Overview
Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. It is our favorite route because it offers a great balance of low traffic, scenic views, and a high summit success rate. Thus, Lemosho comes highly recommended. Most of our clients use the Lemosho Route.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1; Moshi to Londorosi
Londorossi Gate (2375m) – Forest Camp (2895m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 6km
Habitat: Rainforest
After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel at around 8:30 am and taken to Londorossi Gate, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive is approximately one hour to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival, eat lunch and then start the 3-4 hour trek through the forest to the first camp. Your overnight stay is at Forest Camp (Mti Mkubwa Camp).
Day 2; Forest Camp to Shira Camp
Forest Camp – Shira 1 (3720m)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 8km
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, leave camp and make your way out of the forest. You will take a steep track into a savanna of tall grasses, heather (ornamental plant), and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards (tree moss). Ascend through the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau. Finally, you’ll reach the camp at the edge of the plateau where you can see a view of Kibo Peak.
Day 3; Shira 1 Camp – Fischer’s Camp
Shira 1 Camp – Fischer’s Camp (3900m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours (without optional excursions)
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, embark on a full-day exploration of the Shira Plateau. Trek east toward Kibo’s glacier peak, with the option to visit the ancient, collapsed Shira cone, the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes.
Arrive at Fischer’s Camp for the night.
Day 4; Fischer’s Camp – Barranco Camp
Fischer’s Camp – Barranco Camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 15km
Habitat: Semi-desert
After breakfast, proceed trekking upward for approximately four hours over expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower for lunch. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a valley enclosed on three sides with the massive valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers can be seen glistening above a landscape of fascinating plants.
Day 5; Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp (4673m)
Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp (4673m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5km
Habitat: Alpine desert
This is a short trekking day but has proven to be important for acclimatization. The day begins after breakfast with a scramble up the steep “Barranco Wall” and then traversing up and down the slopes of valleys which have carved their way into the mountain’s southern face. Kibo’s glaciers are above on your left while the peaks of Mawenzi jut into the sky straight ahead. Reach Karanga Camp after 3-4 hours of trekking for a hot lunch and an afternoon of relaxation.
Day 6; Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (5895m)
Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (5895m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 4km
Habitat: Alpine desert
This trekking day is difficult but important. After breakfast, you will head out on the trail that is steadily uphill. The temperature is colder and the landscape is sparse. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge that acts as a base camp for which you will make your summit attempt at midnight. Eat and drink copious amounts of water before retiring early in preparation for your midnight summit attempt.
Day 7; Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3110m)
Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3110m)
Hiking time: 8-9 hours ascent/4-6 hours descent
Distance: 5km ascent/12km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped
You will receive a midnight wake-up call and a steaming hot drink to start your 12-15 hours of trekking! The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight then -12 degrees Celsius to -23 degrees Celsius just before dawn at the summit. After about 5 hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater; Stella Point (5790m) on the crater rim is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gentle slope of about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak which climbers find to be extremely difficult but monumental to complete! After a short time at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu Camp for some rest. Afterward, summon your strength again for further descent to Mweka Camp for the night.
Day 8; Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate (1830m)
Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate (1830m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Rainforest
Your descent straight to the gate will be a 3-4-hour trek. Upon arrival, you will enjoy lunch and be awarded climbing certificates. Later, you will be met by our driver at the gate and driven to Arusha or Moshi to your hotel.
