Kilimanjaro Londorisi Route

On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport you will be met and transferred to Keys Hotel, a basic but comfortable hotel with friendly staff which is an ideal base from which to start your climb. A climb briefing is scheduled for today in order to meet your guides and discuss the expedition with you in person.

Elevation: 11,800 ft to 11,800 ft
Walking Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Walking Time: 1-2 hours
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland

Pick up from your hotel in Moshi and drive about 188km on rough roads up to Londorosi Park Gate located on the Western side of the mountain. Your first day on the mountain begins with a scenic and short hiketaking 1-2 hours including a lunch stop, covering a distance of 4km. The terrain includes moorland zone and clear mountain streams with open tussock grassland, lava flows, heather shrub lands and valley bottoms on the west side of the Shira plateaus. Walk slowly and take frequent breaks for acclimatization. Overnight at Shira one camp.

Elevation: 11,800 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast continue hiking on a gentle slope across the middle of Shira plateau, a world heritage site, towards Shira II campsite (3800 metres). Enjoy picnic lunch at Fishers point, before continuing via the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations on the plateau. It’s a scenic path to the Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles before arriving to our beautiful camp. Overnight at Shira Two 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

Continue your hike across alpine desert, before 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). Stop for lunch around noon.

At this point, you may experience a mild headache due to altitude change. From lava tower descend for about 2 hours through dust and rock trail to Barranco 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 600-foot Barranco Wall. Some sections of the wall will be steep, forcing you to use your hands to reach and manoeuvre yourself around rock boulders, although it is not as challenging as proper rock climbing. Once over the wall, your climb becomes easier and extremely beautiful with fantastic views of the crags and crevasses of the jagged peaks on your left. Descent to Karanga Valley campsite for overnight.

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

The air is starting to get thin and you will be running short of breath as you climb out of the Karanga Valley. It is a slow, tough, steep uphill hike across lots of boulders and shattered rock to Barafu camp. Barafu means ‘ice’ in Swahili, and it is extremely cold at this altitude. Enjoy an early dinner and try get some decent sleep, as we will wake you before midnight for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak–the summit. Rest at Barafu camp.

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

Dress warmly, because you start climbing around midnight, on the steepest and most mentally and physically demanding part of the mountain. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. Ascend in the darkness for several hours, stopping for frequent, but short breaks. The moon will provide enough light, and you'll reach Stella Point by sunrise. (About 6 hours) At dawn, from the Crater rim, rugged Mawenzi is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle still in darkness beneath you, and the crater's ice-walls looming ahead. Continue to summit Uhuru Peak(1-2 hours),the highest point in Africa, and the world's highest solitary peak (19,340 ft).

You’ve done it, what a phenomenal achievement!

From the summit, 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 really helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned rest. Overnight Mweka Camp.

Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

Wake in the morning to warmer temperatures in Mweka Camp, along with the chatter of colobus and blue-faced monkeys. Continue your slow descent towards Mweka Gate through the mountain forest filled with age
-old trees, flowers, birds and butterflies. Take time to enjoy the lush vegetation with the Old Man’s Beard (tree moss) growing on the giant trees as well as giant ferns towering high over the forest bed. The path has many steps leading you down to Mweka Gate where you may find a cold beer or soft-drink to start celebrating your assault of Kilimanjaro.

You will be transferred back to Keys Hotel, for overnight and to celebrate. 

In accordance with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project guidelines, we’ve introduced a system where every climber, on completion of the climb, completes a form with the amount that you are giving as a tip. 

We also do regular high tech clothing donations in conjunction with Cape Union Mart (South African outdoor gear company, www.capeunionmart.co.za) to the porters and guides in Kilimanjaro to assist them in being properly prepared for these climb expeditions.

Liaise with your head guide regarding tips -we recommend an amount of USD 210 per climber for a 6-night climb (based on 4 climbers in a group), which the guide will apportion out amongst the group. Whilst the above figure is anticipated for a job well done-anything above that is totally at your discretion.

This evening your guides will meet you to hand out your Kilimanjaro Certificates. Option to enjoy a barbeque at the hotel to celebrate your hike (needs to be booked prior to the climb and is for own account).

End of tour