Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route (8 Days)
Overview
The Kilimanjaro 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, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate.. Most of clients climb Kilimanjaro using Lemosho route and their feedback to this route is excellent. We highly recommend Lemosho route to our clients. The climb begins at Lemosho Gate at an altitude of 2360 metres, with an approach far to the west of the mountain. It then circles around Kilimanjaro to the south, passing through majestic rainforest where some of the region’s most unique wildlife can often be seen.
Included/Exclude
- Trasport from Nairobi and back(Shuttle bus)
- 1 night of accommodation in Moshi (Bed and breakfast)
- Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
- Park entry fees,
- Camping fees
- Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
- 4 Season mountain tents
- Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
- Hot water for washing
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Government taxes
- Portable oxygen tanks(Optional-Available for hire)
- Ox meter
- Emergency first-aid kit
- Stethoscope & tent
- Mountain climbing certificates
- Drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
- Travel Insurance
- Flights
- Laundry (Available at the hotel)
- Personal items and toiletries
- Tips for guides, porters and cook
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Leave Nairobi to Moshi by shuttle bus.
Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel.We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
NB:You should be planning to arrive atleast one day before the start of the trek.
After breakfast and briefing, drive to Lemosho Park Gate (about a 3-hour drive). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge then gently downwards to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.
Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the Plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.
Elevation: 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. 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.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Very early in the morning (midnight up to 2 am), we depart to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head into 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, you will stop for a short rest and the reward will be one of the most magnificent sunrises you have ever seen in your life. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak at 5895m, you reach the top of Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the peak of Africa!
As soon as from Uhuru peak, we begin our descent by continuing straight down to Barafu Camp where we will have maximum 1 hour to rest. We will then continue the trek down to Millenium Camp at 3827m where we will camp and overnight.
Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft (Baranfu Camp) up to 5745m/18848ft (Stella Point) up to 55895/19341ft (Uhuru Peak) down to 3827m/12556ft (Millenium Camp)
Duration: 13 – 15 hours
Ascent distance: 4.86km/3mile – Altitude gained: 1233m/0.7mile
Descent distance: 11.5km/7.1mile – Altitude lost: 2789m/1.7mile
Habitat: ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
We’ll start early in the morning and trek down through the dusty path into the beautiful rainforest that will take us to Mweka Gate. The walk today will take you 5 to 6 hours. At the gate, we’ll have a picnic lunch, songs from your team and certificate presentation before driving to the hotel where you’ll have dinner and overnight.
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6.2mile
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
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