Kilimanjaro Trek - Lemosho Route 8 days
Price for Joining Group FROM USD 1980
About the route
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%). Lemosho route is about 70km (42miles) long, from gate to gate.
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.
Route summary
- Day 1: Mti Mkubwa Campsite
- Day 2: Shira Camp 1 Campsite
- Day 3: Shira 2 Campsite
- Day 4: Barranco Campsite
- Day 5: Karanga Valley Campsite
- Day 6: Barafu Hut
- Day 7: Uhuru Peak (Summit) - Mweka Campsite (descend)
- Day 8: Mweka Campsite
- Day 9: Mweka Gate
Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania
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.
Day 2: Lodorosi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Campsite
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.
- Elevation 2380meters to 2800meters
- Distance: 6 km
- Hiking Time:3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
Day 3: Mti Mkubwa campsite to Shira Camp 1
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.
- Elevation 2800meters to 3500meters
- Distance: 8 km
- Hiking Time 5-6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Shira 1 to Shira 2 Campsite
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.
- Elevation 3500meters to 3900meters
- Distance: 7 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 5: Shira 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Campsite
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.
- Elevation 3900meters to 4600meters to 3950meters
- Distance: 12 km
- Hiking Time: 8-9 hours
- Habitat: Semi-Desert
Day 6: Barranco to Karanga Valley Campsite
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.
- Elevation 3950metters to 4002meters
- Distance: 5 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 7: Karanga Valley to Barafu Campsite
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.
- Elevation 4002meters to 4600meters
- Distance: 4 km
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 8: Barafu to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Campsite
Hiking to the summit will begin short after midnight, at around 12:30 A.M., as our path twists through heavy scree towards Stella Point at the crater rim. This part of the hike is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the ascend. Once we reach Stella Point, you will rest and refresh with warm cup of tea or coffee, accompanied by the views of the magnificent sunrise coming above Mawenzi. Going further up, you might encounter snow storm, although it is dictated by the season you are taking for the hike. The summit, Uhuru Peak – the highest point on Kilimanjaro and all of Africa, is just an hour ascend from Stella Point.
From the summit, you will start trekking down to Mweka campsite. Lunch stop will be at Barafu camp, where you can take some rest, before we continue our descend towards Mweka Campsite, which is located in the forest. Here, you will have your last dinner and overnight on the Kilimanjaro.
- Elevation 4600meters to 5895meters (and down to 3100meters)
- Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
- Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
- Habitat: Arctic
Day 9: Mweka Campsite to Mweka Gate
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.
- Elevation 3100meters to 1800meters
- Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
Price for Joining Group From USD 1980
Kilimanjaro Trek Cost:
- 1 person $2270
- 2-4 people $2140 per person
- 5-9 people $1980 per person
- 10+ people $1940 per person
Please note that we can arrange joining group climbs, group size between 5 and 9 people, and every individual pays the same price – $1,980. Option for all climbers looking for the budget climbs.
What’s included:
- Transfer to and from Kilimanjaro Airport
- Two nights’ accommodation in Moshi. {Pre and post climbing accommodation
- Park fees, Camping fees, Hut fees, rescue fees and 18% VAT on tour fees and
- Transport to and from the mountain gates before and after climb
- Certified, professional and highly Experienced mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Warm water to wash every evening at camp
- All meals on the Mountain.
- 3 freshly prepared meals daily while on the mountain
- Daily tea and coffee at camp
- Filtered water throughout the trek
- All Camping Equipment.
- 4 season sleeping tents
- Comfortable sleeping mattress
- Crew tents
- Mess tent
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Government Climbing Taxes
- Climbing permits
- Daily Briefings
- Safety Equipment:
- Emergency oxygen
- Pulse Oximeter
- First Aid kits
- Portable Stretcher
- Mobile Communications
- Hot drinks at every meal
- Free wireless internet at the hotel
What’s excluded:
- Tips for guides and porters.
- Airfare
- Mountain personal equipment but they available for hire {Mountain clothes}
- Travel insurance
- Lunch and Dinner (which is not included in the itinerary).
- Optional activities
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees