Kilimanjaro Londorossi Gate Trek

While thousands of climbers head to Machame and Marangu gates every week, Londorossi Gate on Kilimanjaro's western flank sees just a handful of visitors. It's the entry point for the Lemosho Route - widely regarded as the most beautiful path up the mountain - and for those who want to experience Kilimanjaro's forests and lower flanks without the crowds, a day trek from Londorossi is extraordinary.

The forest here is ancient and undisturbed. Enormous Podocarpus trees draped in lichen, giant ferns, colobus monkeys crashing through the canopy, and the occasional very clear sign of elephant in the mud. The trail climbs steadily through multiple vegetation zones - rainforest, then heath moorland - before reaching the vast open Shira Plateau at around 3,500m.

This is not a summit attempt - it's a day trek into Kilimanjaro's western wilderness and back. The permit costs are lower than summit routes, the solitude is extraordinary, and for hikers who want to experience the mountain beyond its tourist infrastructure, Londorossi is one of Tanzania's finest walking days.