Kilimanjaro Londrosi Route Overview
This route is one of the more unusual routes on Kilimanjaro. Although offering spectacular views, only a few climbers take this route. Overnight: camping.
With fewer than 10 percent of climbers on this trail and the potential to see a variety of wildlife through dense jungle, Lemosho via Londrosi gate 7 days is our other favorite way to enter the mountain. At 72 km (almost 45 miles), the longer route allows for more thorough acclimatization and a higher success rate to the summit.
The trail passes through five ecosystems, from dense forest and heather up through the alpine desert and the glorious summit. Explore the many variations in landscape and climate on the way up the mountain and spend time capturing breath-taking photos of your surroundings as you move from the jungle to the high desert, to snowy terrain on one of the more exciting routes on the mountain, but still manageable by the average adventurer.
Your journey planned:
- Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to your hotel in Moshi town
- Day 2: Londorosi Park gate to Shira 1 camp, Elevation: 11,800 ft, Hiking Time: 1-2 hours
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Day 3: Shira 1 camp to Shira 2 camp, Elevation: 11,800 ft to 12,500 ft, Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
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Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to Moshi town.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport, you will be met by our representative and taken to Keys Hotel It is a family-run hotel located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, with comfortable accommodations, variety of meals, a clean swimming pool, and friendly services. Located just ten minutes walking distance to Moshi town center, palatable meals and luxurious accommodations; Keys Hotel is the most spectacular place one will always wish to stay, Keys Hotel – 2700 ft (BB).
Day 2: Drop off point to Shira 1 camp
Elevation: 11,800 ft to 11,800 ft
Walking Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Walking Time: 1-2 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest to moorland
Drive along Moshi – Arusha Road to Boma Ng’ombe junction then turn right to Sanya Juu
Shopping Centre. Continue driving on a rough road up to Londorosi Park Gate located on the
Western side of the mountain (188 km). Today it will be one of your beautiful and very short hikes about 1-2 hours including a lunch stop to cover the distance of 4km, we will be in the moorland zone and clear mountain streams with its open tussock grassland, lava flows, heather shrub lands, valley bottoms on the west side of the Shira plateaus where you will be enjoying the sun and walking slowly more breaks for acclimatization. Dinner and overnight at Shira One Camp (FB)
Day 3: Shira 1 camp to Shira 2
Elevation: 11,800 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today we will hike across the middle of Shira Plateau a world heritage site to our picnic lunch at Fishers Point. After lunch, we begin by exploring the grassy moorland zone and volcanic rock formations on the plateau. Then we will take a scenic path to the Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles before arriving at our beautiful camp.
Day 4: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower/ Barranco camp
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Distance: 3 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We will start the day by walking in the alpine desert and eventually start climbing over steep hills and very few rocks, then steady uphill climb to Lava tower (150m high volcanic plug that juts out the side of the mountain) and stop for lunch around noon. From this point some people might start to get mild headache due to altitude change. From lava tower we will descend about 2 hours through dust and rock trail to Baranco camp. Dinner and overnight at Baranco camp (FB)
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. In this wall some section will be steep forcing you to use hands to reach and maneuver yourself around rock boulders like rock climbing, although it is not as challenging as rock climbing. At the top of the wall, you can see Baranco valley and the campsite you spent a night before. Then you will walk up and down to Karanga valley which is the last water point to the mountain and on top of the ridge it will be our campsite where we will have hot lunch and night rest. Dinner and overnight at Karanga camp (FB)
Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We begin the day targeting to hit the junction in steep uphill with a lot of boulders and shattered rock crossing upper alpine desert. We will go through a steep ridge until we reach a rocky section more scrambling. Our next camp will be on large rocky with steep faces. Here we will set a camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. Dinner and overnight at Barafu camp (FB)
Day 7: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise coming over Mawenzi Peak you never have seen somewhere else Finally, we will arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit, we descend straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Dinner and overnight at Mweka camp (FB)
DAY 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
In the morning you wake to warmer temperatures in Mweka Camp, along with the chatter of colobus and blue-faced monkeys. Continue your descent towards Mweka Gate through the Mountain Forest filled with age-old trees, flowers, birds, and butterflies. Sign out at the main gate and collect your climbing certificate. Beyond the gate, you are welcomed by a driver guide and transferred to Keys Hotel for warm shower and overnight rest. (BB)