Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route is known for its breathtaking scenery and lower crowds, making it one of the most rewarding paths to Africa’s highest peak. It begins on the western side of the mountain and typically takes between 7 to 10 days to complete, depending on the group’s pace.
The journey starts with a gradual ascent through lush rainforests and alpine moorlands, where trekkers can encounter diverse wildlife and take in stunning landscapes. As the trail ascends, the vegetation thins, and the air becomes more challenging to breathe, testing climbers’ endurance.
Despite the increasing difficulty, the panoramic summit views and the incredible sense of achievement make the effort worthwhile. The Lemosho route offers the perfect balance of natural beauty and physical challenge, making it a top choice for adventurers seeking to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.
General Expectations:
- Stunning Scenery & Gradual Ascent
The Lemosho Route is considered one of the most scenic trails on Kilimanjaro. You will pass through diverse landscapes, starting from dense rainforest, then moving through moorlands, alpine deserts, and finally reaching the glacial summit.
- Longer Itinerary for Better Acclimatization
This route typically takes 7 to 8 days, offering a slower and more gradual ascent, which improves acclimatization and increases summit success rates compared to shorter routes.
- Wildlife Encounters in the Rainforest
The first days of the trek take you through the lush rainforest, where you might see colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and various bird species. This is one of the few routes where wildlife sightings are common at the lower elevations.
- Challenging Yet Rewarding Trek
While the Lemosho Route is less crowded than others, it is still a challenging climb. You’ll need to hike for several hours each day, with some steep sections, especially as you approach Barranco Wall and the final summit push.
- Camping Experience
Unlike some other treks where there are huts, all nights on the Lemosho Route are spent in tents. Your trekking team will set up camp for you, and meals will be prepared by your cook.
- Crossing Famous Landmarks
- Shira Plateau: A vast high-altitude plateau with stunning views.
- Lava Tower (4,600m): A key acclimatization point where trekkers rest before descending slightly.
- Barranco Wall: A steep but fun climb that rewards you with breathtaking views.
- Uhuru Peak (5,895m): The summit and the highest point in Africa.
- Cold Temperatures at Higher Altitudes
The weather varies from warm in the rainforest to freezing temperatures at night in higher camps. Proper layered clothing is essential.
- Summit Night – The Most Difficult Part
Summit night is the most challenging part of the climb. You will start the final ascent around midnight, trekking in the dark for 6–7 hours before reaching the summit at sunrise. The thin air and steep climb make this physically demanding, but the reward of standing at Uhuru Peak is worth it.
- High Success Rate
Due to its longer itinerary and better acclimatization, the Lemosho Route has one of the highest summit success rates (around 90% for 8-day treks).
- Descent via Mweka Route
After reaching the summit, you will descend via the Mweka Route, which is a direct path down through the rainforest, offering a quicker return to the base.
Day 01.
Arrive in to Kilimanjaro or if travelling overland arrive into Moshi. This is the start date for the Kilimanjaro climb advertised above. Relax and overnight stay in hotel
Day 02 – Arusha 1400M – Londross Gate 2385M- Big Tree Camp 2700M
3hrs walking
We leave the Hotel and drive to the Londorossi Gate (2385m), which can take 3 hrs and if there has been a lot of rain the last section is on foot due to poor roads. Meet the team of porters, guides etc and upward to Big Tree Camp (2700m), 3 hours through forest.
Day 03 – Big Tree Camp 2780m – 3500m Shira Plateau 1
3hrs walking
We make our way further through the forest then out on to open heath land reaching camp at Shira Plateau 1.
Day 04 – Shira Plateau 1 3500M – Shira Plateau 2 3840M
3hrs walking
Relatively short day from Shira Plateau 1 to Shira Plateau 2 but a good day in terms of rest if you have any fitness concerns, or are new to mountaineering.
Day 05 – Shira Camp to Barranco Camp 3950M
7 hrs walking – 15 km
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp traversing the mountain over two valleys and skirting the base of the summit massif. High desert environment with amazing rock formations, quite exposed to the weather, dropping into the Barranco Valley right beneath the Western Breach. This day ascends a maximum of 700 metres but the net gain is only about 100 metres.
Day 06 – Barranco to Karanga Valley camp
5hrs walking – 6 km
Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley, starting with a scramble over the Barranco Wall and over a further two valleys to get to this open campsite with great views of the Heim Glacier. Another up and down day but no net gain in height, which is all good for acclimatisation.
Day 07 – Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp 4550m
4hrs walking – 7 km
Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp, now heading more directly upwards towards the open rock and colder temperatures. This is the average freezing level on the mountain and Barafu means ‘ice’. Camping in amongst the rocks and an early night.
-Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp 4550m
7Hrs up – 4 Hrs Down
Night-time ascent on rock and scree, occasional snow, to the crater rim and the summit. Cold temperatures with windchill. Final slope to the crater rim is steeper and has loose scree. Descend in sunlight to Barafu for early lunch, and then walk to Millennium Camp, normally arriving mid-afternoon.
4 – 6 Hrs – 13 kms
Meet Drive at the gate for transport back to the hotel, arriving normally at about 2pm. The gate is where tips are handed out and you say goodbye to the mountain staff. A hot shower and an afternoon relaxing before an overnight in the hotel
END OF THE TOUR
The climb cost includes for lemosho route:
Transfers:
- Pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport;
- Transfer to the trailhead – entry gate to Kilimanjaro National Park;
- Pick-up at the exit from Kilimanjaro National Park and transfer to the hotel;
Entry fees:
- All park fees collected by the Kilimanjaro National Park ( conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, vehicle fee, rescue fee and all other fees collected by the Tanzania National Parks Authority).
Accommodation:
- One night at 3* hotel before the expedition and one night after; The hotels have everything for your comfortable stay – caring staff, nice rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool);
- Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern, comfortable 4-Season tents North Face VE-25 or Kilimanjaro Tents).
Please note:
All accommodation is on sharing basis (i.e. you will be sharing with your travel companion a twin/double room in the hotel and a tent during the hike. If you travel alone, we will match you with a same-sex adventurer).
Meals:
- Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike;
- All meals on the hike. Our Kilimanjaro diet includes energy-rich and highly nutritious meals prepared by our professional high-altitude cooks.A typical diet on Kilimanjaro includes different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost;
- All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water).
Hiking and safety equipment:
- 4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats;
- All group equipment (spacious and comfortable dining tent, camping table and chairs, crockery and cutlery);
- Oxygen cylinders and oximeters;
- GPS-tracking service;
- Complete medical kits.
Climbing crew:
- Professional guides, licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All our guides are the holder of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certifications. All our guides have 4+years of successful mountaineering experience;
- Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.).
The climb cost excludes:
- Airline tickets;
- Visa fee;
- Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the ascent);
- Personal gear rentals;
- Mountaineering insurance.
- This tour starts and ends in Arusha
- Book your own international flights when using this operator
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost