Londrosi
Route
Londrosi Route starts on a higher altitude than the other routes, so you need to ascent less in total. On your first day you already hike through heather moorland instead of rainforest. It is less popular than the other routes and therefore a good choice for everyone who wants to avoid crowds. The Londrosi Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and variant game, so lucky trekkers will be able to enjoy a walking safari hike on their first day on the mountain. From second day you will follow the same trails as Lemosho and Machame Route.
You will hike the large rocky Shira plateau who´s landscape was shaped by the lava that came from Mount Kilimanjaro when it was an active volcano. It approches the summit through the southern circuit and descents to Mweka Gate.
Itinerary
DAY 1:
LONDOROSI GATE (2,250 m / 7,381 ft) to SHIRA 1 camp (3,600 m / 11,496 ft)
After Breakfast at your hotel we will pick you up and drive to Londorosi Gate, where you will meet the team. You will be checked in to the National Park, the luggage for the porters will be weighed and distributed. After that you jump back on the car and we drive you up to the starting point at 3,407 m. After having your lunch box there you will start off with a short hike with your guide.
- hiking distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
- hiking time: 2-3 hours
- altitude gained: 200 m / 656 ft
- habitat: heath moorland zone
- meals included: lunch box, hot dinner
DAY 2:
Shira 1 camp (3,600 m / 11,496 ft) to Cathedral point (3,995 m / 13,100 ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,895 m / 12,779 ft)
This day you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. You will get the possibility to see some animals like Jackals, Eland and other antelopes.
We will trek through beautiful Shira peak 3,995m(Cathedral point), where you can enjoy the magnificent view and give your body the chance to acclimatize. After reaching there we will hike up the northern side to the camp.
- hiking distance: 10,1 km / 6,3 miles
- hiking time: 4-5 hours
- altitude gained: 400 m / 1,312 ft
- habitat: moorland zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 3:
Shira 2 camp (3,850 m / 12,779 ft) to Lava Tower (4,600 m / 15,180 ft) to Barranco camp (3,900 m / 13,077 ft)
This day is very important for your acclimatization. Our trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distint pinnacle of Lava Tower, the highest piont of the day and have hot lunch there. After that you will descend and spend the night at lower Barranco Camp. Even if you feel symptoms of altitude sickness on this day (light headache, nausea or stomach problems) don´t worry, this is just a sign of your body trying to adapt to the altitude. You will be fine after hiking down to the lower Camp with your guide. There you can relax, enjoy warm water for washing as every day, tea and popcorn and later a hot dinner.
- hiking distance: 10 km / 6,2 miles
- hiking time: 6-7 hours
- altitude gained: ascent 750 m / 2,460 ft and descent 700 m / 2,300 ft
- habitat: alpine desert zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 4:
Barranco Camp (3,986 m / 13,077 ft) to Karanga Valley Camp (4,035 m / 13,238 ft)
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, but not technical. You will pass the famous “kissing rock” und hug it. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we will then head towards the Karanga valley. From here we will have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp.
- hiking distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
- hiking time: 3-4 hours
- altitude gained: 340 m / 1.110 ft
- habitat: alpine desert zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 5:
Karanga camp (3,995 m / 13.077 ft) to Barafu camp (4,673 m / 15.550 ft)
This is going to be your exciting preparation day before your final summit push. After breakfast you will walk through the alpine zone with its rocks and scree, see some unique Kilimanjaro flowers while you can enjoy the most scenic views of the mountain. Above Karanga Camp there will be no more natural water, so you will need your wipes for cleaning your body. Our amazing porters will carry water from Karanga to Barafu Camp to make sure you get warm water for washing your hands at arrival, to prepare your hot tea and cook your dinner. We will 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 get some sleep in our tents as we will be getting up before midnight to start summiting.
- hiking distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
- hiking time: 3-4 hours
- altitude gained: 715 m / 2.345 ft
- habitat: alpine desert zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 6:
Barafu camp (4,673 m / 15,331 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft) to Millenium Camp (3,950 m / 12,960 ft) or Mweka camp (3,100 m / 10,170 ft)
This will be the amazing day of eventually reaching your goal and for our company to fulfill your dream of standing on Africa´s roof top. We will start off around midnight and walk through the night with our head torches, accompanied by a million sparkling stars or the light of a full moon. Our slogan is “pole pole” (“walk slow”) and we will animate you to have some short breaks, drink lots of water and some ginger tea from time to time to prevent altitude sickness. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours and gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater will surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond will be breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak. After taking memorable pictures and enjoying the precious moment at the summit we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast. There the porters will greet us dancing and singing. After a hot lunch we will continue our descent down to Millenium Camp or Mweka camp for dinner and a long well-earned rest.
- hiking distance: 19 km / 11,8 miles
- hiking time: 13-14 hours
- altitude gained: 1,222m / 4,010 ft
- descended altitude: 1,945 m / 6,380 ft or 2,795 m / 9,170 ft
- habitat: arctic ice zone, alpine desert, moorland
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 7:
Millenium Camp (3,950 m / 12,960 ft) or Mweka camp (3,100 m / 10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,633 m / 5,358 ft)
On your last trekking day we will descent gently through the rainforest only downhill until we reach the Gate. There you will have the chance to get your muddy boots cleaned, take pictures with your team, have a last hot lunch and receive your summit certificate from your guide, which you can hang up with pride. We will pick you up with our vehicle, if you wish we can visit a nearby souvenir and handicraft market before we will drive you back to your hotel.
- hiking distance: 13 km / 8 miles
- hiking time: 5-6 hours
- descended altitude: 2,317 m / 7,600 ft or 1,470 m / 4,820 ft
- habitat: rainforest
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch
