KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

12 days from GBP1,679 to GBP2,299 including flights
Tripcode: TYR

Countries Visited: Tanzania

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 17 reviews.

Douglas Alexander

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE
Written February 2010
Amazing walk with great views and variety of scenery. Well worth the extra day to acclimatise.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Making it to Uhuru Peak was an incredible feeling and the whole reason for doing the trip. Especially if the whole group makes the peak.
I also got to see an unforgettable sight upon reaching Stella Point. After spending 6 hours hiking and cresting the crater rim, seeing the full moon at eye level with tiny wisps of cloud floating in front of it. The crater rim and glaciers lit by moonlight and behind me, the sun just below the horizon lighting up the clouds and other glaciers. Could of happily finished there after seeing that view, but going that extra distance to reach Uhuru peak and standing at the top with the other people in the group, awesome.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our Tour Leader, Makeke was great. Extremely helpful, fun, explained everything and gave detailed information about the hiking for the next day. Never had any problems and everything appeared to run very smoothly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
On summit night keep any snacks on you as you probably won't want to rummage through your rucksack getting them and so that they don't freeze in the casae of cereal bars.
The night we did the summit the weather was about -25°C with wind chill and the wind was reasonably strong. Just things to bear in mind.
Have faith in the guides if during your trip you suffer with the altitude. They want to make sure you are safe but also want to see you get to the top.
At the end of the trip you can leave gear (clothes etc.) for the porters and guides. Another way of saying thank you on top of the tip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Hope you get as great a group as I had on the trip and have an amazing time if you choose to do this holiday.
Very well organised, amazing scenery [weather permitting :-) ] and an incredible sense of achievement at the end.
Enjoy.
Gareth Bartlett

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE
Written November 2009
Very well organised and good people to do the climb with, helpful and kind. Very much a team effort.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the porters carry heavy loads up hill effortlessly and standing on the crater rim.
What did you think of your group leader?
Matthew was very disciplined in his outlook on the trip and kept it all together. Very focused.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do make sure you have a reasonable fitness with emphasis on training that strengthens the leg muscles. Check weather patterns before you go, the rainy season started early and we got caught in it.
CLIVE PANNELL

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE
Written October 2009
I absolutely enjoyed this holiday. I recommend this trip to anybody. The guides and porters were absolutely excellent, they were extremely helpful and friendly. The trek was fantastic. The guides set the pace extremely well ensuring that everybody gets to the Uhuru Peak ok. The final accent to the top was hard but it was worth it. Trekking with my fellow trekkers was great.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Obviously reaching the summit (Uhuru Peak) was the pinnacle but basically everything about the trip was just amazing, the scenery was amazing, the companionship of other trekkers. There wasn't one inspirational moment, there were loads.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader, Passian, was great. He was very friendly and very helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty of layers to wear as it does get cold in the evenings, do prepare before you go to get fit as it is physically hard work when doing the final accent to Uhuru Peak and keep positive at ALL times. It is both mental and physical that keeps you going. And take a good quality pair of trekking boots.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I had such an amazing time on this trip. It will stay with me for a very long time. This is definately the best holiday I have been on.
Stuart Furzer

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE
Written July 2009
We all had a fantastic trip and will long smile about the happy memories of a great experience!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the top of the highest free standing mountain on the planet surely is enough inspiration for anyone thinking about embarking on this trip?
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was very good, though the real quality was in the assistant guides: their knowledge, passion and committment to seeing us to the top was immense! They were literally brilliant and made our trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Thoroughly plan everything before you go and then feel free to really immerse yourself in the trip, safe in the knowledge that you're as prepared as humanly possible and don't have to worry about anything you may or may not have remembered!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Nothing other than a fantastic time was had by all and I would thoroughly recommend it to one and all who may be interested.
Andrea Newman

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE
Written March 2009
An amazing trip for those that love a challenge.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Waking up to camp covered in snow and dropping down a few hundred metres to a sunny valley covered in giant plants. Being expertly led down a path that had been turned into a fast moving stream by a sudden storm of huge hailstones a real feeling of being alive.
What did you think of your group leader?
All our guides were great people and had been walking Kili for years. I always felt well directed and safe. The Africa Walking Company are the local operator and highly recommended.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take your time and go on one of the longer trips such as shira or lemosho glades for maximum acclimatisation. All of my group made it - we met the Rongai group at the airport and they weren't as successful. Don't forget a waterproof cover for your daysack! Stamina is key - not fitness. Train by long walks rather than or as well as running.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't miss this!
Rachel L Jones

