Tanzania Rewilded

Sunrise on the summit of the 9-day Londorossi route
 
 
 Kilimanjaro climb · 7 days on the mountain
Londorossi Gate
 
Shira Plateau
 
Barranco Wall
From the west to

Sunrise on the Summit

The 9-day Londorossi route gives you seven days on the mountain from the remote west. You register at Londorossi Gate, start walking on the wide Shira Plateau, and go on to the Lava Tower, the Barranco Wall and the southern summit trail. You reach Uhuru Peak at dawn on Day 7.

9days
8 nights, 9 days total
7
Days on the mountain
5,895m
Uhuru Peak
Plan this climb
Day by day ↓
Download PDF ↓
 MoshiDay 1
 LondorossiDay 2
 ShiraDays 2–3
 BarrancoDay 4
 Uhuru PeakDay 7
Climbing permit
TR · LO09
Londorossi Route
 
Duration
9 days · 8 nights
7 days on the mountain, 2 nights in Moshi
Start / finish
Kilimanjaro Airport
Hotel in Moshi before and after
Summit
Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
Summit push from Barafu Camp via Stella Point
Difficulty
Challenging
A high start, one scramble, no climbing skills needed
Style
Private · Camping
Your own guides, cook and porters
Best months
Jan – Mar · Jun – Oct
The two dry seasons

Why the 9-Day Londorossi RouteStarts From the West

Londorossi Gate is the park’s entrance on the far western side of Kilimanjaro, a long way from the busy gates near Moshi. After you register, a park road takes you up to the Morum picnic site, and you start walking on the Shira Plateau itself.

Two nights on the plateau, at Shira 1 and Shira 2, give you time to adjust before you join the southern trail at the Lava Tower. From there you follow the classic south-side finish: Barranco, the Wall, Karanga, Barafu and the summit at sunrise.

The climb

Seven Days, West to South

Each point is where you sleep. The flat steps on Days 2 and 3 are the Shira Plateau; the spike on Day 4 is the Lava Tower. Tap a camp to see it on the profile.

FarmlandRainforestHeath & moorlandAlpine desertArctic summit1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000m 123456Uhuru Peak5,895 m78
Trail altitudeVegetation zones
  1. 01

    Moshi

    915 m · Hotel before and after the climb

    2 nights
  2. 02

    Shira 1 Camp

    3,500 m · Western edge of the Shira Plateau

    1 night
  3. 03

    Shira 2 Camp

    3,840 m · An easy acclimatisation day

    1 night
  4. 04

    Barranco Camp

    3,960 m · Below the Barranco Wall

    1 night
  5. 05

    Karanga Camp

    4,035 m · Last camp before high camp

    1 night
  6. 06

    Barafu Camp

    4,640 m · High camp for the summit night

    1 night
  7. 07

    Mweka Camp

    3,090 m · First night down, in the forest

    1 night
Trek ≈ 60 kmHighest 5,895 mDescent Mweka route
Day by day

The Journey

✦

This is how the trip usually runs. Your guide will adjust each day around the weather, the trail and how the group is acclimatising.

Karibu
Day01
Kilimanjaro Airport → Moshi

Land and Settle In

We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive about an hour to Moshi, through sugar cane, maize and small villages. On a clear day the mountain’s outline stands above it all.

At Kibo Palace Hotel you check in and meet your guide for the pre-climb briefing: safety, the route and a check of your equipment. The rest of the day is yours to rest.

  • Transfer45 km · about 1 hr
  • OvernightKibo Palace Hotel, Moshi
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
A dirt road passing under a simple park gate, with forest on both sides
Park gate on the western side
Day02
Moshi → Londorossi Gate → Shira 1 Camp

The Western Gate

After breakfast you drive about an hour and a half round the west side of the mountain to Londorossi Gate, where you register with the park. It is much quieter here than at the gates near Moshi.

From the gate a rough park road climbs for about 45 minutes to the Morum picnic site. There you start walking: 7 km across heather and moorland to Shira 1 Camp at 3,500 m, on the western side of the Shira Plateau.

Honest note

You gain a lot of height by vehicle today, so your body has had less time to adjust than on a walk-in route. Walk very slowly, drink often and tell your guide how you feel.

  • TransferAbout 1.5 hrs to the gate, then 45 min to the trailhead
  • Trek7 km · 3–5 hrs
  • Altitude2,920 → 3,500 m
  • OvernightShira 1 Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
A porter carrying a load across low moorland under a big sky
Moorland on the Shira Plateau
Day03
Shira 1 → Shira 2 Camp

Across the Plateau

An easy, flat day across the heart of the Shira Plateau, with Kibo straight ahead the whole way. The plateau is the floor of an old volcano, covered in tussock grass and low shrubs.

You reach Shira 2 Camp in time for lunch. In the afternoon your guide may take you on a short walk above camp, to help your body get used to the height.

Pole pole

“Slowly, slowly.” A short day can feel too easy. That is the point: a gentle day at this height is what helps you higher up.

