Family Mt Kilimanjaro
Climbing & Wildlife Safari

The Lemosho Glades route via the Western Breach is among the most seldom-used combination of routes on Kilimanjaro, partly due to the remote starting location and rough roads leading to the trailhead, but also because the Western Breach is the least used summit ascent route. Since the trailhead is at a relatively high elevation, we start slow and easy on this route. Buffalo and elephant sightings are possible on the first day's trek through the forest. Sometimes the trail is overgrown here from lack of use. The trail leads up to the western edge of the Shira Plateau. The hike across the plateau is said to be one of the most stunningly beautiful hikes in all of Africa. The trail merges on day five with the Machame Route at Lava Tower (a volcanic plug that has endured the ravages of wind and erosion to stand a few hundred feet above a trailside pass). The next day the trail continues steeply up to Arrow Glacier at the foot of the Western Breach Wall. From this camp, the trail lies at a slope of about 45 degrees, with sections of scrambling and occasionally some snow and ice. If conditions make for difficult footing, we’ll provide hand ropes and cut steps with ice axes. The trail reaches the crater rim at Crater Point at about 19,000 feet (5,800 m), then continues on to Crater Camp. This part of the experience sets this trek apart from any other. The camp is set in soft “beach” sand, and trekkers have up close views of the vertical ice walls of the Furtwangler Glacier from their tents! The next morning is only 1.5 to 2 hours to the summit! All the trekking is done by daylight except for a few hours during the early climb up the Western Breach. Overall this trek is designed to get you closer to nature, and provide a totally unique Kilimanjaro experience. The steepness of the Breach Wall and the night at Crater Camp makes this trek quite difficult, but more than adequate for acclimatization. There are no huts on this route; the accommodations are mountain tents and dining is in our mess tents. Latrine tents with convenient and sanitary portable flush toilets are set up at all camps.