8 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Hiking

From Price

$ 2720 / PP

Duration

8 Days

Tour Type

Private Tour

Best Season

June to October

Tour Overview

The 8-Day Lemosho route is widely considered one of the most beautiful trails on Kilimanjaro, offering a perfect blend of stunning scenery, excellent acclimatization, and high success rates. Starting on the remote western side, it provides a gradual ascent through five distinct climate zones, from pristine rainforest to the arctic summit. This longer itinerary allows for a fantastic “climb high, sleep low” profile, especially with the inclusion of a night at Karanga Camp before the final push. This significantly increases your chances of reaching the summit comfortably while enjoying breathtaking, panoramic views of the Shira Plateau and the Southern Ice Fields.

Full Tour Details

Day 1: Londorossi Gate - Forest Camp

Transport: 4 hours, 80 km
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours (6 km)
Ascent: 535 m
altitude: 2895 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 3 to 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trail head). Upon arrival at trail head, we eat lunch, then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site.

Day 2: Forest Camp - Shira 1 Camp

Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours (8 km)
Ascent: 605 m
altitude: 3500 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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 3: Shira 1 Camp - Moir Hut

Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours (11 km)
Ascent: 700 m
altitude: 4200 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We leave the forest behind now and the trail gets steeper as it enters the moorland zone. A gentle grade walk takes you across the high altitude Shira Caldera to Moir Hut with fabulous views of Arrow glacier. We will camp here for the night at 4200m.

Day 4: Moir Hut - Barranco Camp Via Lava Tower

Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours (10 km)
Ascent: 400 m
Descent: 650 m
altitude: 4600 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We begin the day climbing up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower up to 4600m – a 300 ft. tall volcanic rock formation 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 acclimatization. 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 5: Barranco Camp - Karanga Camp

Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours (5 km)
Ascent: 260 m
Descent: 280 m
altitude: 4210 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A short, but fun, day starting with a scramble to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. We then traverse over scree to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. We will stay overnight at Karanga campsite. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Day 6: Karanga Camp - Barafu Camp

Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours (4 km)
Ascent: 670 m
altitude: 4700 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Day 7: Barafu Camp - Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp

Hiking time: 12 – 14 hours (17 km)
Ascent: 1295 m
Descent: 2795 m
altitude: 5895 m
Accommodation: Parkview Inn
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft.), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. 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 8: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate

Transport: Private transfer (0.5 hours, 17 km)
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours (10 km)
Descent: 1300 m
altitude: 3100 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch

On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

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Includes

Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport
Park fees, camping fees, rescue fees
18% VAT on tour fees & services
4-Season mountain tents
Camping Facilities
Sleeping Bag & Pillows
Transportation to & from the mountain gate
Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
3 meals daily while on the mountain
Filtered water throughout the trek
Fair wages for the mountain crew
Portable flush toilet can be provided for free upon client’s request.

Excludes

Flights (International)
Visa fees
Travel or medical insurance
Medication
Tips for porters and mountain crew
Personal spending money for souvenirs, etc
Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.

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