About This Route
The Lemosho route is one of our preferred routes due to its low traffic, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. The Lemosho route starts off from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the lush rainforest to Shira Plateau. For normal hiking we recommend a minimum of 7 days to attempt this route but 8 days is preferable for better acclimatization and summit success. While if you include crater camp, we recommend 8days minimum and 9days for better acclimatization. Also overnight at crater is charged in extra to cover an extra entrance fees.
| DAY 0: ARRIVE AT THE KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT |
| Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be met at the airport and be transferred to the hotel in Moshi for overnight. |
| Meal Plan: Breakfast |
| DAY 1: LEMOSHO GATE (2385M) TO BIG TREE CAMP (2780M) |
| You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho gate to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night. Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi Approx. time taken: 4 hours |
| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| DAY 2: BIG TREE CAMP (2780M) TO SHIRA 1 CAMP (3500M) |
| Big Tree Camp
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 are 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. |
| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| DAY 3: SHIRA 1CAMP (3500M) TO SHIRA 2 CAMP (3900M) |
| Shira Camp 2
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. |
| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. |
| DAY 4: SHIRA 2 CAMP (3900M) TO BARRANCO CAMP (3960M) |
| Barranco Camp
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. |
| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP (3960M) TO KARANGA CAMP (3963M) |
| Karanga Camp
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. |
| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. |
| DAY 6: KARANGA CAMP (3963) TO BARAFU CAMP (4640M) |
| Barafu Camp
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate screed slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk 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. |
| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| DAY 7: BARAFU CAMP (4640M) TO UHURU PEAK (5895M) TO CRATER CAMP (5,790M) |
| Crater Camp
Wake before dawn to start your summit approach. You'll reach Uhuru Peak in the early afternoon, when few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier. Crater camp is not a route in its own right but a challenging extension which in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers. |
| Meals: Breakfast & Lunch |
| DAY 8: CRATER CAMP (5,790M) TO UHURU PEAK (5895M) TO MILLENNIUM CAMP (3790M) |
| Millennium Camp
In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest. |
| Meals: Breakfast & Lunch |
| DAY 9: MILLENNIUM CAMP (3790M) TO MWEKA GATE (1630M) |
| Mweka Gate
Today you walk down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to your arranged hotel in Moshi. |
| DAY OF DEPARTURE: TRANSFER TO THE KILIMANJARO AIRPORT. |