TREK OVERVIEW
The Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west. You will begin with a drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. Once you are here, you will spend your first two days trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge. Lemosho is considered to be the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro. It is our favorite one because it offers a perfect balance between low traffic, scenic views, and a higher summit success (around 80%). The Lemosho route is about 70km (42 miles) long, from gate to gate.
Unlike the highly popular Machame route, which simply brushes the Shira Plateau, the Lemosho route goes across the entire plateau, from West to East in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. The route takes more days to climb, so it offers great acclimatization opportunities.
TREK HIGHLIGHTS
Trek Duration
8 Days, 7 Nights
Traffic
High
Difficulty
Medium
Scenery
Excellent
Trekking Itinerary
Day 1: Lemosho Glades - Big Tree Camp
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00 am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process, you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp, where you will be spending the night.
- Elevation 2380meters to 2780meters
- Distance: 6 km
- Hiking Time:3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
Day 2: Big Tree Camp - Shira 1 Camp
Our trekking continues after breakfast, following the trail leading out of the forest and into the heather zone. The land here looks like a savanna grassland with an amazing view of heather bushes growing next to each other to resist the cold weather, making the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. The trek gets steeper as we approach the Shira ridge before descending to Shira 1 camp. A magnificent view of Kibo across the Shira plateau will blow your mind.
- Elevation 2800meters to 3500meters
- Distance: 8 km
- Hiking Time 5-6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 3: Shira 1 - Shira 2 Campsite
Our route continues toward Shira 2 campsite after breakfast. We will use this day to explore the Shira plateau, a great exercise to help your acclimatization, as we take an easy walk facing Kibo from the east across the plateau, toward Shira 2 campsite. Hot lunch will be served once we reach the camp. You will have another acclimatization walk later in the afternoon to prepare you for the summit attempt.
- Elevation 3500meters to 3900meters
- Distance: 7 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Shira 2 - Lava Tower - Barranco Campsite
Today’s trek to Barranco campsite starts after breakfast, and our path will be towered by Lava Tower (4600meters), which is also called the Shark’s tooth. Your lunch will be served at the Lava Tower, as you’ll spend some time at this altitude to get used to it. Then we’ll head to Barranco camp, nestled at 3950m, and here you will have dinner and spend the night. Despite the fact that this day will end at the same elevation at which it begins, it is very important for acclimatization of your body for summit day.
- Elevation 3900meters to 4600meters to 3950meters
- Distance: 12 km
- Hiking Time: 8-9 hours
- Habitat: Semi-Desert
Day 5: Barranco - Karanga Valley Campsite
Breakfast will be served before you head out from Barranco towards a steep ridge that follows the base of Barranco Wall towards Karanga Valley campsite. Once you get to Karanga, you will have a hot lunch, and later on an acclimatization walk. Dinner will be served at the Karanga campsite before you rest for the night.
- Elevation 3950metters to 4002meters
- Distance: 5 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6: Karanga Camp - Barafu Camp
Today’s trek to Barranco campsite starts after breakfast, and our path will be towered by Lava Tower (4600meters), which is also called the Shark’s tooth. Your lunch will be served at the Lava Tower, as you’ll spend some time at this altitude to get used to it. Then we’ll head to Barranco camp, nestled at 3950m, and here you will have dinner and spend the night. Despite the fact that this day will end at the same elevation at which it begins, it is very important for acclimatization of your body for summit day.
- Elevation 4002meters to 4600meters
- Distance: 4 km
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 7: Barafu hut - Uhuru Peak - Mweka campsite
You will wake up at around 11:30 P.M. for a hot cup of tea or coffee, and then get ready for your hike to the summit, which will begin at around 12:30 P.M. The temperature at around this time is below freezing. The trail you will take twists upwards through heavy scree towards Gilman’s Point. Once we reach Gilman’s point, a hot cup of tea or coffee will be served to warm you up, accompanied by a breathtaking view of the sunrise over Mawenzi.
The hike to Uhuru Peak continues for another 1.5 hours, over a gentle slope around the edge of the crater rim. Uhuru Peak is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa. Once at the top, you will spend a short time enjoying the view and photographing your success, before we begin the steep hike back to Kibo hut for lunch and some rest. Our descent continues to Horombo Hut for dinner and a good night’s rest.
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Mweka Campsite - Mweka Gate
Breakfast will be served before we begin hiking down to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive summit certificates. Path in the lower elevations can be rather wet and muddy, so the gaiters and trekking poles might come handy. There will be a vehicle waiting at the gate to take you back to your accommodation in Moshi.
- Elevation 3100meters to 1800meters
- Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
Enquiry and Cost Coverage
Total Cost Covers;
- Airport Transfers (upon Arrival and Departure)
- All Entrance fees and Government taxes
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Fair wages for the mountain crew.
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Rescue Fees and all taxes.
- Salaries for Porters, Cook, and Guides
- Oxygen Tanks, Pulse Oximeter, and First Aid Kit
- Transfers from the Hotel to the Kilimanjaro entrance gate and from the Kilimanjaro exit gate to the hotel.
Total Cost does not Cover;
- Passport, Visa, and Travelers Insurance
- International and local airfare.
- Yellow fever vaccinations
- Local transportation before and after the climb.
- Tips for the support team
- Personal expenses eg. Laundry, beverages, etc.
- Private Toilet and hot shower tent
- Bed, Sleeping Bag, and walking Poles.