Important update: currently the Western Breach routes are
closed until further notice due to dangerous rockfall! The information below if just for reference, no trips are
being offered through the Breach as this moment and the best option is to do
the combined Lemosho-Machame route instead.
The
Lemosho
-
Shira
route
is
comparable
with
the
Machame
route,
but
uses
a
more
remote
approach
from
the
west.
In
fact
they
are
2
parallel
routes
merging
at
Shira
plateau,
but
mostly
the
Lemosho
variation
is
used.
As
this
is
the
one
of
the
2
routes
where
wildlife
can
be
encountered
(with
the
Rongai)
you
will
be
accompanied
by
an
armed
ranger.
It
is
a
mix
of
the
wild
en
remoteness
of
the
Rongai
and
the
variety
and
toughness
of
Machame
route.
For
the
fitter
and
more
experienced
mountain
hikers
as
it
is
a
long
way
if
you
are
not
fit.
Approaching
across
the
remote
Shira
Plateau,
the
route
joins
up
with
the
Machame
climb
in
the
area
of
Shira
Hut
where
the
route
continues
up
the
Western
Breach
or
joins
the
Machame
variation
via
Barranco
and
Barafu
to
the
summit.
This
variation
cuts
off
to
summit
via
the
Western
Breach.
This
route
is
shorter
in
distance,
but
the
final
day
is
very
steep
up
rock
in
the
dark. Or you can use extra days (recommended anyway), climb the steep sections
during the day and sleep in the crater.
Most
people
descend
down
the
Mweka
trail
and
stay
at
the
Mweka
camp
the
final
night
on
the
mountain.
An
alternative
is
to
descend
the
Marangu
route
if
you
like
crowds,
but
availability
may
be
limited
in
the
Horombo
Hut.
This
route
is
possible
in
6
days
if you are already acclimatised, but
7,
8
or more is
recommended.
(The
extra
day(s)
can
be
spent
resting
at
one
of
the
higher
camps
or
even
in
the
crater
itself.)
Please also see
this FAQ about length of Kili trips and advantages and dangers of the Western
Breach routes.
