Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Lemosho Route. Lemosho Route is an unspoilt, remote, little used and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. It can either be used to gain the Western Breach route or followed by the Kibo South Circuit to ascend by the easier Barafu Route. The route is one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other big game animals.

LEMOSHO 8 DAY CLIMB 2025

8-day private camping trekking tour + 2 nights’ hotel stay

The Lemosho route is traditionally one of the quieter and lesser-known routes on the mountain. It’s also the newest and probably the most diverse in terms of the ecological systems and landscapes it passes through. The first two days of this route take you through lush rainforest before you emerge into heath and moorland then join the Machame Route on the third day. This narrow trail, which begins on the Western side of Kilimanjaro, has some very steep and undulating sections. Hikers overnight in tents.

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Lemosho Route

LEMOSHO ROUTE

We offer a seven day and an eight day climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro using the Lemosho route. Both offer good acclimatization and wonderful views enroute. This route has a beautiful approach through the forest on the first day through the Lemosho Glades from the west before joining the Machame trail at the Shira Plateau and contouring around the dramatic southern flank of the mountain via Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp and then on to Barafu camp for the summit push. The descent is via Millennium Camp and through Mweka Gate.

The Lemosho Route is a camping trip for an average group size of 4 using top quality mountain tents, comfortable mattresses, and qualified guides, porters who carry the bags and equipment, and cooks who provide fresh, tasty food every day. The ratio of guide: climber is 1:2. Our local guides have been with us for many years and are all trained, qualified, experienced and great fun.

The 8-day option has a particularly good summit success rate, the extra day makes a difference to how you feel and there are three nights sleeping at the same altitude. The 7-day option is about an 85% summit success rate, and we don’t offer anything less because it is just too dangerous to consider climbing Kilimanjaro in 6 days.

We provide an experienced personal service throughout, and you can chat with us in the office about the climb.

Lemosho was introduced by the park to handle increasing numbers of visitors and it is true to say that Lemosho has a slightly easier gradient through the forest and onto the Shira plateau. However, the gate at Londorossi is further away than Machame Gate so on the first morning you have to drive for about three hours to register at the Londorossi Gate and then drive a little further on to the start of the trek. This means normally beginning to trek after lunch, although the first hike to Big Tree Camp is quite short at just a few hours.

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Lemosho Route – Climbing The 8 Days Lemosho Route On Kilimanjaro

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Overview

Climbing The 8 Days Lemosho Route On Kilimanjaro 2024

LEMOSHO ROUTE

We offer a seven day and an eight day climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro using the Lemosho route. Both offer good acclimatisation and wonderful views enroute. This route has a beautiful approach through the forest on the first day through the Lemosho Glades from the west before joining the Machame trail at the Shira Plateau and contouring around the dramatic southern flank of the mountain via Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp and then on to Barafu camp for the summit push. The descent is via Millennium Camp and through Mweka Gate.

The Lemosho Route is a camping trip for an average group size of 4 using top quality mountain tents, comfortable mattresses, and qualified guides, porters who carry the bags and equipment, and cooks who provide fresh, tasty food every day. The ratio of guide:climber is 1:2. Our local guides have been with us for many years and are all trained, qualified, experienced and great fun.

The 8 day option has a particularly good summit success rate, the extra day makes a difference to how you feel and there are three nights sleeping at the same altitude. The 7 day option is about an 85% summit success rate and we don’t offer anything less because it is just too dangerous to consider climbing Kilimanjaro in 6 days.

We provide an experienced personal service throughout, and you can chat with us in the office about the climb. Gavin has been guiding the mountain since 1994 and makes several ascents a year, and we have been using the same team of guides and cooks since 2001.

LEMOSHO ROUTE ITINERARY

Day 1 is the arrival in Tanzania as advertised on the booking page (or your custom dates)
Day 2 is for resting, hydrating and briefing, with time to pick up rental items and buy any snacks in town.
Days 3 to 9 is the climb period (arriving back in hotel by mid afternoon). If we break these seven days down:
3. Moshi to Londorossi Gate and hike to Big Tree Camp
4. Big tree Camp to Shira Camp (normally the second higher one)
5. Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
6. Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
7. Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp
8. Baradu Camp to Uhuru Peak and descend via Barafu down to Millennium Camp or Mweka Camp
9. Descend to Mweka Gate and transfer back to hotel.

Day 1 :

Arrival - Moshi

On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, met and assisted. Transfer to Keys Annex Hotel in Moshi for an overnight rest on bed and breakfast in readiness for the next day's hit to Kilimanjaro.

Day 2 :

Londorossi Gate (2100m) - Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m)Hiking time: 3 hours | Habitat: Montane forest

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can also buy mineral water in the village. From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2100m, 11km, 45 minutes). You will have a lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite, (2750m, 3 hours). Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have your tent set up on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite, B,L,D.

Day 3 :

Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m) - Shira 2 camp (3840m)Hiking time: 6.5 hours | Habitat: Moorland

You rise early at Mti Mkubwa camp and, after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed. A gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira 2-camp on moorland meadows next to a stream (3840m). By now you will be able to see, in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing. Enjoy dinner and overnight, B,L,D.

Day 4 :

Shira (3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco camp (3950m)Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Semi desert

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner, B,L,D.

Day 5 :

Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m)Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 13 km's | Habitat: Alpine desert

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep, B,L,D.

Day 6 :

Day 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Barafu camp (4550m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7/8 hours to descend to Mweka | Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent | Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your live. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared as well as drinking water, B,L,D

Day 7 :

Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m)Hiking time: 3 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Forest

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight in Keys Annex Hotel, B,L.

Day 8 :

Depart

Departure Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home or continue with your safari schedule. End of services. B Tour Price: US$ 1,510 per person sharing.

Climbing The 8 Days Lemosho Route On Kilimanjaro

LEMOSHO 8 DAY CLIMB 2025

LEMOSHO ROUTE

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Overview

Climbing The 8 Days Lemosho Route On Kilimanjaro 2024

LEMOSHO ROUTE

LEMOSHO ROUTE ITINERARY

Itinerary

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