The Lemosho route is one of our favorites because of its low traffic, stunning scenery, and high summit success rate. The Lemosho route begins in the west, with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. The first two days are spent trekking through the lush rainforest to Shira Plateau from there. We recommend attempting this route for at least 7 days, but 8 days is preferable for better acclimatization and summit success. The Lemosho route connects with the Machame route at Shira 2 Camp before following the same path through the southern circuit and descending at Mweka Gate.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Hotel: Bed & Breakfast
You will be picked up from your hotel around 8:00 a.m. and transferred to the Lemosho gate on Kilimanjaro’s western side. After completing the registration process, you will begin your steady ascent through the forests of the Lemosho glades to Big Tree camp, where you will spend the night.
Distance covered: 7km / 4.3km
Approx. time taken: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp, where there are frequent views of Kibo Peak floating in the clouds, on our way to Shira 2. As we approach Shira 1, we gain some altitude, and parts of the route are quite steep. As you progress towards Shira 2, you will have the opportunity to see the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain, as well as some unusual Kibo views. Our steady ascent across the Shira Plateau’s moorland will aid in acclimatization, and we will enjoy spectacular panoramic views.
Distance covered: 16.5km / 10.3mi
Approx. time taken: 9-11 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
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 Lava Tower’s distinct pinnacle (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. We make a steep descent to our overnight camp at the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), which is sheltered by towering cliffs but has expansive views of the plains below.
Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Our day begins with a descent into the Great Barranco, a massive ravine. We then climb the Great Barranco Wall, which separates us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a rock climb that’s not technically difficult but is long and exhausting. We head towards the Karanga valley, passing beneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers. We have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, which is located at 3963m. For those who are feeling up to it, we will go on an acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before returning to camp for the night.
Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
After a good night’s sleep and breakfast, we set out for the 4640m Barafu camp. The ascent will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation in sight. The altitude makes the steep walk even more difficult. We eat and rest in the afternoon after arriving at camp, preparing for a long night and day ahead. It is critical to stay hydrated and warm. We eat early and then try to sleep because we will be getting up between 11pm and 12pm to begin the climb to the summit.
Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
We start around midnight and hike steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We’ll be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours, but we’ll gain incredible height in a short amount of time. The views are breathtaking. As the sun rises, we should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m). The crater’s spectacular ice cliffs surround us, and the views to the jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour of walking brings us to Uhuru Peak (5895m). We start our descent by returning to Stella Point, then descending on scree slopes and tracks back to Barafu Camp for breakfast before heading down to Mweka Camp for a well-deserved rest.
Distance covered: 16.4km / 9.6mi
Approx. time taken: 13hours – 15hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
A gentle hike takes us through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates to proudly display! We are then met by our vehicles and driven back to the hotel in Moshi, where you can enjoy a welcome shower before celebrating with cold drinks. Stay the night at your pre-arranged hotel.
Distance covered: 9.1km / 7.5miles
Approx. time taken: 3 hours
Hotel: Bed & Breakfast
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 souvenirs before heading to the airport.
On Kilimanjaro, temperatures can easily range from the high 20s (centigrade) during the day to -15c at night. To deal with such a wide temperature range, your clothing and equipment strategy should be based on combining many thin layers that you build up and take off as the weather dictates. Kilimanjaro National Park has a strict 15kg per porter limit for your main equipment bag, which includes your sleeping bag. This will be more than enough for your needs on the mountain. Before you leave the hotel to begin the climb, your bag will be weighed, and if it is overweight, you will be required to remove items and leave them at the hotel.
Head and Hands:
Upper body:
Lower body:
Other items:
Paper Work
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