Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route offers panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro's various sides and is regarded as the mountain's most scenic and least traveled route. This route is the most top choice because it strikes a perfect balance between little traffic, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate.
Day 1: Londrossi Gate – Mti Mkubwa Camp
Elevation: 2389m – 2785m
Vegetation: Mountain Forest
After breakfast in Moshi, we travel for around two hours across rural countryside to the Londrossi Gate. For the necessary park registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate 2389m), we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. We start our ascent along the forest trail we camp at Lemosho Mti Mkubwa Camp (2785m)
Londrossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp; 3 to 4 hours of walking.
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp – Shira One Camp
Elevation: 2785m – 3895m
Vegetation: Moorland
After a sound sleep and a filling breakfast, we depart the forest and hike slowly upward with expansive views until we reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. a full day of steady, slow-moving hiking up to Shira One Camp (3895m). Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira One camp; 6 – 7 hours walking
Day 3: Shira One Camp – Shira Hut
We spend the entire day exploring the Shira plateau. Shira 2 camp (3895m) is located on moorland meadows near a stream and is reached after a leisurely stroll east toward Kibo's glaciated peak over the plateau. We next proceed to Moir Hut, a remote location at the foot of Lent Hills. Lent Hills offers a wide range of treks, making this a fantastic chance to acclimate. One of the highest plateaus on earth is Shira.
Day 4: Shira Hut – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
Elevation: 3895m – 3504m
Vegetation: Moorland
This day is crucial for acclimatization even though you conclude it at a similar elevation to where you started. After leaving the Shira Plateau, we head east along a ridge, passing the turnoff for the Kibo summit, before heading south-east toward the "Shark's Tooth" lava tower (4650m). We reach a second intersection, which goes to the Arrow Glacier, not far from the tower. We then keep down to Barranco Camp (3986m) for the night. Barranco Valley to Shira Camp: (5-7 hours walking)
Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp
Elevation: 3900m – 3995m
Vegetation: Semi desert
A steep climb up the eastern wall leads us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some amazing views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo, the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally, we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.
Barranco Camp to Karanga camp: (4-5 hours walking).
Day 6: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp
Elevation: 3995m – 4600m
Vegetation: Alpine Desert
We follow an easy path on compacted scree with expansive views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach Barafu Hut (4600m) for lunch. There is a short acclimatization hike to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (4785m). The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent. 3-5 hours walking
Day 7: Barafu Camp – Summit – Mweka Camp
Elevetion: 5895m peak, descend to 3100m
Vegetation: Stones scree and iced summit
Start our ascent by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5685), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can continue from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5895m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite, Mweka Camp (3100m). (12-15 hours walking)
Day 8: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate
Elevation: 3100m – 1980m
Vegetation: Mountain Forest
After having breakfast, we descend steadily on a well-built trail. Through a wonderful tropical forest alive with bird song and boasting rich undergrowth with significant botanical interest. We descend to the Mweka (1980m) entrance to the Kilimanjaro National Park before continuing via coffee and banana plantations to the villages of Mweka, from where we are transported to our accommodation in Moshi where you will spend the night before departure.
Depending on your flight schedule and departure point you will be transferred to the Airport for your journey home, safari, or a relaxing trip to Zanzibar Beach.
The following is included in the Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking - Lemosho Route - 8 Days:
- Hotel accommodations for the night before and after the hike (double occupancy)
- All entrance fees, hut fees, climbing permits, and government taxes associated with Kilimanjaro National Park;
- Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid)
- Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
- Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters, and cook
- Salaries for the mountain crew
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Porter to carry your duffel bag (max weight 15kg / 32 lbs)
- Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt
Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking – Lemosho Route – 8 Days Excludes:
- Flights and airport taxes
- Items of a personal nature
- Compulsory tips for guides, porters, and cook
- Highly recommended travel and medical insurance.
- Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania
- Snacks, personal medicine, and water purifying tablets