Climbers on the Lemosho Route, Mount Kilimanjaro

9 Days (7 on the mountain)Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 7 Days

Duration: 9 Days (7 on the mountain)
Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Tour type: Mountain Climbing
Starts: Kilimanjaro International Airport (Day 1)
Ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport (Day 9)

THE JOURNEY

Overview

The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, it offers an ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. The climb begins on the far western side of the mountain and circles around Kilimanjaro to the south, passing through majestic rainforest where some of the region’s most unique wildlife can often be seen. The route continues up to the mountain’s third summit at Shira Ridge. Why choose this route - Exceptional Scenery: Considered the most picturesque route, Lemosho showcases panoramic views from the western slopes of Kilimanjaro. - Excellent Acclimatization: Its longer itinerary ensures gradual altitude gain, providing one of the highest summit success rates. - Wild and Quiet Start: Beginning on the remote western side, you’ll enjoy pristine trails before merging with the busier Machame route.

ROUTE MAP

Your journey at a glance

A day-by-day route drawn directly from this itinerary.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

1
Day 1
Arrive in Tanzania
2
Day 2
Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)
3
Day 3
Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)
4
Day 4
Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
5
Day 5
Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
6
Day 6
Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
7
Day 7
Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
8
Day 8
Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
9
Day 9
Depart Tanzania

DAY BY DAY

Expedition journey

Day 1

Arrive 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: No Meals Included
Accommodation: Park View Inn (or similar), Moshi

Day 2

Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)

You 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 start your 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
Accommodation: Big Tree Camp

Day 3

Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)

Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as we head towards our destination which is Shira 2. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude as we head towards Shira 1 and parts of the route are fairly steep. As you proceed towards Shira 2 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. - Distance covered: 16.5km / 10.3mi - Approx. time taken: 9 - 11 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

Day 4

Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

Your 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 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Day 5

Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our 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
Accommodation: Karanga Camp

Day 6

Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After 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
Accommodation: Barafu Camp

Day 7

Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)

Wake before dawn to start your summit approach. You'll reach Uhuru Peak in the early afternoon, when few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier. Crater camp is not a route in it's own right but a challenging extension which in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers. - Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi - Approx. time taken: 5-6 hours & 1-2hours to Crater.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Millennium Camp

Day 8

Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A 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
Accommodation: Park View Inn (or similar), Moshi

Day 9

Depart Tanzania

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport. \*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.

Meals: Breakfast Included

PLAN YOUR SAFARI

Rates per person

USD · Per person · Prices depend on travel dates and group size

Route	1 person	2-4 people	5-7 people	8-10 people	11+ people
7 Days Lemosho Route	$2,875	$2,425	$2,350	$2,075	$1,900

Rates are per person and exclude international flights.
Prices include two nights in Moshi, one before and one after the climb.

TRIP DETAILS

Inclusions & exclusions

Included

2 nights at Park View Inn (or similar) in Moshi on a bed-and-breakfast basis (1 night before and 1 night after the trek)
Airport pick-up on arrival and drop-off on departure
Transportation to and from the Kilimanjaro park gate
Kilimanjaro Park entrance fees
Camping or hut accommodation fees
Crater fees (if applicable)
Kilimanjaro rescue team fees
High-quality 4-season tents
Double-thickness (10 cm) foam mattresses
Professional, experienced, and friendly guides, cooks, and porters
Three freshly prepared meals per day during the trek
Filtered and treated drinking water throughout the climb
Hot water for washing
Fair wages for the mountain crew according to KINAPA and KIATO regulations
All government taxes
Portable oxygen cylinders for emergency use
English- or French-speaking certified mountain guide
Oximeter, first aid supplies, and stethoscope
Private portable toilet with a tent (1 toilet for groups of 1–5 climbers, 2 toilets for groups of 6–10 climbers)
Mountain communication radio
Official Kilimanjaro summit certificate

Not Included

Meals and drinks at the hotel (before and after the trek)
Travel insurance
Shower tent (available at an additional cost) -USD 450 for 1 person, USD 300 per person for groups of 2 or more
International and local flights
Laundry services at the hotel
Personal gear, items, and toiletries
Tips for your guides, cooks and porters (suggested: guide USD 20–25, cook USD 15–20, porter USD 10–15 per day)