  • Trek5 km · 5–6 hrs
  • Altitude3,500 → 3,840 m
  • OvernightShira 2 Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
A dark volcanic rock outcrop in cloud on a high, snowy slope
Volcanic rock in the high cloud
Day04
Shira 2 → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp

The Lava Tower

You climb east through alpine desert to the Lava Tower, a tall plug of volcanic rock at 4,630 m. Lunch is at its foot. This is where the Londorossi trail joins the busier southern routes.

In the afternoon you drop into the Barranco Valley, past strange forests of giant groundsels, to sleep at 3,960 m. Climbing high and sleeping low is exactly what your body needs before the summit.

Field note

A headache at the Lava Tower is common and usually fades as you go down. Tell your guide anyway; they check how you are every evening.

  • Trek11 km · 7–8 hrs
  • Altitude3,840 → 4,630 → 3,960 m
  • OvernightBarranco Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Hands on rock
Day05
Barranco Camp → Barranco Wall → Karanga Camp

Over the Wall

The day starts with the Barranco Wall, a steep rock face about 250 m high. It is a scramble, not a climb: you use your hands in places, and your guides show you where to step. Most people enjoy it far more than they expected.

From the top the trail crosses ridges and valleys below Kibo’s southern glaciers to Karanga Camp, at 4,035 m, in time for lunch. In the afternoon your guide takes you about 200 m higher towards Barafu and back, to help you adjust.

  • Trek5 km · about 5 hrs
  • Altitude3,960 → 4,035 m
  • OvernightKaranga Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
A group of trekkers walking over rocky ground below Kibo's snowy summit
Walking below Kibo
Day06
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp

Up to High Camp

A short, steady climb over bare rock and gravel. The last plants disappear, and the air gets noticeably colder and thinner as you near Barafu, which means “ice” in Swahili.

You reach Barafu Camp at 4,640 m around lunchtime. Your guide goes through the summit plan with you, you eat early and sleep from about 7 pm. The wake-up call comes just before midnight.

  • Trek5 km · about 5 hrs
  • Altitude4,035 → 4,640 m
  • OvernightBarafu Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Climbers silhouetted beside the Uhuru Peak sign against a yellow sunrise
The summit sign at sunrise
Day07
Barafu → Stella Point → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp

Dawn at Stella Point

You leave Barafu around midnight and climb slowly by headtorch up the long, steep scree to Stella Point on the crater rim. Most people reach it as the sky starts to glow over Mawenzi.

From Stella it is about an hour along the rim, past the glaciers, to Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m. After photos you go back down past Barafu and on to Mweka Camp in the forest. It is a very long day.

Honest note

Summit night takes 15 hours or more in all, and it is cold and hard. Your guides check you all the way and will bring you down if it isn’t safe to go on. No summit is worth your health.

  • Trek17 km · 15 hrs or more
  • Altitude4,640 → 5,895 → 3,090 m
  • OvernightMweka Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Hongera!
Day08
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi

Through the Forest

The last walk goes down a wide path through rainforest full of birds to Mweka Gate at 1,650 m. Here you sign out and receive your summit certificate.

An hour’s drive brings you back to Kibo Palace Hotel, for a hot shower, a proper bed and dinner in town.

Good to know

Tipping the crew usually happens at the gate. We send guideline amounts before you travel, so you can bring the right cash.

  • Trek10 km · 4–5 hrs
  • TransferAbout 1 hr to Moshi
  • OvernightKibo Palace Hotel, Moshi
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Kwaheri
Day09
Moshi → Kilimanjaro Airport

Time to Fly Home

After breakfast we drive you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight, or you can go straight on to a safari or a few days on the beach in Zanzibar.

Where you sleep

Six Camps, Two Hotel Nights

A comfortable hotel in Moshi at each end, and six of the park’s official campsites on the mountain. Our crew carries and pitches your tent, and cooks every meal.

A camp on Mount Kilimanjaro
On the mountain

Nights on the mountain: Shira 1 Camp, Shira 2 Camp, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp.

2nights

Kibo Palace Hotel

Moshi · 915 m

A comfortable hotel in Moshi with a swimming pool, a garden, a bar and a restaurant. You stay here before the climb and after it.

PoolGardenBar
1night

Shira 1 Camp

Shira Plateau · 3,500 m

Your first camp, on the western edge of the plateau, among heather and open moorland.

Sunset views
1night

Shira 2 Camp

Shira Plateau · 3,840 m

Open alpine wilderness with wide views of Kibo.

Acclimatisation
1night

Barranco Camp

Barranco Valley · 3,960 m

Among giant groundsels and cliffs, right below the Barranco Wall.

Giant groundsels
1night

Karanga Camp

Karanga Valley · 4,035 m

A rest camp in rugged alpine desert before the final climb.

Rest afternoon
1night

Barafu Camp

High camp · 4,640 m

Rocky and exposed. A few hours’ sleep before the summit push.

Summit base
1night

Mweka Camp

Rainforest · 3,090 m

A green, sheltered camp for the first night down from the summit.

