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Lemosho Route / Day 5

Lava Tower Camp (15,272 ft) > Arrow Glacier Camp (15,960 ft)

Mt Kilimanjaro Beautiful Sunset Above the Clouds

Tanzania // Mount Kilimanjaro Tanzania Location: [post_gps_latitude], [post_gps_longitude]

It turns out the wind was just taking a break, not disappearing for good. About 2am it came roaring back with a vengeance. Our tents are taking a battering–even these good quality expedition tents are caving in, with the roof constantly hitting us as we lie in our sleeping bags. We hear the porters out scrambling to tie everything down, using the heavy rocks as anchors. We find out in the morning that one of the porter tents had blown down twice during the night. Our mess tent had been damaged. Some of the permanent outhouses at the campsite were blown over. Later in the day, when we got to Arrow Glacier Camp, we came across some climbers heading down. Their tents had been shredded in the wind and they were aborting the climb.

There’s really no hope for sleep. The sunrise doesn’t calm the wind, but being in the sun does take some of the sting out of the biting cold. We don’t have any way of measuring how strong the wind is except seeing how hard it is to stand up in it. Having spent a lot of time growing up sailing and windsurfing in strong winds, my best guess is that it was a pretty constant 50- to 60-mile-an-hour winds. Even our guides, who had climbed Kilimanjaro over 170 times, said that they hadn’t seen anything like this keeping up for so long–usually, wind comes up and blows itself out after a few hours. Somehow the porters manage to pack up the campsite without it all blowing downwind and we’re on our way again.

Today’s hike is quite short, and we gain only about 700 feet as we head up to Arrow Glacier Camp.

The landscape of Arrow Glacier Camp isn’t a lot different from Lava Tower. But now we’re right at the base of the Western Breach. We’re going to have to climb that tomorrow in what we’ve already been warned will be the hardest day of the climb.

The glacier itself is a little past the campsite. It’s not much to look at, mostly covered with rocks and dirt. But it’s also our only water supply. Tonight we’ll be drinking water taken directly from the glacier.

We get a beautiful sunset, the golden rays catching the tops of the billowy clouds below us. Only the summit of Mt. Meru breaks up the sea of clouds stretching off to the horizon.

Mt Meru with Setting Sun

The summit of Mount Meru poking up above the clouds.

Mt Kilimanjaro Western Breach Golden Sun

The Western Breach.

Western Breach Mt Kilimanjaro

Mt Meru Silhoutte at Sunset

Mt Meru.

Mt Kilimanjaro Western Breach Ice and Snow

Mt Meru at Sunset Above the Clouds

Mt Kilimanjaro Arrow Glacer Camp

Mt Kilimanjaro Arrow Glacier View and Mt Meru

Mt Kilimanjaro Outhouses Blown Over

Some of the outhouses blown over in last night’s wind.

Mt Kilimanjaro Western Breach and Arrow Glacier Camp

Arrow Glacier Camp, with the Western Breach in the background.

Mt Kilimanjaro Western Breach and Arrow Glacier Camp Panorama

Mt Meru in Late Afternoon Light

Mt Kilimanjaro Western Breach in Afternoon Sun

Western Breach in the Sun

Mt Meru Summit Through a Sea of Clouds

View of Mt Meru from Arrow Glacier Camp

Mt Kilimanjaro Arrow Glacier Camp

Arrow Glacier Camp.

Mt Kilimanjaro Lava Tower Campsite

Lava Tower Camp.

Climbing Kilimanjaro

This is part of a climb diary I put together with photos from each day on the Lemosho Route. You can find the other posts below. I’ve also included some gear tips for climbing Kilimanjaro and some ideas on what to expect from your climb.

  • Lemosho Route / Day 1
  • Lemosho Route / Day 2
  • Lemosho Route / Day 3
  • Lemosho Route / Day 4
  • Lemosho Route / Day 5
  • Lemosho Route / Day 6
  • Lemosho Route / Day 7
  • Lemosho Route / Day 8
  • Tips, Gear Recommendations, and What to Expect When Climbing Kilimanjaro

Where to Next?

  • Mt Kilimanjaro Stars and Camp at Lava Tower
    Climbing Kilimanjaro
  • Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro Footprints in the Dirt
    Lemosho Route / Day 3
  • Mt Kilimanjaro Rainforest
    Lemosho Route / Day 8
  • Mt Kilimanjaro Tents and Stars
    Lemosho Route / Day 4
  • Mt Kilimanjaro Summit Uhuru Peak
    Lemosho Route / Day 7
  • Mt Kilimanjaro Crater Camp Ice Glacier
    Lemosho Route / Day 6
  • Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro Tanzania Hikers on Plain with Peak
    Lemosho Route / Day 2
  • Mt Kilimanjaro Lemosho Glades Trailhead Forest Trail
    Lemosho Route / Day 1
  • Mt Kilimanjaro Stars and Camp at Lava Tower
    Climbing Kilimanjaro: Tips, Gear Recommendations, and What to Expect


Travel Advice for Tanzania

You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Tanzania (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.

The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Tanzania here and the Australian Government's here.

Health & Vaccinations

The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Tanzania here.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.


Location:
Country: Tanzania
Coordinates:
      Latitude:
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      # Mount Kilimanjaro Tanzania


About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find my photography gear reviews and tips at havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing & Prints

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


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