9 Days Western Breach - Mount Kilimanjaro Climb


If you want a real adventure and to trek on parts of Kilimanjaro that few other people have had the privilege of experiencing – then our extreme adventure is the trip for you. This is an expedition which involves camping on the glacier overnight – and the photographic opportunities are outstanding. We recommend this trip for people who have previous mountain climbing experience and who have hiked at high altitude before. The route is known as the Western Breach.

Each trip is carefully, customized according to your preferences and the final route is agreed in consultation with you. On this expedition, the terrain passes from a tropical to an arctic climate in just a few days via the Lemosho route. The encircling rain forest ensures the fertility of the lower lying farms and is rich in birdlife. Above the rain forest lie the alpine meadows and beautiful moorland, offering many splendid views. Exotic plants such as giant lobelia and the fork-like groundsel can be seen. The latter blooming once every 50 - 70 years. After you leave the alpine meadows we enter the alpine desert and finally the snows of Kilimanjaro, its famous glacier and the summit itself.

The hike up towards the Western breach starts from Barafu camp. We spend one night at the camp and then hike up to the crater rim and then descend into glacier camp and overnight there. The next morning, we start climbing the crater rim where you have the shortest summit bid of all of the mountain routes and enjoy sun-rise at the peak. It is a one-hourhike from the glacier campsite up to the summit. After reaching the summit, you descend to Mweka camp to spend the night there. Please note, timing and schedules do vary and we offer as much flexibility as possible to maximize your enjoyment of the expedition.


Day 1
Arrival Day in either Arusha or Moshi

On arrival you are personally met at the airport by one of our representatives and transferred to your chosen hotel in Arusha or Moshi. In the afternoon there is a full briefing with the climbs manager and your guide. Dinner is included.
Overnight in hotel (dinner)

Day 2: Londorossi Gate (2100m) - Mti Mkubwa camp (2821m)
Ascent: 2380meters to 2895meters
Hours: 4 to 5 hours walking
Distance: 4km
Habitat - mountain forest
From your hotel you will be driven to the starting point of our Kilimanjaro climb, the Lemosho trail. Here you meet the rest of your crew and set out at a leisurely pace into the jungle.
The Lemosho route is unspoilt, remote and little used. It's a beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau with spectacular views. The route is one of the few where you are accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are inhabited by buffalo, elephant and other wildlife. You can also see white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys and different species of birds plus a lot of indigenous plant-life. 
Lunch is taken on the trail and camp is reached mid afternoon.
Overnight at Forest Camp (all meals included)

Day 3: Mti Mkubwa To Shira I
Ascent: 2895meters to 3450meters
Hours: 6 to7 hours walking
Distance: 12km
Habitat: heath zone.
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out onto the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. Look out for the pretty plant 'Senecio Kilimanjari' and many other interesting species.
Lunch is taken on the trail and you arrive at camp in mid afternoon.
Overnight Shira 1 Camp (all meals included)

Day 4: Shira I To Shira II
Ascent: 3450meters to 3870meters
Hours: 6 to 7 hours walking
Distance: 8km
Habitat: moorland 
After a relatively long hike and the significant altitude gain yesterday, today is a short day and you arrive in Shira 2 camp in time for lunch. A good day for acclimatisation with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides.
Overnight at Shira2 camp (all meals included)

Day 5: Shira II To Barranco camp via lava tower
Ascent: 4175meters to 4600meters to 3950meters
Hours: 7 to 8 hours walking
Distance: 15km
Habitat: semi desert
The route to Barranco via Lava Tower takes you into the semi desert zone. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperatures. You will have a hot lunch at Lava tower, and after lunch you descendinto Barranco camp. This is ideal for acclimatization. Having reached 4600meters you descend and then spend the night at the lower altitude of 3950meters.
Overnight at Barranco Camp (all meals included)

