8 DAYS DAKADO KILIMANJARO HIKING TOUR VIA LEMOSHO

DAY 1: Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp

Full board at Forest camp Known as Big tree Camp, Tanzania Dakado Adventures driver will drive you from Moshi to Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours where you will complete entry formalities and registration. Then Dakado drive to the Lemosho trailhead. When arrival at the trailhead, hikers eat lunch and then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first Big tree Camp campsite.

• Distance covered: 7km

• Climatic habitat: Rain Forest

• Time to be used: 4 hours

• Meals: Lunch and Dinner

• Shelter: Forest Camp

• Accommodation: Big Tree Camp

DAY 2: Forest Camp to Shira Camp

Full Board at Shira one Camp hikers will continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing and refreshing.

• Distance Covered: 9,500ft to 11,500ft

• Climatic habitat: Moorland

• Time to be used: 5-6 hours

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Shira Campsite

DAY 3: Shira Campsite to Moir Camp

In this day with Tanzania Dakado Adventures, you will have very moderate walk across the plateau which leads you to Shira Camp two on moorland meadows by a stream. Although variety walks are available on the plateau just to make this an excellent acclimatization day.

Shira is one of the highest plateaus on Earth, full Board at Shira 2 camp hikers and the team will explore the Shira plateau for full Dakado day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we Stay at Shira 2 camp or continue to Moir camp a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity.

• Distance Covered: 10km

• Rising: 11,500ft to 13,800ft

• Stretch: 14 km

• Hike time: 5-7 hours

• Climatic habitat: Moorland

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Shira Camp

Day 4: Moir (Shira 2) Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Full Board at Shira 2 or Moir Hut camp From the Shira Plateau Dakado hiking will continue to the east up a ridge passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo, on this progress, our direction will change to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth”. Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

The Dakado Hiking will continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here hikers will rest, and enjoy Dakado dinner and overnight although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

• Rising: 13,800ft to 13,000ft

• Stretch: 7 km

• Hike time: 4-6 hours

• Climatic habitat: Semi desert

DAY 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

After good night’s rest and Dakado breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

• Distance Covered: 3km

• Time to be used: 3 hours

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Barafu Camp

DAY 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Full Fantastic at Barafu Hut Camp, after Dakado breakfast hikers, will leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu camp, at this point, you have completed the South circuit which offers elegant views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner and prepare for the summit Dakado day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this destination.

• Rising: 13,100ft to 15,300ft

• Stretch: 4 km

• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

• Climatic habitat: Arctic

• Shelter: Barafu Camp

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

Full Dakado Fantastic at Mweka hut Camp. Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we’ll continue our Dakado Track to summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging piece of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see in weather permitting.

From Stella Point you may encounter snow on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak with Tanzania Dakado Adventures, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa faster hikers will see the sunrise. From the summit we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka campsite stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will need gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. 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 Dakado dinner on the mountain and get-well sleep.

• Rising: 15,300ft to 19,345ft and down to 10,000ft

• Stretch: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent

• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent

• Climatic habitat: Arctic

Day 8: Kilimanjaro Mweka Camp to Moshi

Half board after Dakado breakfast hikers and the guide continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive hiker’s summit certificates, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). Tanzania Dakado Adventures vehicles at Mweka gate will drive you back to your hotel in Moshi. This will be the end of 8 Days Dakado Kilimanjaro Hiking Lemosho route tour.

• Descend: 10,000ft to 5,400ft

• Stretch: 10km

• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

• Climatic habitat: Rain Forest