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We hiked up Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route with Zara Tours. We chose an 8-day hike to allow sufficient time to adjust to the altitude. Besides Penny and myself, there were two Norwegians in our group, Reidun Tingstad and her daughter Julia. We spent the night before the hike at Springlands Hotel in Moshi.
Day 1: From Moshi to Londorossi Gate (2360 m) by bus followed by a hike through the forest to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp (2895 m)
Day 2: Hike to Shira-1 Camp (3505 m)
Day 3: Hike over Shira Ridge to Shira-2 Camp (3810 m), where there were nice views of Uhuru and Shira Peaks
Day 4: Long hike through snowstorm to Lava Tower (4630 m) and then on to Barranco Camp (3976 m) through Dendrosenecio kilimanjari trees
Day 5: Over the Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp (3995 m)
Day 6:
Hike to our highest camp, Barafu (4673 m), where there were great views of Mawenzi Peak. We got a few hours of sleep before the final ascent.
Day 7:
Left Barafu Camp at 11:30 to reach Uhuru Summit (5895 m) under a full moon before sunrise. The light on the glaciers was spectacular with changing shades of purples and pinks. I got a second wind at the top and was full of energy. I would have liked to stay longer, but the guides were in a hurry to start back.
It was a little cold at the top (about -15 C). We stopped for a short break at Barafu Camp and then hiked down through barren terrain to Mweka Camp.
Day 8: A short hike through the forest to Mweka Gate and then back to the Springlands Hotel in Moshi by bus. We saw more wildlife than on any other day, including blue and colobus monkeys and a silver-cheeked hornbill.