Day 6: Barranco - Karanga camp.
Acscent: 3950meters to 3930meters
Hours: 4 to 5 hours walking
Distance: 7km
Habitat: moorland/semi desert
You spend a relatively long time inKaranga camp. The selection of Karanga camp is strategic. Significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatisation and in the late afternoon you arrive in camp. You will see a lots of giant senecioskilimanjari and lobelia plants.Sunsets here are spectacular with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields towering 1000 meters (over 3000 feet) above you.
Overnight KarangaCamp (all meals included)

Day 7: Karanga - Barafu Camp
Ascent: 3930 to 4600meters
Hours: 3 to 4 hours walking
Distance: 5 km
Habitat: alpine desert 
Today is another half day ascending to Barafucamp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi volcano are the norm. Look out for the ravens and the mountain buzzards. These are big birds and mainly eat the common 'four stripe mouse' which you will see running around.
Overnight Barafu Camp (all meals included)

Day 8: Barafu - Crater 
Ascent: 4600meters to 5730meters
Hours: 6 to7 hours walking
Distance: 10km
HABITAT: ice cap zone
Unlike other routes with a night time ascent, the expedition affords you a daytime ascent to Kibo crater. The going is slow but with constant encouragement from your climb team the rim of Kibo is reached before descending a little way into the caldera to Crater camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and short walks can be taken with one of your guides.
Overnight Crater Camp (all meals included)

Day 9: Crater - Uhuru - Mweka Camp 
Ascent/Descent: 5730meters to 5895meters to 3997meters
Hours: 11 to 12 hours walking
Distance: 21km
HABITATS: ice cap, alpine desert and moorland
After a night in the crater you now have the shortest final summit bid of any route. With such a short distance to the summit from the crater (around 1 hour) means that timing arrival with the sunrise is much easier and quite spectacular. The summit of Kilimanjaro is the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world. After your summit bid you then descend for a final night on the mountain at Mweka Camp passing back through the heath zone. Endemic Proteas, pollinated by Malachite Sunbirds are plentiful.
Overnight Mweka Camp (all meals included)

Day 10: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Hotel 
Descent: 3100 meters to 1800meters
Hours: 3 to 4 hours walking
Distance: 10km
Habitat: jungle forest.
After breakfast you descend once again through mountain forest and around mid day after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your hotel for a well-deserved shower!
Overnight at your hotel (dinner)

Day 11: Arusha or Moshi
Breakfast
Departure day. If you would like to book additional nights please inform us as early as possible. We will arrange for you to be transferred to the airport or you may joinA Kili Base Adventure Safari and continue your adventure with us.


Valid until December 31st 2025 - (prices are in US$ and VAT inclusive).

 

Trip Style

Number of people

Extreme

   

1

$8,540.00 

2

$6,540.00 

3 or more

$6,090.00

 
Tips 

On climbs and treks in Africa, it is customary to pay tips to your climbing support crew. To eliminate any confusion around paying tips, please use the suggested amounts below. Please bring money for tips in small denominations in USD (i.e. $5 and $10 notes). We give you envelopes with the crew names and the tips are handed to your support crew directly at the end of the climb. We find this to be the fairest and most transparent method.

 
 

Trip Style

Number of people

Extreme

   

1

$1300

2

$750

3

$600

4

$580

5

$570

6

$550

7

$540

8

$500

9

$480

10 or more

$470


What is included


Kilimanjaro Climb Price includes:

  • National Park gate fees
  • Return airport transfers plus transport from hotel to the mountain
  • One arrival and one departure night accommodation in a hotel
  • All overnight mountain fees
  • Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
  • Salaries for all crew members
  • Rescue fees (as required by national park)
  • All meals on the mountain
  • Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
  • Pulse oximeter checks
  • Additional items dependent on style of travel selected. Please refer to 'Styles' on the website.


What is not included


Price does not include:

  • Tips for guides and porters (please see recommendations)
  • Sleeping bags and personal items
  • Personal expenses (visas, yellow fever certificate, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)