Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Route

The area around the Momella lakes, which is located at an altitude of 1400 m, extends over the north-eastern part of the Arusha National Park and is surrounded by green hills. Here you will find seven lakes, surrounded by bush savanna and acacias. Several hollows were formed by the last eruption of Mount Meru, which have a porous ground allowing enough water to the surface to form the lakes. The biggest and also most interesting ones are the Big and the Small Momella Lakes, together they cover an area of 4 km². Flamingos especially prefer the Small Momella Lake because of the high amount of alkali.

On this tour you will be visiting the Momella Lakes in the Arusha National Park – seven volcanic lakes embedded in breathtaking scenery. Flamingos are spread their wings and soar gracefully into the open sky above hippos and giraffes. Bushbuck, Dikdik and warthogs may shyly glimpse from behind tall grass, carefully checking out the vast savannah.

The highest point of Arusha National Park is Mount Meru. At an altitude of 4566 m above sea level, it is the fourth highest Mountain in Africa and the second highest in Tanzania. Sometimes, during chilly months, Mount Meru is also covered by a snowcrest. The steep back of the crater edge, of which only half still exists, lies on the western park border. Nowadays Mount Meru is an exstinct volcanic mountain, with the exeption of some steam holes, which provide unique scenery for nature- and mountain climbing enthusiasts. The open cone, which opens to the eastern side, harbours a mountain rainforest with swept becks, refreshing water falls and jungle giants, which are enlaced by lianas. On the way up Mount Meru one passes through 3 different vegetation zones, starting from savannah, through forest and into dense jungle, reminiscent of landscapes in the movie “Lord of the Rings”. With the changing flora, there is also an alteration in the wildlife. Upon reaching Kitoto Viewpoint, at an altitude of 2500 m, an armed ranger escorts guests on the final hike into the crater. After about two hours walk, guests returns to the vehicle and heads downhill again. Next to a picturesque waterfall, a traditional picnic awaits you to replenish burnt energy. After lunch, another short walk leads to the Tululusia Waterfall, cascading down and spraying those who venture too close to it with a cool refreshing water.

The Ngurdoto Crater is also known as “Little Ngorongoro Crater”. This beautiful part of the park looks like a stranded Ark in the middle of a jungle. You are driven around the Ngurdoto Crater, which has a diameter of 2,5 km, over a steep mountain line. From the crater edge you have an amazing view past tree giants, lianas and strangler figs into the crater. More than half of the crater ground is covered by swamps. The Ngurdoto Crater is famous for its animals.

We will drive to the crater to meet our ranger. We descent down the slopes onto the crater floor on foot where we find a unique jungle landscape. Leaving the rain forest wide open meadows arrange themselves in front of our eyes. We come across islands of huge papyrus in lakes hiding buffaloes and warthogs.

We provide a walking safari through Arusha National Park to the sparkling waters of the Tululusia waterfalls. We start our walking safari at the momella gate. Together with an armed ranger we go deeper and deeper into this mountain rain forest. We pass a clearing with buffaloes. Further on you may see colobus monkeys in the branches of the trees or little bushbucks whizzing through the thicket. Reaching Tululusia waterfalls it's time for a rest.

Enjoy the refreshing water playing around your feet! After this relaxing break we return home. Exotic twittering birds accompany our walk with their joyful singing. We arrive at momella gate again where we will be picked up by a Hatari representative and return to the lodge.

Starting from Shu‘mata Camp in the open caron a relaxing 2,5 hours drive right to Mount Kilimanjaro up to a height of 3.400 metres. We cross different climate- and vegetations zones: region of the steppes, lush greens on the entrance to Kilimanjaro Nationalpark and finally alpine scenery. Our goal is the Shira Plateau at the level of 4.000 metres. When the clouds open, we enjoy a magnificient view of the immidiate summit of Kilimanjaro. We hike for about one hour on the designated Shira Day Trial through grass, heather and moorland landscapes with up to 10 metres high groundsel herbs.

Eland antelopes, the biggest antelopes of Africa will cross our way on the mountains cliffs.
A colobus monkey swings through the branches and we see buffaloes. With a little luck even elephants. On the way we stop for a picknick-lunch on the vast plains of the plateau and enjoy the wonderful views of the summit of the highest mountain in Africa.