Descent

Hotels are shown “or similar”. On the mountain you sleep in the park’s official campsites, in tents our crew carries and pitches for you.

Timing & price

When to Climb

The west side gets more rain than the north, so the dry seasons matter here. January to March and June to October are best, and July and August are the busiest.

Climbing Kilimanjaro, month by month Highlighted: best months to climb
MonthSeasonOn the mountainClimbing
JanuaryDryWarm & clearOne of the best months. Warm days, clear summit mornings and fewer climbers than in August.Best
FebruaryDryWarm & clearVery good climbing. Clear skies, and snow on the summit is possible after a cold night.Best
MarchDry → wetWarm, some showersStill good early in the month. Showers start to build towards the end.Good
AprilLong rainsWet & cloudyThe wettest month. Muddy trails and cloud; very few climbers.Wet
MayLong rainsWet, clearing lateRain eases later in the month. Quiet trails, but expect wet days.Wet
JuneDryCold & clearThe dry season starts. Cold nights up high, and the trails get busier.Good
JulyDryCold & clearPeak season. Cold, clear and dry, with the most climbers of the year.Best
AugustDryCold & clearPeak season. Very reliable weather; book early for this month.Best
SeptemberDryMild & clearExcellent conditions. Slightly warmer and a little quieter than August.Best
OctoberDryMild & clearGood weather and quieter trails before the short rains.Best
NovemberShort rainsShowersShort afternoon showers, mostly lower down. Possible, with good rain gear.Good
DecemberShort rains → dryMixedRain clears through the month. Busy over Christmas and New Year.Good
Price per personYour groupAll yearPrivate climbAny start date
1solo climber$2,441USD per person
2–5climbers$2,441USD per person
6–10climbers$2,441USD per person
11+climbers$2,441USD per person
 Check dates →

Prices are in US dollars, per person, for a private climb with two hotel nights in Moshi. The road and the trail on Day 2 can be muddy in any month. The summit is well below freezing all year. We send a full kit list when you book.

No surprises

What's Included

Included / 12

  • Airport transfers on arrival and departureKilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
  • 2 nights at Kibo Palace Hotel in Moshi, before and after the climbSharing a double or triple room. The first night includes breakfast; the last night includes dinner and breakfast
  • Professional mountain guides and support crew
  • Wages for guides, porters, cook and waiter
  • National park entry fees
  • Camping fees, tents and foam sleeping mats
  • Cooking gear, plates and cutlery
  • Park rescue fees
  • Pulse oximeter checks and a full first aid kit
  • All meals on the mountainBreakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Boiled drinking water on the mountain
  • Park fees and lodging for the crew on the mountain

Not included / 12

  • International and domestic flights
  • Tanzania visaSee our visa guide
  • Travel insuranceRequired, and it must cover climbing to 6,000 m. See our insurance guide
  • Single room supplement at Kibo Palace Hotel
  • Tips for guides, porters, cook and waiter
  • Personal mountain gear, such as a sleeping bagSome items can be hired. Ask us for the hire price list
  • Emergency oxygenNot part of the standard package
  • Vehicle surcharge of USD 145 per carApplies to climbs that start from the Lemosho, Rongai or Shira side
  • Meals and drinks not listed in the itinerary
  • Extra hotel nights beyond the two included
  • Optional trips, such as a waterfall walk or a village visit
  • Personal expenses, such as souvenirs, laundry and phone calls
Good questions

Before You Book

Close, but not the same. Both register at Londorossi Gate. Lemosho then walks up through the rainforest to Mti Mkubwa. On this route you drive on from the gate to the Morum picnic site and start walking on the Shira Plateau, with nights at Shira 1 and Shira 2 before the Lava Tower. Compare every option on our routes page.

It is a challenging trek, but you do not need climbing skills. The two plateau days are gentle, though you start high. The Barranco Wall on Day 5 is a scramble with your hands, and the summit night is long, cold and steep. Our preparation guide shows how to train.

The first days from Londorossi are very quiet. From the Lava Tower on Day 4 you share the trail with the Machame and Umbwe routes, so Barranco, Karanga and Barafu are busier camps. Your guide times your start on the Barranco Wall to avoid the morning queue.

Yes. Because you drive up to about 2,900 m on Day 2, an extra night on the Shira Plateau is the most useful place for it. Ask us and we will price it for you. See our altitude safety guide for why extra time helps.

Add to your trip

Related Activities

Ideas that fit well with this climb. Ask us and we’ll add any of them to your plan.

After the climb

Add a safari

Rest your legs in a safari vehicle: Tarangire, the crater or the Serengeti.

Read more →
Beach

Zanzibar beach days

Finish with warm sea, white sand and Stone Town’s old streets.

Read more →
Pole pole
Kilimanjaro

Altitude & safety

How acclimatisation works and how our guides keep you safe.

Read more →
Get ready
Kilimanjaro

Preparing for the climb

Training, gear and what to expect on summit night.

Read more →
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Start in the west,

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