A very different way to celebrate the New Year
Make 2019 a year to remember. We’ve carefully planned our itinerary so that we will get to the top of Africa on New Year’s Eve. Forget the loud fireworks, crowded clubs, and drunken family members. Create your own celebrations this year by joining us on this unique adventure to the top of one of the worlds ‘Seven Summits’.
Sounds good! What are the dates?
The entire trip is 9 days, including one day before and after the climb in our adventure, located beautifully on a historic 70-acre coffee farm near adventure amid the natural forest. The climb itself takes 7 days via the Lemosho route.
Here are the exact dates:
- Arrival day: 26th of December 2019
- Climb start: 27th of December 2019
- Summit night / New Years Eve: 31st to 1st of January 2020
- Departure day: 3rd of January 2020
Why not get away for Christmas too?
Go all out and fly a few days earlier to spend Christmas on safari or at the beach! Spend your holidays in Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, both world UNESCO heritage sites and some of the richest places in the world for wildlife, or in Zanzibar for some of the best beaches in the world.
Speak to us about the options for a unique New Years’ Eve idea 2019, we’d love to hear from you!
New Years Summit Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route climb
This year’s New Years Summit will be a Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route climb
The Lemosho route
The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, we have a soft spot for the Lemosho route! Because of its versatility, scenery and a rather untouched, wild start to the climb, Lemosho has often considered the route with the most variety. Spotting large wildlife, like antelopes is not very common, but possible! One of the really unique things about this route is that it offers trekkers the experience of hiking across the Shira Plateau, one of the largest high-altitude plateaus in the world.
The route approaches from the Western side of the mountain and is less frequented than other popular Kilimanjaro routes. It is effectively a variant of the Machame route with only the first 2 days of the trek differing. The acclimatization profile of the Lemosho route is great, with repeated climb high sleep low opportunities throughout leading to high success rates. Most people complete the Lemosho route in 7 days, but it can be extended by one day to give yourself a little longer to acclimatize if needed. Camping is the only available option for the Lemosho route.
We have the best guides on the mountain, with high standards of safety and reliability. We specialize in group climbs and private climbs at a reasonable cost. Not a cheap Kilimanjaro climb, but a great value for everything you need to have a safe, successful experience. We are Kilimanjaro’s top operator. Won’t you join us on the summit?
Itinerary
Day 1: Dec 23: Arrival
Arrive by land, sea or air in Moshi/Kilimanjaro Airport – you will be collected and transferred to your hotel in downtown Moshi.
Day 2: Dec 24
After a leisurely breakfast, we will meet the mountain crew, discuss issues of kit, hear a pre-departure brief and after a question and answer session we will head off to Ndarakwai Ranch.
Day 3: Dec 25
A day of relaxation and preparation for the climb. Day walks, game drives and bird watching, or simply relaxing are the virtues of Ndarakwai. Expect an excellent spread of Christmas fare for lunch or dinner.
Day 4: Dec 26: Kilimanjaro
Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkumbwa (2,650 m/8,692 ft)
Hike time: 3hrs
Elevation Change: + 650 M/+2,132
Estimation distance: 10 km
Final Elevation: 2,650 m/8,694 ft
After a short but adventurous drive from Ndarakwai to Londorossi Gate, we usually put boots on the trail at about noon. This is a mild challenge to start the trip and is a 2 to 4 hour mixed climb through the cloud forest to Mti Mkubwa camp at 8692ft.
Here we get recorded and enter the national park. We then drive another hour to the Lemosho trailhead where we have lunch and begin our adventure through the undisturbed rainforest on a 3h hike up to Mti Mkubwa ‘Big Tree’ Campsite. This will be your first night sleeping under the stars in tents!
Day 5: Dec 27
Mti Mkubwa (2,650 m/8,692 ft) to Shira One Camp (3,609 m/11,841 ft.)
Hike time: 5 – 6 hrs
Elevation change: + 950 M/+3116
Estimation distance: 12 km
Final Elevation: 3609 m/11,841 ft
Today’s climb is much tougher. It begins in forest but soon breaks out into heather and high moorland, with the gradient steep at times until broaching the edge of the Shira Crater. Camp is in a picturesque open area on the western edge of the Shira Plateau.
Day 6: Dec 28
Shira One Camp (3,609 m/11,841 ft.) to Shira Two Camp (3,849 m/12,628 ft)
Hike time: 5 – 6 hrs
Elevation change: + 240 M/+787 ft
Elevation distance: 5 km
Final elevation: 3849 m/12,628 ft
After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather and moorland zone. You will cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Campsite. At this campsite, you will have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. We hike about 5-6h in total today.
Day 7: Dec 29
Shira Two Camp (3,849 m/12,628 ft.) to Barranco Camp (3,948 m/12,956 ft.)
Hike time: 5 hrs
Elevation change: +100 M/+328 ft
Estimated distance: 6 km
Final elevation: 3948 m/12,956 ft
The first stage of today’s climb follows a slow trail at a steady incline to the Lava Tower at about 15000ft, before descending back to an altitude of 12800ft at the dramatic Baranco Camp in the lap of Kibo Crater itself.
