9-Day Lemosho Western-Breach
Our 9-Day Lemosho Western-Breach Route can include both our Standard and All-Inclusive Packages. Any climber (even if part of a group) can choose their own package if they prefer one over the other. All our Kilimanjaro climbs include:
- 2 nights accommodation at a high-end hotel before the climb
- 1-night accommodation at a high-end hotel after the climb
This exciting journey via our 9-Day Lemosho Western-Breach Route including the hotel nights takes 12 days (excluding flights).
Click here to go to our Packages page where you can find what we include in our packages, as well as the pricing for each of our packages / routes.
DAY 1: WELCOME TO THE RAINFOREST ZONE
Kick off your morning with a smooth hotel checkout, and start your drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park’s Lemosho Entrance Gate (3 hrs away).
We enter the park’s western gate (around 7,700ft or 2,100m). We ascend to the Forest Camp (9,255ft or 2,821m), your home for the night in the Tropical Rainforest Zone.
Expect a 2-3 hrs trek through the lush rainforest. You will have potential sightings of black and white Colobus Monkeys and Blue Monkeys!
DAY 2: DISCOVER THE HEATHER / MOORLAND ZONE
Starting from the Forest Camp (9,255ft or 2,821m), we’ll hike to Shira 1 Camp (11,300ft or 3,444m) nestled within the Heather Zone.
With a mid-day break for lunch, this journey takes about 5-7 hrs, including lunch break, culminating in a cozy night at Shira 1 Camp.
Along the way, delight in the rich vegetation of the Heather and Moorland Zones.
DAY 3: CONTINUE IN THE HEATHER / MOORLAND ZONE
Today, we climb from Shira 1 Camp (11,300ft or 3,444m) to the Moir Camp (13,779ft or 4,200m), moving further into the Heather and Moorland Zone.
Expect a trek of 5-7 hrs, including lunch break, and notice the shift to a more desert-like landscape as you go higher.
DAY 4: REACH THE LAVA TOWER
On Day 4, we move from Moir Camp (13,779ft or 4,200m) to Lava Tower Camp (15,091ft or 4,600m) in the Alpine Desert Zone.
This 3-hr trek will leave us ample time to rest and acclimatize for the remainder of the day.
Weather permitting, a guided climb up the Lava Tower offers astounding views.
DAY 5: LAVA TOWER – ACCLIMATIZATION HIKE
Today we take a short, crucial acclimatization hike to Arrow Glacier Camp (16,076ft or 4,900m), gaining around 1,000ft or 300m in elevation.
This 2-3 hr round-trip hike strengthens us for the ascent ahead.
We’ll retire for the night back at Lava Tower Camp (15,091ft or 4,600m).
DAY 6: ARROW GLACIER CAMP
From Lava Tower Camp (15,091ft or 4,600m), we ascend to Arrow Glacier Camp (16,076ft or 4,900m), crossing the stark Alpine Desert Zone in about 1-1.5 hrs depending on your pace. We spend the night at Arrow Glacier Camp (16,076ft or 4,900m).
DAY 7: WESTERN BREACH
We’ll begin an early morning climb from Arrow Glacier Camp (16,076ft or 4,900m) to Crater Camp (18,800ft or 5,730m). Crossing the Western Breach just before sunrise, we’ll trek past the Northern Ice Field and Furtwangler Glacier en route to Crater Camp, all within 5-7 hrs. After a well-deserved lunch and rest, the group has two options, depending on the head guides’ advice and group consensus.
Option #1: Head straight for the summit, Uhuru Peak (19,341ft or 5,895m), which takes approximately 1.5 hrs from Crater Camp. Those who summit today will descend to Barafu Camp (15,239ft or 3,983m) for the night, which takes about 2-3 hrs. Reaching the summit in mid-afternoon ensures fewer crowds and more freedom to capture unforgettable photos. Congratulations on reaching Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa!
Option #2: Rest at Crater Camp for the afternoon and prepare for a sunrise ascent the next day.
DAY 8: SUMMIT DAY
Option #1 continued: Wake up at Barafu Camp (15,239ft or 3,983m) and descend to Mweka Camp (10,204ft or 3,110 m), a 4-5 hr journey.
Option #2 continued: Rise at Crater Camp (18,800ft or 5,730 m) and ascend to Uhuru Peak (19,341ft or 5,895m) in approximately 1.5 hrs.
Congratulations on reaching Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa!
From here, you’ll descend via Mt. Kilimanjaro’s eastern side to Mweka Camp (10,204ft or 3,110 m), taking about 6-8 hrs.
DAY 9: MWEKA GATE & OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE
After breakfast, we continue to climb down to Mweka Gate (5,423ft or 1,653m) where we sign the Official Kilimanjaro National Park Register, have a cold drink, and get presented our official Kilimanjaro Certificate by our Head Guide.
This last descent to the gate should take approximately 3-4 hrs.
We then head to our bus and head back to the Premium Hotel in Arusha. This drive takes approximately 3 hrs. You should be arriving back at the hotel in the mid-afternoon around 3 PM (depending what time you leave your camp in the morning).
Congratulations on completing our 9-Day Lemosho Western-Breach Route, a route that less than 5% of climbers who climb Mt Kilimanjaro take to the summit- Uhuru Peak.
