9-Day Kilimanjaro: Lemosho Route

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a member of the Gip Adventure Tours & Safaris team meets you and transfers you by road to your hotel in Arusha.

The rest of the day is yours to settle in, sort your gear and rest after your journey. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

After a hearty breakfast you drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2,100 m/6,890 ft), about three hours or more depending on your pick-up point. The drive towards the Shira Plateau is one of the best chances to see the mountain's larger animals, including zebras and giraffes.

After registration you walk slowly through the forest, enjoying the scenery, to Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Camp (2,650 m/8,694 ft) for dinner and your first night on the mountain.

Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles). Walking time: around 3–4 hours. Habitat: montane forest.

After a hearty breakfast you hike from Big Tree Camp to Shira 1 Camp (3,610 m/11,844 ft). The walking takes up to five or six hours, with rest stops built in for good acclimatisation, and Kibo Peak looms clearly ahead with sweeping panoramic views.

Plant lovers will delight in this stretch, which passes through the lower moorland zone where the landscape is dotted with red, yellow and multicoloured wild flowers and shrubs. Lunch and a rest at camp, then dinner and the night at Shira 1 Camp.

Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles). Walking time: around 5–6 hours. Habitat: moorland.

Wake to breakfast, break camp and set off across the Shira Plateau on a short hike to Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m/12,631 ft). The pace is gentle and the open moorland gives wide views of Kibo ahead – a perfect day for every trekker to acclimatise.

You reach camp in good time to rest, explore a little and let your body adjust, before dinner and the night at Shira 2 Camp.

Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles). Walking time: around 4–5 hours. Habitat: moorland.

Today you trek high and sleep low, which is excellent for acclimatisation. You spend the morning climbing to around 4,300 m before descending to Moir Hut Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) in the sheltered Moir Valley.

Arrive in time for lunch and spend the afternoon resting, followed by dinner and the night at Moir Hut Camp.

Distance: 3.3 km (2.05 miles). Walking time: around 2–3 hours. Habitat: alpine desert.

You leave the Moir Valley with a short detour up Lent Hill (4,375 m/14,354 ft) for spectacular views, then rejoin the trail and head east along the Northern Circuit path.

If the weather is clear, the plains of Kenya stretch out far below to the north. Dinner and the night at Buffalo (Pofu) Camp (4,020 m/13,189 ft).

Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles). Walking time: around 6–7 hours. Habitat: alpine desert.

A shorter day, by which time you should feel well acclimatised to the altitude. The trail climbs up and down over the Buffalo ridges, heading east around the northern slopes to Rongai's Third Cave.

You should reach camp around noon, in good time for a hot lunch and a restful afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Third Cave Camp (3,800 m/12,467 ft).

Distance: 8 km (4.9 miles). Walking time: around 4–5 hours. Habitat: moorland.

After a hearty breakfast you climb onto the Saddle, the lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi, then continue upwards to School Hut campsite (4,800 m/15,748 ft), arriving early in the afternoon.

Today runs to an early schedule: your guides hold the summit briefing and serve dinner early, giving you as much time as possible to prepare and rest before the night ascent.

Distance: 8 km (4.9 miles). Walking time: around 4–5 hours. Habitat: alpine desert.

Summit day covers around 14.5 km (8.7 miles) and 13–14 hours, from School Hut (4,800 m) via Gilman's Point (5,685 m), Stella Point (5,756 m) and Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) down to Millennium Camp (3,950 m). You rise at around 23:00 after four to five hours' rest, and at about 23:30, after hot tea and snacks, you set off into the night. A steep climb over loose volcanic scree brings you to Gilman's Point (5,685 m/18,651 ft), where you rest and watch daybreak over Mawenzi Peak. The trail then follows the crater rim west to Stella Point (5,756 m/18,885 ft) for another short rest – often with a beautiful sunrise if the skies are clear.

From Stella Point it is 45 minutes to an hour to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,341 ft), the highest point in Africa. Enjoy every moment, but do not stay long: the extreme cold, thin air and volcanic gases make a long stay unsafe, and fatigue makes it hard to restart. Ascent – elevation gain: 1,095 m (3,593 ft). Distance: 6 km (4 miles). Time: around 6–7 hours. Habitat: arctic.

You then descend to Barafu Camp for lunch. Take great care on the way down – most accidents happen while descending – and keep your walking poles in use on the slippery gravel. After a rest you continue down to Millennium Camp (3,950 m/12,959 ft) for your last dinner and a deep sleep on the mountain. Descent – elevation loss: 1,945 m. Distance: 9.5 km (6 miles). Time: around 5–6 hours. Habitat: moorland.

After a hearty breakfast you descend from Millennium Camp (3,950 m/12,959 ft) through moorland into the montane forest, reaching Mweka Gate (1,640 m/5,381 ft) after around 13.5 km and 5–6 hours.

At the gate you collect your summit certificate, then drive to Arusha for a delicious hot lunch and a celebration of your achievement. Afterwards your driver guide transfers you comfortably by road to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your onward international flight home (transfer timing depends on your flight schedule). If you would rather rest before flying, an extra night in Arusha can be added on request. This marks the end of our services – kwaheri, and safe travels.

Distance: 13.5 km (8.4 miles). Walking time: around 5–6 hours. Habitat: moorland to montane forest.