7-Day adventure
Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
Tanzania
Hiking Kilimanjaro Summits
Trip highlights
- 95% success rate with experienced guides and top-quality gear.
- Stunning route starting at Lemosho Gate and passing through Shira Plateau.
- High guide to client ratio
- 7-day itinerary with acclimatization built in for increased summit success.
- Duration: 7 or 8 days
- Difficulty: Medium
- Scenery: Good
- Traffic: Low
Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Overview
The Lemosho Route 7-Day Kilimanjaro trek offers an unforgettable journey with Hiking Kilimanjaro, your trusted specialist with over 15 years of experience and a 95% success rate. Starting at Lemosho Gate (2,360 meters), this scenic route provides a quieter and more secluded alternative to the Machame Route, ideal for adventurers seeking a more peaceful ascent.
Your journey begins on Kilimanjaro’s western side, with day one passing through lush rainforests where unique wildlife sightings are common. By day two, you’ll ascend to the breathtaking Shira Ridge, crossing the Shira Plateau to reach Shira Camp, offering panoramic views. On day three, the route joins the Machame trail, blending serene landscapes with a chance to witness the iconic Shira Cathedral.
The seven-day Lemosho Route is a fantastic choice for high-altitude trekkers aiming for Kilimanjaro’s summit with a manageable pace and acclimatization. Following your successful summit, the descent via the Mweka trail provides a fresh perspective on the mountain’s diverse terrain. Designed for optimal acclimatization, this route increases your chances of summiting Kilimanjaro comfortably and successfully in just seven days
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will meet our HK (HIKING KILIMANJARO) representative and then proceed to transfer to the hotel. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. Later or tomorrow morning, you will have a short briefing with your expert tour leader about your expedition. We will also review your equipment needed for your adventure to ensure that everything is set for your journey to Kilimanjaro.
Day 1
Arrival
- Transport: Private transfer
- Accomodation: Hotel
Day 2
Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
4WD transfer to Londorossi Park Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent along the forest trail to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite at 2895m. We will stay here overnight.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Ascent: 535 m
- Max. altitude: 2895 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3
Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
Our journey continues eastwards across the Shira Plateau with spectacular views of Shira Cathedral. We cross moorland meadow to reach Shira 1 Camp for dinner and overnight camping at 3500m. By now we will be able to see the stunning glaciers of the Western Breach. It will be colder tonight than the previous night with temperatures possibly falling below freezing.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
- Ascent: 605 m
- Max. altitude: 3500 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4
Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 to Moir Hut
We explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
- Ascent: 700 m
- Max. altitude: 4200 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5
Moir Hut to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Today we will climb up to 4600m to the base of Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization. This will be our toughest day so far and you may, for the first time, feel the altitude. After lunch we will descend again by almost 650m to Barranco Camp, following the “walk high, sleep low” golden rule of acclimatisation. Our 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.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
- Ascent: 400 m
- Descent: 650 m
- Max. altitude: 4600 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 8 - 10 hours
- Ascent: 930 m
- Descent: 280 m
- Max. altitude: 4600 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
At Stella Point (18,600 ft), 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 may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 13 - 16 hours
- Ascent: 1295 m
- Descent: 2795 m
- Max. altitude: 5895 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Hotel
Your final day on the trek, departing after breakfast, we descend a further 1300 m to the Mweka Park Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A HIKING KILIMANJARO vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka Gate to drive you back to your hotel, which will take at least 1 hour and 45 minutes
Day 1
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Descent: 1300 m
- Max. altitude: 3100 m
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch /
Day 9
Departure
After a much needed nights rest, we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you in the morning for your onward journey.
Day 1
- Transport: Private transfer
- Meals included: Breakfast
The price includes:-
- Professional, English-speaking Guide
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
- Pre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)
- Complimentary Oxygen Cylinder
- Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages Cylinder
- Meals And Drinks
- Drinking water and Full Board Meals
- Pickup and Transfer to Airport
The price Excludes:-
- International flights; available upon request
- Tips for porters and mountain crew
- Personal gear rentals; (available upon request)
- Visa fee (100 USD for American citizens and 50 USD for all others);
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks & beverages
- Travel or Medical Insurance is required and you should ask for Recommendation
- Additional lodge nights if early descent from the mountain
- Medication
