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%).
Unlike the highly popular Machame route which simply brushes the Shira Plateau, Lemosho route goes across the entire plateau, from West to the East in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. The route takes more days to climb, so it offers great acclimatization opportunities. Lemosho route is about 70km (42miles) long, from gate to gate. With crater camp included, we recommend a minimum of 8 – 9 days for a better acclimatization opportunity. Spending a night at the crater will require extra charges because it will also require extra entrance fees.
Transport will be provided from the Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodation in Moshi. You’ll have some rest before meeting your guides, who will brief you about the climb and Mt. Kilimanjaro, followed by equipment check to ensure that all you have all the essentials. If some of your equipment is missing or is in a bad shape, you can rent from us. You’ll have dinner and spend the night here in preparation for the adventure awaiting you.
You will depart your accommodation in Moshi around 8:00 A.M. and drive about 4 hours to Lodorosi gate. After finishing sign in formalities, we’ll drive for about an hour back to the starting point. Lunch boxes and water will be provided before we start the steep hike toward Mti Mkubwa campsite.
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 amazing view of heather bushes growing next to each other to resist the cold weather, making the perfect spot for picnic lunch. The trek gets steeper as we approach the Shira ridge before descend to Shira 1 camp. Magnificent view of Kibo across the Shira plateau will blow your mind.
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 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.
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, nested 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.
Breakfast will be served before you head out from Barranco towards a steep ridge that follows the base of Barranco Wall toward Karanga Valley campsite. Once you get to Karanga, you will have a hot lunch, and later on acclimatization walk. Dinner will be served at the Karanga campsite before your rest for the night.
You will continue trekking to Barafu, from which the view of the summit tends to be different as you shift angles. Once we reach the campsite, you can get the excellent view of the summit, but also enjoy the sight of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Dinner will be served early, and you should rest and prepare for the final ascend.
We will attempt the ascend to the summit in morning. This is the most challenging part of the whole trek, both physically and mentally. We will climb for several hours at a slow and steady pace while taking frequent but short breaks. The trail winds into a heavy scree as we make the steep climb to the crater rim. At Stella Point (18,900ft), you will be able to see signs of the summit from a far. Our hike continues around the crater rim until we reach Uhuru Peak – the highest point on Mt. Kilimanjaro and Africa.
Our descend begins with a short distance walk to Crater camp, so that rest of the crew can join us to set up the camp. Here you will have the option to hike Reutsch Crater and the Ash Pit, or just explore the area surrounding the Furtwangler Glacier. It is not recommended sleeping in high altitude, because the danger of development serious AMS is high, if adequate altitude acclimatization has not been reached, which is why the guides will keep an eye on you.
From crater camp, our descend leads towards Mweka Hut Campsite, with the break at Barafu camp for lunch. This path is very rocky and can be hard on your rather knees, so the trekking poles could be very handy. Mweka Camp is nested at the upper forest, so the mist or rain are quite common in the late afternoon. During the evening, you will be served your last dinner on the mountain, and you should get some well-deserved rest.
Breakfast will be served before we begin hiking down to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive summit certificates. Path on 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.
| Number of People | Price |
| 1 | $2,910 |
| 2-4 | $2,760 |
| 5-9 | $2,700 |
| 10+ | $2,650 |