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE
Written March 2009
An absolutely brilliant experience and one I won't forget in a hurry. Every cold night in that tent was worth it and I would recommend this trip to anyone I thought would enjoy it.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching Stella Point was the big moment for me, it was actually more emotional than reaching the summit. It was such a long tough climb, and you are tested mentally as well as physically, everyone in our group made it which was fantastic and it was a wonderful moment to share.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was great, he learned everyones names straight away and always made sure we were feeling okay. He gave good advice to those people not feeling well and was extremely knowledgeable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take lots of evergy snacks to eat along the way. Although the guides will give you chocolate bars and fruit i would recommend taking some of your own. Kendal Mint Cake comes highly recommended!
Also, buy the highest season sleeping bag you can get, it is cold in those tents, and if you can't sleep it does not bode well for the next day. Also invest in some good thermals. Its worth paying a bit extra.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was a tough trek, but worth every minute of it. I thought the conditions (toilets, washing etc) would be a struggle, but for me it just made the holiday more interesting. (And highly amusing at times!)
Anna Hindmarch

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE
Written November 2008
A great trip - would definately recommend doing this longer trip which gives you 8 days on the mountain, than one of the shorter ones. I have friends who have done shorter trips and who have ended up with altitude sickness. I followed the instructions and drank lots of water and I think that along with the longer time on the mountain, this was why I didn't even have a headache!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The sunrise after the 6 hour trek up to Stella Point. Never has a sunrise been so welcome! Our whole team of 11 made it to Uhuru peak which was fantastic - and a credit to the African Walking company that led us up there.
What did you think of your group leader?
Mr Obote was friendly and pleasant and kept an eye on us all. He shared the position at the front of the group when walking, with other guides some days. The trip was different to previous trips I have done in Nepal in that there was not a lot of local information imparted to us unless we asked, and we were not really told what to do at the campsites as much. But the up-side to this was that the time in the camps was a bit less regimented and controlled. You could have a little freedom to explore the immediate area if you wished. We were always given an itinery for the next day which was useful. The other guide and helpers were friendly and the porters cheered and danced when it was announced we had given them a high amount of tips.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take Toilet roll!! On previous trips, the toilet tent always had a roll in there, but on this trip it did not. Toilet roll became a bit like gold dust and became a barter material! So yes - don't forget to pack plenty.
Be prepared to be a bit shocked by what you find behind most rocks and boulders on the trail - other people obviously haven't waited to find a toilet!
Also - take a small scarf to tie over your mouth on the dusty paths. It may have been due to the time of year (with the scree not being frozen), but the clouds of dust kicked up by those in front on the summit day descent in particular, left me with a cough for a week after we got home.
Make sure you are as fit as possible before you go - the last thing you want is to be worried about acheing legs when you can't catch your breath. Also - consider taking a general antibiotic with you. 2 of us on the trip benefitted from this when we had stomach upsets.
I would say take iodine with you- lower down, the water was purified by the leader with something that smelt like chlorine - but as I understand it, this doesn't kill everything. When we asked if it had been boiled, it turns out no - they had purified it lower down as it was 'stagnant' water (nice). But higher up where the water was free flowing- they would boil it! Seems the wrong way round to me! Anyway - I put iodine in it all - but recommend neutralisers and maybe Berocca to take any remaining taste away.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the first few days easy walking round the Shira Plateu. Although there are some longer days as the trip progresses - the summit day is still a bit of a shock to the system. It took us a long 6 hours at -5 degrees in the dark to Stella point, another hour to Uhuru peak (this last bit is easy compared to getting to Stella Point), then 2 and a half hours back to Barafu camp. After a break - it was another couple of hours to Millenum Camp (but they sell beer!). Its a nice camp with trees around but very dusty - but as I said...they sell beer!
Also - we were not expecting a 6 hour walk the last day to get back to the pick up point. The trip notes hadn't mentioned how long it would be. It was very pretty in the forest - but a long and rushed descent.
Basically - it was an excellent trek - the glaciers on the top were amazing - the scenery is so barren and rugged and dramatic. The Baranco wall is very imposing and looks so hard - but actually it was quite fun scrambling up parts of it, and it is in an area you actually see plants!
As long as you are pretty fit and aware of the joys of sleeping in tents and roughing it a bit, I would highly recommend this trip!