Day 8: Dec 30
Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Valley (3,963 m/13,000 ft)
Hike time: 3.5 hrs
Elevation change: +100 m/+328 ft
Estimated distance: 4km/2.5 miles
Final elevation: 3,963 m/13,000 ft
After early morning breakfast, it’s time for us to conquer the Great Barranco Wall. Although it may look intimidating at first, our travelers usually state it was much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the wall, you will be above the clouds with superb views of the southern ice-fields and the summit. The trail then winds up and down until we arrive at Karanga Campsite where we spend the night.
Day 9: Dec 31
Karanga Valley (3,963 m/13,000 ft) to Barafu Hut (4,600 m/15,091 ft)
Hike time: 3.5 hrs
Elevation change: +600 m/+1,968 ft
Estimated distance: 4km/2.5 miles
Final elevation: 4,600 m/15,091 ft
It’s getting real! We’re now very close to the summit and will have some amazing views of the mountain during our short 2-3h ascent to the last base, Barafu Campsite, at 4,600m (15,091ft). An early dinner will be served so you can get some rest before attempting the summit that same night. Before you go to bed, our guide will brief you in detail on how best to prepare for summit night. Don’t worry, you’ll be in great hands!
Day 10: Jan 1
Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,091 ft) to The Summit (5,896 m/19,343 ft) and then to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft)
Summit time: 7 hrs
Elevation change: +1,300 m/+4,265 ft
Estimated distance: 5km/3.2 miles
Final elevation: 5,896 m/19,343 ft
Descent time: 5 hrs
Elevation change: -2,800 m/-9,186 ft
Estimated distance: 12km/7.5 miles
Final elevation: 3,100 m, 10,170 ft
At midnight the wake-up call comes and the trail leads up into darkness lit by hundreds of blinking headlights. New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular times of the year to the summit, and by now all the trails have merged. It is a tough 6/7-hour climb in the dark to catch the sunrise at Uhuru Peak at dawn. the very top of Africa and a lifetime accomplishment! Be prepared to be overwhelmed and don’t forget to take your pictures. Begin the long descent and then hike on to Mweka Camp and a more comfortable altitude.
Day 11: Jan 2
Mweka Hut (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,828 m/6,000 ft)
Descent time: 4 hrs
Elevation change: -1,250 m/-4,101 ft
Estimated distance: 10km/6.21
Final elevation: 1,828 m/6,000 ft
After the previous day, you’ll deserve this short and very scenic descent of about 4 hours down to the Mweka Gate, where you’ll sign the register to make your climb official.
Accommodation at the Parkview Hotel Moshi
Day 12: Jan 3
Trip ends. You will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Kilimanjaro Lemosho route
What is the scenery like on the Lemosho route?
The Lemosho route is known for being one of the most ‘beautiful’ Kilimanjaro routes. The spectacular western approach offers trekkers the experience of hiking across the Shira Plateau. It is one of the largest high altitude plateaus in the world and gives fantastic views of the dramatic Shira Cathedral. Views are incredible, especially from the southern circuit. Lush rainforest on the first couple of days is very beautiful. Spotting large wildlife, like antelopes is not very common but possible!
How hard is the Lemosho route?
No Kilimanjaro climb is easy, but the Lemosho route is generally considered one of the ‘easier’ climbs because of it’s great acclimatisation profile. It has great climb high sleep low opportunities. Put simply, with the right Kilimanjaro preparation anyone can climb it. You should be physically fit, and with the right support in the form of your mountain crew, you can achieve the summit whether you have previous hiking experience or are a first-time trekker.
What is the Lemosho route summit success rate?
Due to its longer length profile and repeated climb high sleep low opportunities, summit success rates on the Lemosho route are one of the highest on the mountain. Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate across all Kilimanjaro operators is 90% for the 8-day trek and an 85% success rate for the 7-day trek. Follow Alice has a success rate of over 95% for the 7 and 8-day Lemosho route!
How long does it take to hike the Lemosho route?
The Lemosho route can be completed in either 7 or 8 days. The extra day gives you more time to acclimatize. In our experience, most people who have completed the right Kilimanjaro preparation are fine with the 7-day option.
How busy is the Lemosho route?
The Lemosho route is generally less frequented than other Kilimanjaro routes such as the Machame. You are free from big crowds on the first couple of days when you are passing through the forest. You then join the Machame route near the Lava Tower. This is when crowds can get a little bigger in peak season.
How is the accommodation on the Lemosho route?
The Lemosho route only offers camping accommodation. As part of our climbing package, all of your camping equipment is included; tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and pillow. The tents are put up and taken down each day by your mountain crew.
What does the Lemosho route cost?
Follow Alice offers the Lemosho route as a 7-day group climb or private climb. Our 7-day Lemosho route package costs $2585 per person (based on double occupancy). This includes 7 days on the mountain and 1 day either side at our beautiful parter lodge in Moshi.
If you decided to go for the 8 days Lemosho Route, the cost would increase to $2,895 (based on double occupancy). This includes 8 days on the mountain and 1 day either side at your lodge in Moshi.
For more information on the inclusions/exclusions and more details about the trip, head to our Kilimanjaro climb page.
Lemosho route overview
The Lemosho route can be done in 7 to 8 days. The extra day on the 8-day route allows for an extra day to acclimatize, which is always a good thing. Have a look at the two itineraries below before deciding which route you wish to take.