Lemosho route
With its beautiful scenery and high success rate, the Lemosho Route is the perfect choice for your Kilimanjaro Expedition, and if you are looking for a personalised experience that highlights the very best of what Mount Kilimanjaro has to offer, this is the ideal route for you.
Approaching Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, the Lemosho Route starts at the Londorossi Gate and traverses lush rainforests to Shira Ridge. From here, it connects with the Machame Route at Lava Tower, and continues to Barranco, Karanga, and Barafu Camps, commonly known as the southern circuit.
While it is possible to hike the Lemosho Route in seven days, we strongly recommend the eight-day option as it allows plenty of time for acclimatisation. The success rate on extended itineraries exceeds 95%, and the longer you spend on the mountain, the more likely you are to reach Uhuru Peak.
As with all Kilimanjaro Company Expeditions, our Lemosho Route Tour is fully-escorted by KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project) Tanzanian-climbing crew, so you can be confident your trip is safe, secure, and supportive of the local community. Pre-and-post climb accommodations and airport transfers are included, so the only extras you need to budget for are dinner/drinks at the hotel in Moshi and tips for your mountain crew. You'll find further information about this in our Kilimanjaro Essential Information Booklet below.
LEMOSHO ROUTE ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE KILIMANJARO
At Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. After hotel check-in, you will have a few hours to relax before meeting with your guide for a briefing.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)
DAY 2: MOSHI – LONDOROSSI GATE - BIG TREE CAMP
After breakfast and hotel check-out, your driver will collect you and transfer you to Londorossi Gate where you will begin your Lemosho Route Expedition. After filling up your water bottles and collecting your snack pack, you will make your way through the equatorial rainforest, rich in flora and fauna, to Big Tree Camp where you will overnight. Lunch will be served on route.
DAILY INFORMATION
Moshi to Londorossi Gate to Big Tree Camp
Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
Elevation (m): 2,375m to 2,895m
Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Overnight: Camping Big Tree Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: BIG TREE CAMP – SHIRA ONE CAMP
After breakfast today, you’ll continue your journey to Shira One Camp, crossing moorland vegetation zones and rocky ridges along the way. On a clear day, you’ll witness fantastic views of Kibo, the summit cone of Mount Kilimanjaro, as you hike the Shira Plateau to your base camp for the night. As with day one, you will enjoy lunch on route.
DAILY INFORMATION
Big Tree Camp to Shira One Camp
Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 11,500ft
Elevation (m): 2,895m to 3,505m
Distance: 8 km / 4.9 miles
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Overnight: Camping Shira One Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: SHIRA ONE CAMP – SHIRA TWO CAMP
After breakfast this morning, you will continue along the Shira Plateau to Shira Two Campsite, where you’ll get your first glimpse of the Western Breach with its dramatic glaciers. Today’s hike will take approximately 5-hours, and you will arrive at camp in the early afternoon. Shira Two Campsite is exposed to the elements, so you can expect colder temperatures tonight, often well below zero.
DAILY INFORMATION
Shira One Camp to Shira Two Camp
Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800 ft
Elevation (m): 3,505m to 4,205m
Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Overnight: Camping Shira Two Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: SHIRA TWO CAMP – BARRANCO CAMP
Today you will make your way to the impressive Lave Tower formation at 15,090ft or 4,600m above sea level, where the Lemosho Route merges with the Machame Route. From here, you will make your way down through the southern ice fields to Barranco Camp, where you will be surrounded with indigenous plants such as giant lobelias, tussock grasses, giant senecios, and helichrysums. An all-important day for acclimatization, you will ‘climb high and sleep low’ to help your body prepare for the days ahead.
DAILY INFORMATION
Shira Two Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 13,000ft
Elevation (m): 4,206m to 3,962m
Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert
Overnight: Camping Barranco Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA VALLEY CAMP
After breakfast today, it’s time to tackle the mighty Barranco Wall as you make your way to Karanga Valley Camp. It will take you approximately two hours to reach the top of the wall, and from the top you will enjoy spectacular vistas of the Shira Plateau below. From here, it’s a relatively short walk to Karanga Camp, where you will rest and recuperate for the rest of the day.
DAILY INFORMATION
Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Elevation (m): 3,962m to 3,992m
Distance: 5km / 3.1 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Overnight: Camping Karanga Valley Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: KARANGA VALLEY CAMP – BARAFU CAMP – MIDNIGHT SUMMIT ATTEMPT
After breakfast this morning, you will push for Base Camp where you will prepare for your summit attempt. The journey to Barafu Camp will take approximately 4 hours, and so you’ll have plenty of time to relax in your tent or take a short acclimatization walk with your guide. Dinner will be served early today, and afterwards, you’ll return to your tent for a few hour’s sleep. At midnight, you will depart for Uhuru Peak.
DAILY INFORMATION
Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Elevation (m): 3,992m to 4,663m
Distance: 4 km / 2.4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Overnight: Camping Barafu Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8: BARAFU CAMP – UHURU PEAK SUMMIT – MWEKA CAMP
Summit day has finally arrived, and after a warm drink at Barafu base camp, you will begin the final part of your journey to Uhuru Peak at 19,340ft or 5,895m above sea level – the highest peak in Africa. It will be a long, cold night, and your endurance will be pushed to the max, but success is just 6 – 7 hours away. As soon as the sun begins to rise over Mother Africa, you’ll end goal will be in sight, with the Stella Point sign welcoming you. After a brief break at Stella Point, you’ll continue along the final stretch to Uhuru Peak where you can take those all-important photo’s before descending back to Barafu Camp for lunch. After lunch, you’ll descend along the Mweka Route to Mweka Camp for your final night on the mountain.
DAILY INFORMATION
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Elevation (m): 4.663m to 5,895m (and down to 3,048m)
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles ascent / 12 km / 7.4 miles descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Habitat: Arctic
Overnight: Camping Mweka Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9: MWEKA CAMP - MOSHI
After a final mountainside breakfast, you’ll descend to Mweka Gate where you’ll receive your certificate and spend some quality team with your mountain crew. This is the perfect time to give them their tips. Afterwards, you will transfer to your hotel in Moshi for a welcome hot shower and a celebratory Kilimanjaro Beer!
DAILY INFORMATION
Mweka Camp to Moshi
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Elevation (m): 3,048m to 1,645m
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
At the agreed time, your driver will collect you and transfer you to the airport for your return flight home, or you will connect with your beach or safari extension.
Meals Included: Breakfast
From £2550.00 per person sharing
