Kilimanjaro-Lemosho Shira via Barafu with Crater Camp

• Climb Africa's highest peak from the most complete route on the mountain
• See rare equatorial glaciers and ancient volcanoes
• Feel the beautiful and friendly African culture 
• View one of the greatest animal kingdoms from 6km a.s.l 
• Encounter elephants, giraffe, lions, monkeys and more

"And then instead of going on to Arusha they turned left, he evidently figured that they had the gas, and looking down he saw a pink sifting cloud, moving over the ground, and in the air, like the first snow in a blizzard, that comes from nowhere, and he knew that the locusts were coming up from the South. Then they began to climb and they were going to the East it seemed, and then it darkened and they were in a storm, the rain so thick it seemed like flying through a waterfall, and then they were out and Compie turned his head and grinned and pointed and there, ahead, all he could see, as wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun, was the square top of Kilimanjaro. And then he knew that there was where he was going". Ernest Hemingway The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Standing astride the equator, yet permanently snow-capped at 5895m (19340ft), Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's roof top and the world's highest free standing mountain. Surrounded by some of the world's greatest game reserves, Kilimanjaro towers above these hot, fertile plains like a massive sentinel, beckoning adventurers to climb her.

Many travelers are attracted to her highest point - Uhuru Peak on Kibo - which can be reached by several easy walking or scrambling tracks. The two main summits of Kilimanjaro: craggy Mawenzi, 5149m, and 'flat-topped', Kibo, 5896m are separated by The Saddle, a 5km wide, high-altitude, semi-desert. Kilimanjaro possesses a whole range of environments including the summit glaciers, scree, cliffs, afro-alpine moorland then forests which lead down to cultivated foothills.

No Roads Expeditions has been operating on Kilimanjaro for the last 12 years. We are an Australian Kilimanjaro operator who knows the mountain and its' surrounds better than anyone.

The main tracks to the summit are:

The Shira, Nanjara and Oloitokitok Tracks are more remote but can be organised by us. The remote Lemosho Glades Track, is particularly beautiful and goes through one of the few areas on Kilimanjaro that is rich in game. It is via this track that we offer a Crater Camp open only to experienced mountaineers.

The Rongai Track is also rarely used and enters the mountain from the Kenyan side so some game viewing is possible. This is an excellent alternative to the Lemosho Shira trail.

Note: We can organise trips up any track at any time of year for any size of group. Our team are based at our hotel near Moshi year round. 

We conduct expeditions up Kili all year round. So all you need to do is let us know when your ready to go and we will handle everything else. The optimal time to climb is when the moon is in her full cycle, so keep this in mind.

You can join one of our scheduled expeditions or join another group that is leaving on dates not listed. We have expeditions leaving daily during the December - February period and the June to October period. If you are alone there are no extra single costs involved.

Day 1: Transfer to our hotel.
Day 2: Rest day around town.
Day 3 : After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate.
Day 4: Trek to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.
Day 5: Trek to Shira 2 camp.
Day 6: Trek to Barranco Hut
Day 7: Trek to Karanga Valley
Day 8: Trek to Barafu Hut.
Day 9: Summit Day then Crater Camp
Day 10: From the Crater Camp continue straight down to the Mweka Park Gate. Check into Hotel.
Day 11: Depart hotel after breakfast. Transfer to airport or continue on an extension.

CLIMBING OTHER MOUNTAINS
There are many game parks to be visited and mountains to be climbed in East Africa. In Tanzania Mount Meru is a high beautiful volcanic mountain perfect as training before the ascent of Kilimanjaro. The active volcano Lengai is a sacred mountain to the Masaii. For these you may consider organising the trip as a private group. Our guides are based permanently in Moshi throughout the year. In Kenya, Mount Kenya offers top quality rock and ice climbing in a superb setting. In Uganda, Elgon's caldera provides remote high altitude walking while the Rwenzori are a great, glaciated and mystical mountain range to be explored. Email us if you are interested in any of these options.

