Route description
The Lemosho Route is widely considered to be the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Not too long ago, there were only two main routes used to climb Kilimanjaro – the Marangu (Coca-Cola) route and the Machame (Whiskey) route. But as Tanzania’s tourism industry flourished, the Kilimanjaro park authority created more trails to Africa’s highest peak. Lemosho, a relatively new route, is preferred by reputable operators due to its beauty, remoteness, and success rate. In short, it maximizes the chances that a climber will reach the summit, and enjoy the experience overall. The Lemosho route can be done in as little as six days (five nights) on the mountain.
However, it is ideally tackled over eight days (seven nights) for a better altitude acclimatization schedule. The trek begins at Londorossi Gate, located at the western base of the mountain, within its lush, fertile rainforest. The route heads across the Shira Plateau, before circling along the southern circuit halfway around the mountain, exposing the climber to great views from all angles. The approach to the summit is made from the east, and the descent follows the Mweka trail.
Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi 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. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Meals: No meals included
Day 2: Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)
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.
- 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)
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 into 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 at 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 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
Day 6: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
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)
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 between 11 pm and 12 pm 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) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
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 of 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 Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
- Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi
- Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
Day 9: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
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 hot welcome shower.
- Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi
- Approx. time taken: 6 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
Day 10: Depart Tanzania
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some gifts shop before heading to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast included
Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania
Meals: Breakfast included
Pricing
- 1 Pax$2250 p.p
- 2-4 Pax$2150 p.p
- 5-7 Pax$2100 p.p
- 8-10 Pax$2050 p.p
- 11pax & above $ 2000 p.p
Tanzanian Residents pay 80% of rates
East Africa Citizens pay 60% of rates
Price includes:
- Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi
- 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi
- Transportation to & from the Meru gate
- Park entry fees
- Accommodation in wooden cabins on the mountain
- Camping fees
- Team Meru Rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- 4 Season mountain tents
- Double-layered Sleeping Mats
- Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook,s and porters
- 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
- Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
- Hot water for washing
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Government taxes
- Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter
- Emergency first-aid kit
Price excludes:
- Lunches, dinners, and drinks at your hotel before and after the climb
- Travel Insurance
- Flights
- Laundry (Available at the hotel)
- Personal items and toiletries
- Tips for guides, porters, and cooks (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain
Tipping on Kilimanjaro from the trekking group (not per climber):
- Guides: $20/day/guide
- Cook: $15/day
- Porter: $10/day/por
