Overview
Featuring captivating scenic vistas, pristine wildlife, excellent acclimatization opportunities and low traffic of climbers, Lemosho is one of the best kilimanjaro routes. Besides it is our personal favorite one for reaching the roof of Africa.
After a 3-hour long drive from Moshi to Lemosho Gate you'll find yourself on the western slope of Mt Kilimanjaro, from there the route will take you to the world-famous Shira Plateau. That's where you'll embark on your adventure through all climate zones - from alpine meadows to eternal ice. The climb is smooth and gradual. Lemosho route success rate is the highest among all the routes of Kilimanjaro.
Six, seven and eight-day programs are available, so you can choose depending on the amount of time at your disposal. Longer programs are always recommended over the shorter ones for better acclimatization.
Arrive in Tanzania
Meal:Breakfast and dinner included
Pickup at Kilimanjaro international airport and transfer to your hotel in Moshi town, thereafter our experienced guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Then dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 1 - Lemosho Gates (2100 m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2650m)
Distance covered: 7 km
Approximate time taken: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Your day starts early with breakfast from the hotel, followed by a 2-hour drive from the hotel (910m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment at the park's gate and registration. You will start trekking through the rainforest until completes this day by entering our first camp where your tent is setup with your personal belongings inside. Overnight at Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m).
Day 2 - Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650m) - Shira II Camp (3900m)
Distance covered: 17 km
Approximate time taken: 8-10 hours
Habitat: Heath and Moorland
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Today is a long day because we will skip Shira I Camp and go directly to Shira II Camp. Around 7:00 am you will start to hike from Mti Mkubwa to the second camp through heath and Moorland zone, following the Shira ridge we enter vast high-altitude desert plateau where we get the first clear view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Overnight at Shira II Camp (3900 m).
Day 3 - Shira II Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3900 m)
Distance covered: 10 km
Approximate time taken: 6 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The moorlands soon come to an end. The trek will take us into the alpine desert up to lava tower (4600m) before descending to Baranco Camp (3900m). This descent to Barranco Camp takes about 3 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photos of the Western Breach and Barranco wall. The campsite is situated in a valley below the Barranco wall which should provide you a memorable sunset while waiting for dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp (3900m)
Day 4 - : Barranco Camp (3900m) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
Distance covered: 10 km
Approximate time taken: 7 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
This is another favorite day whereby after breakfast you will leave the campsite, walk up the Baranco wall (4200 m) that ends up at the fort of the Hein glacier. It will take you 4 hours to reach at Karanga Camp (4000m) for hot lunch. After lunch you will head to Barafu camp which will take us 3 hours. Dinner will be early and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up around midnight to start climbing to the summit.
Day 5 - Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) then down to Mweka Camp (3100m)
Distance covered: 20 km
Approximate time taken: 14 hours
Habitat: Glacier/Moorland/Rainforest
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
We will wake up very early, at around 00:00, some light tea with cookies will be ready for you. We will climb scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The view is spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella point (5756 m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Then it will take us 1-hour from Stella point to Uhuru peak (5895 m) were you take some photos for a few minutes before we start descending to Barafu Camp for lunch and some rest, and then walk down to Mweka Camp (3100 m) for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 - Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Distance covered: 10 km
Approximate time taken: 3 hours
Habitat:Rainforest
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Walk down the Mweka montane forest to Mweka Gate for 3 hours, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride. The vehicle will be ready to drive you back to the hotel for a warm shower at Moshi. It’s definitely time to celebrate!
Then - Depart Tanzania/ other destination in Tanzania.
Later in the evening or the next day you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your home-bound flight. Also, Habari Adventure can organize an affordable cultural tour or safaris trip to one of the best wildlife parks in Tanzania such as Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti National Park.