SAFARIS AND TRIP EXTENSIONS
Tanzania has some of the best game reserves in all of Africa. We can arrange a Safari for you before or after your climb so that you can appreciate what East Africa really has to offer. As distances are great in Africa, our suggestion is a minimum of 5 days 4 nights on Safari. 3 of these nights are spent out in the wilderness at either a budget campsite, a luxury lodge or something in between. 1 of these nights is then usually spent back at Arusha after the Safari as most flights out of Kili International occur during the morning or afternoon not allowing you time to reach there straight from a Safari.

We can arrange trips to the Serengeti, the Masai Mara, Ngorongoro Crater and more on any budget and any style. We can arrange Safaris from just 2 people to 20 people. All our Safaris are bespoke, so they are tailored to your needs and all are led by expert guides and drivers.

Vehicles
For smaller groups we use Toyota Landcruisers or Landrovers with opening roofs. These seat 4-5 persons. You will also have with you a driver/guide.

MOONLIGHT ASCENTS
Almost all nights in the East African mountains (excluding the Rwenzori) are clear and for many mountains such as Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Lengai and Mount Meru a pre-dawn start is crucial. To make the night ascents more pleasant and in some cases beautiful, getting up and walking up by moonlight is the optimal situation.

WHEN TO CLIMB
Even though one can climb throughout the year, January, February and September are the best months, with June, July, August, October and December also being good.

WEATHER CONDITIONS
Equatorial to Arctic conditions are present on Kilimanjaro and Meru. The range begins with the warm, dry plains with average temperatures of 30C, ascending through a wide belt of wet tropical forest, through zones with generally decreasing temperatures and rainfall, to the summit where there is permanent ice and below freezing temperatures. The temperature at the top of the mountain gets as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius.

The Lemosho Track: is an unspoilt, remote, little-used and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. It can either be used to gain the Western Breach Track or followed by the Kibo South Circuit to ascend by the easier Barafu Track. The track is one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other big game animals.

Day 1: Transfer to our hotel.

Day 2: Today is a rest day, to recover from the flight and ready ourselves for the expedition ahead.

Day 3 : After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2250m, 2.5 hours). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2100m, 11km, 45 minutes) and a possible campsite (park fees are not paid to camp here). Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

Day 4: After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed then it gains the Shira Ridge at about 3600m and drops gently down to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

Day 5: After breakfast, a gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are available on the Plateau making this an excellent acclimatization day.

Day 6: From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes 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 4,876 meters. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3,860 meters. Here we rest, enjoy 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.

Day 7: After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley (4200m) campsite.

Day 8: After breakfast, we leave the Karanga Valley and pass the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue to the Barafu Hut, which is located at an altitude of 4,600 meters. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 9: Summit Day: As we are setting up camp in the Crater tonight we do not need to start out as early as other groups. This part of the climb takes about 6 hours. It can be very cold at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. 

At Uhuru Peak, we have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit, we now make our descent to the Crater Camp. There we can explore the Furtwangler Glacier and visit the rarely visited Ash Pit. It will get very cold tonight.

Day 10: From the Crater Camp we now make our descent back out of the crater and continue straight down to the Mweka Hut at 3,100 meters. This part of the descent takes about 5 hours. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down.

We continue further to Mweka village another 5 hours and transfer to our hotel.
We will have our final dinner with the amazing Porters that helped us on our journey.

Day 11: Depart hotel after breakfast. Transfer to airport or continue on an extension.

• Arrival and departure airport transfers from Kili International Airport, Tanzania.
• 3 nights accommodation in Moshi on half board.
• Floor mats and sleeping bags provided.
• Enrollment in the Flying Doctor Service for emergency medical evacuation.
• Accommodation in mountain tents. We use the highest quality expedition tents.
• All meals while on the mountain.
• All park fees, including mountain rescue fees, and government taxes.
• Services of our own trained English-speaking mountain guide, and a skilled cook (serving as porter), and enough porters for your luggage, food, and
• water.
• Transport from your hotel to the mountain, and back to your hotel.
• Use of radios/phones to increase your safety.
• Average group size, 5 climbers.
• Toilet Tent
• Crater Camp Expeditions have a Gamow Altitude Bag available

• International Airfares
• Travel Insurance