Lemosho Gate to Forest Camp - Blog

By: BW Admin (9/1/2018)

Date: 10/15/2016

This blog is part of the trip: Kowtowing to Kilimanjaro - The nine day western approach

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This was day one of the trek, Lemosho gate to forest camp (MTI Mkubwa). We spent the morning traveling to the trail head, getting the bag weigh ins out of the way and checking in with the park and so forth. It was a bit crowded at the park check in so there was a lot of standing around while the guides got the permits and paperwork and everything in order. When we got to the start of the trail the Thomson Safaris crew set up a table for lunch with a pretty good spread for us while the rest of the staff unloaded the gear. We got a briefing on what to expect for the day while we ate and everybody took a last crack at using the facilities (hole in ground). After posing for the requisite start of the trek group photo ops by the first sign we were off.

You have probably heard something by now about the tepid pace the lead guide will set while hiking, but it is unlikely you will be prepared for just how slow that initial pace will be. Especially in the early stages when the trail seems easy. It is literally one step, pause a second, next step, pause a second, repeat. This is just an observation not a criticism, if the guides had told us crawling up the mountain like a baby would give you the best chance to summit we’d have done it. This was really only on the up hill portions, it was a normal pace where there was more even ground.

The constant reminders to stay hydrated (“sippy sippy”) will also begin almost immediately. Again we didn’t argue, when they said drink we drank. Hydration is critical when climbing Kilimanjaro. You'll be cursing sippy sippy come 5am when the pee bottle is full and you have to crawl out of your tent into the cold African night.

At any rate, day one is mostly a run through the jungle over not very difficult terrain. As mentioned we took it one slow step at a time on the steep stretches. It's around 4 miles to Forest camp with an elevation gain of around 1281', I believe it took us around 3 hours with a few pit stops. The astute hiker may be able to spot monkeys in the canopy along this stretch. The trail is also the most manicured in this section, there are places with wooden steps and bridges and side railings and so forth.

Lemosho Gate to Forest Camp - Photos

by: BW Admin (9/1/2018)

(click images to view full size)

Start of the trail

Lat.: -3.003040 / Long.: 37.146923

Our crew and the two assistant guides

Pre-trek lunch prepared by the Thomson Safaris crew

Lat.: -3.003189 / Long.: 37.146569

Day one guide setting the pace

Tents were on top of one another in the first camp, but only for the first night after that there was plenty of space between groups.

There you go

Greeting upon arrival by the Thomson Safaris team

Coffee was prepared and waiting by the door of the tent every morning. The tray they left with the fixings is visible inside the front test vestibule.