8 Days Lemosho Route

The Lemosho route is one of our preferred routes due to its low traffic, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. The Lemosho route starts off from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the lush rainforest to Shira Plateau. We recommend a minimum of 7 days to attempt this route but 8 days is preferable for better acclimatization and summit success. The Lemosho route joins the Machame route at Shira 2 Camp and then follows the same route through the southern circuit and descending at Mweka Gate.

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain in the world: 5,895 metres above sea level and about 4,900 metres above its plateau base.

• Day 1 Arrive in Tanzania

  Arusha
  You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged hotel in Arusha town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.

  Hotel: Bed & Breakfast
• Day 2: Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)

  Lemosho Glades

  You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am 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.

  Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi
  Approx. time taken: :4 hours
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 3 Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)

  Big Tree Camp
  Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.

  Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi
  Approx. time taken: 7 hours
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 4: Shira 1 Camp (3500m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)

  Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.Distance covered: 8km / 5mi
  Approx. time taken: 5 hours
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 5: Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

  Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.

  Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi
  Approx. time taken: 7 hrs
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 6: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

  Barranco Camp

  Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

  Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
  Approx. time taken: 5 hours
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 7: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

  Karanga Camp

  After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

  Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
  Approx. time taken: 3 hours
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 8: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) to Mweka Camp (3100m)

  Barafu Camp

  We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.

  Distance covered: 16.4km / 9.6mi
  Approx. time taken: 13hours – 15hours
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Day 9: Trek Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

  Mweka Camp

  A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at your arranged Hotel

  Distance covered: 9.1km / 7.5miles
  Approx. time taken: 6 hours
  Hotel: Bed & Breakfast

• Pick-up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO);
• Transfer to a hotel in Arusha and back to the airport;
• Accommodation before and after safari (double rooms, breakfast included);
• New SUV (2015-2017) Land Cruiser 4×4 with pop-up roof;
• Experienced English-speaking safari guide;
• 24/7 phone support;
• All park fees;
• All accommodation under your program;
• Three meals per day on safari;
• Bottled water and soft drinks throughout the tour;
• Thermos with hot tea/coffee;
• Medical kit;
• Binocular (1 per SUV);
• Wet wipes.

• Air tickets;
• Visa fee;
• Lunch and dinner in hotel (only before and after safari);
• Insurance;
• Tips to your safari guide ($30-50 per day per car).