Summary
Lemosho Route is a fresher route on Mount Kilimanjaro that approaches from the west. It is a tough and long route, but one that is preferred by most trustworthy Kilimanjaro outfitters due to its smaller crowds, scenic diversity and high victory rates. A vehicle is used to bring hikers to the gate, where the trail begins in the montane rainforest. Lemosho trekkers have a longer distance to shield in the tropical rain forest ecosystem than other routes, and as a result hikers do not exit the rainforest until the end of day two. This plan means that the Lemosho Route is a longer route, usually taking seven to eight days to complete. Though measured a difficult route, the additional days on the lower slopes of the mountain make this the best route for altitude acclimatization.
Activities
- Hiking
Places
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Physical Condition
- Sportive
Connectivity
- WiFi and phone coverage at most lodges
Day-by-day Description
Day 1Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day. Meals: Breakfast Included
Other Benefits (On Arrival)
- Transfer
Location
Moshi, Tanzania
Travel Time: 1 hrs
Day 2Moshi to Londrossi Gate
Activities Included
HikingYou 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 glades 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 Included
Day 3 Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)
Activities Included
HikingToday 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. - Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi - Approx. time taken: 7 hrs - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 4Shira 1 Camp (3500m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)
Activities Included
HikingToday 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. Distance covered: 8km / 5mi Approx. time taken: 5 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 5Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
Activities Included
HikingYour 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. - Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi - Approx. time taken: 7 hrs - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 6Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
Activities Included
HikingOur 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. - Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi - Approx. time taken: 5 hours - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Other Benefits (On Arrival)
- Transfer
Location
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Travel Time: 5 hrs
Day 7Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
Activities Included
HikingAfter 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 scree 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. - Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi - Approx. time taken: 3 hours - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 8Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
Activities Included
HikingWe 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). 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. - Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi - Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 9Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Activities Included
HikingA gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest 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 the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a hot welcome shower. - Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi - Approx. time taken: 6 hours - Meals: Breakfast & lunch included
Other Benefits (On Arrival)
- Transfer
Location
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Travel Time: 6 hrs
Offical Visa Regulations and Health Requirements
For personalized details on health and visa requirements please check the IATA travel centre here
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com