Lemosho Route
About this Tour
- 9 Days
- 8 Nights
The Lemosho Route is one of the best options for climbing Kilimanjaro. It offers ample time for acclimatization and showcases the full range of the mountain’s scenery as it traverses from west to east, passing through diverse landscapes such as rainforests, the Shira Plateau, and the Barranco Valley before reaching the summit.
The route is considered moderately strenuous due to its length and is known for its gradual ascent, steady elevation gain, and high summit success rate. However, the acclimatization profile is favorable, making it manageable for climbers with a good level of fitness.
Area to Visit/Destinations to go
Full Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival | Pick up from Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport
Pick-up from Kilimanjaro International Airport upon arrival and transfer to Moshi for dinner and overnight. In the evening, you will meet your chief guide and review your equipment in preparation for the trek the following day.
- Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp
It takes between three and four hours of driving to reach Londorossi Gate, the starting point for the climb. The drive passes through remote countryside, so keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. After a few more hours spent on formalities with the park rangers at the gate, you’ll begin your trek. The trail leads through lowland forests, where you’re likely to spot large colobus monkeys, which are fairly common in the area.
(2900 m/9,500 feet), 6 km/4 miles (3 to 4 hours)
- Day 3 : Shira 2
The first part of the day’s trek is fairly steep, as you climb out of the jungle and into the moorland ecosystem, which is dominated by giant heathers, grasses, and wildflowers. You’ll first reach Shira Ridge before the trail continues gently downhill across the broad expanse of the Shira Plateau to Shira 1 Camp, where you’ll stop for rest and lunch. From there, the journey continues to Shira 2 Camp across the plateau, with the chance to admire the Western Breach if the skies are clear. This long trekking day gives you more time to acclimatize at higher elevations, allowing for shorter hiking days before the summit attempt.
(3875 m/12,715 feet), 16 km/9 miles (7 to 8 hours)
- Day 4: Barranco Camp
Leaving Shira 2 in the morning, you climb towards Kibo, with the western glaciers clearly visible across the rugged high-altitude desert of volcanic rocks and boulders. The trail ascends to the Lava Tower site (15,000 feet / 4,600 m) before descending back down into Barranco Valley.
The area before the campsite is known as the “Garden of the Senecios”, which features many huge senecio plants as well as the shorter lobelia plants. It’s 7 to 8 hours of walking, and the total ascent is only 110 m, but having climbed much higher and dropped back down assists with acclimatization.
(3,983 m/13,066 feet), 10km/6 miles (5 to 8 hours)
- Day 5: Karanga Camp
Today consists of a challenging climb up the steep Barranco Wall (some scrambling, but not technically difficult), easily one of the highlights of the trek. You’ll definitely admire the majestic views at the top before descending into the Karanga Valley, where we will break for lunch and spend the second half of the day resting and acclimatizing.
(13,066 feet/3,983 m), 5 km/3 miles (4 to 5 hours)
- Day 6: Barafu High Camp
Today we make our final push to Base Camp, and we see our longer early days paying off. Arriving at Barafu by lunchtime allows us to spend the day resting our legs and preparing for the big push to the Roof of Africa. After a hearty dinner, you will retire to your tents for a little shut-eye before we begin our climb at midnight.
(15,239 feet/4,645 m), 5 km/3 miles (4 to 5 hours)
- Day 7: Uhuru Peak – Summit Day
The day starts at midnight with the final push to the summit. It’s a cold and grueling six-hour hike to the summit rim up a steep slope. The trail is doable but steep, with many switchbacks. The summit rim is reached just around sunrise, and it’s a fairly level hike around the rim to Uhuru Peak, the ultimate summit and highest point in Africa.
On the descent, you will head back to Barafu Hut for a short nap and snacks before continuing down to Mweka Camp (3,068 m / 10,065 feet). One of the reasons for such a long day of trekking is to avoid problems with acclimatization and to get you back down to a lower elevation quickly.
Walking Distance: 5 km/3 miles ascent + 12 km/7 miles descent (10-16 hours)(5895 m/19340 ft)
- Day 8: Mweka Campsite – Hotel in Moshi
You will enjoy an appetising breakfast before you descend to the Mweka Gate (1,300 m). The leisurely stroll provides you with beautiful scenery. A Gold Summit Certificate will be awarded upon reaching the gate, a token symbolising the successful completion of the 9-day Lemosho Route. From the tranquil Mweka Village, you will be driven back to your hotel.
(Trekking Time: 4 – 5 hours / Distance: 10km / Altitude Loss: 1300m)
- Day 9: Moshi
Today, one of our drivers will pick you up from the hotel in Moshi and transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport, from where you will catch your flight back home or to another destination – unless, of course, you’re joining us on a wildlife safari, in which case the adventure continues.
Price Includes
- All transfers
- Hotel before and after the trek
- Camping equipment
- Professional mountain guides
- Professional chefs
- Porters assistance
- All meals while on the hike
- All park fees
- Unlimited drinking water
Price Excludes
- International flight
- Tanzanian visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal gear rentals
- Lunch and dinner at the hotel
- Gratuity to the trekking crew
- Single supplement
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