8 Days KILIMANJARO
LEMOSHO ROUTE
"Eight days: Conquering Kilimanjaro, Lemosho route."
The Lemosho Route is one of the best routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. The route begins in the west and rather than simply intersecting Shira Plateau (like Machame), Lemosho crosses it from Shira Ridge to Shira Camp. Climbers encounter low traffic until the route joins the Machame Route. Afterwards, Lemosho follows the same route through Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu, known as the Southern Circuit.
The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although eight days is ideal. Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. The route offers a scenic view and a high summit success rate. Thus, Lemosho comes highly recommended.
Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet your driver and transfer to hotel in Moshi
Welcome to Tanzania! You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town.
You will meet the company representative and your mountain guide who give you a thorough climb briefing, answering all your questions. There will also be an equipment check. Any items that you are lacking may be rented locally of good quality at a fair rate. If your arrival is late in the day, the briefing and equipment check may happen early the next morning instead. No meals are included in your climb package for this day.
Day 1: Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)
You will be picked up at your hotel after your breakfast and transferred to the Lemosho Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our trek steadily through the forest of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree Camp where you will be spending the night.
Day 2: 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 is 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.
Day 3: 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.
Day 4: Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
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 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 in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.
Day 5: 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
Day 6: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our trek to Barafu Camp at an elevation of 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep hike 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 at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Day 7: 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 to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). Undoubtedly you will want some photos of your victory. But our stay at the summit will not be for long, lest cold and fatigue set in. 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.
Day 8: 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. We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi. Once back in Moshi, those who have earned certificates (reaching Uhuru Peak or Stella Point) will receive them and you will get the chance to say farewell to the climb staff and have the opportunity to award them tips. Overnight will be at your hotel in Moshi.
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
Breakfast at the hotel is included in your climb package. Our driver will be available to take you to Kilimanjaro Airport
at any time you need. Hotel checkout time is 10am. If you have a later flight, we can try to arrange a late checkout, or reserve a day room for you (extra charge for day room). If you have a safari planned through us, your safari guide will pick you up at the pre-arranged time. If you have planned for time in Zanzibar, we will have gone through the arrangements with you.
2024 - 2025 Prices (per person in USD)
| # of climbers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemosho 8 Days | $3926 | $2884 | $2416 | $2391 | $2366 | $2341 |
| Lemosho 7 Days | $3533 | $2575 | $2297 | $2287 | $2227 | $2167 |
• Kilimanjaro Airport pick up and drop-off per group
• 2 nights at a hotel bed & breakfast plan
• English-speaking professional guides & dedicated crew
• Transfers to and from the mountain
• All Meals as per daily itinerary
• Activities as per the itinerary
• National Park Fees and taxes
• Purified drinking water while on the mountain
• Dry bag to protect your duffel bag
• Oxygen cylinder(s) for emergency
• Portable chemical toilet
• Mountain tents plus standard sleeping mattress
• Official Summit Certificate – for those who qualify
• Personal travel insurance with medical and mountain evacuation (required)
• Tanzania entry visa
• Tips for the support team
• Sleeping bags and other personal gear
• Rental gear
• Lunch and dinner at the Moshi hotel
• Drinks and snacks
• Additional airport or gate transfers
• Extra nights at the hotels
• Expenses of a personal nature (souvenirs, etc.)