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Hotel Descent: 3100 meters to 1800meters
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 hotel for a well-deserved shower!

Overnight at your hotel (dinner)