Climb Kilimanjaro via Lemosho Route

7-8 days + 2 nights hotel | From $2,085

The Lemosho route, starting in the west, travels through lush forests and high moorlands of Mount Kilimanjaro. Known for its scenic beauty and high summit success rates, it offers a good acclimatization profile.

What you can expect on the Lemosho Route

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About Lemosho Route

Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. It offers a great balance of lesser traffic, scenic views and a high summit success rate. It is highly recommended for those looking for a leisurely climb with a great acclimatization profile. On average you can expect to hike for 6-8 hours per day, covering a distance of about 8-15 kilometers. The maximum daily vertical gain in a day is about 1,200 meters, with an average being 500-600 meters per day.

Lemosho Route Itinerary

The itinerary below describes the 7 nights/8 day Kilimanjaro climb via the Lemosho route. To shorten the below itinerary to 7 days you combine days five and six, going from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp without staying at Karanga. A nine day variation that includes an overnight at Crater Camp is available as a private climb by special request.

Day 0

Arrival in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.

Day 1

LONDOROSI GATE – MTI MKUBWA CAMP

You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho route at Londorosi gate which is located at western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.

Day 2

MTI MKUBWA – SHIRA ONE

Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.

Day 2

MTI MKUBWA – SHIRA ONE

Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.

Day 3

SHIRA CAMP ONE – SHIRA CAMP TWO

Today 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. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 4

SHIRA CAMP TWO – LAVA TOWER – BARANCO

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into 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.

Day 5

BARANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

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.

Day 4

SHIRA CAMP TWO – LAVA TOWER – BARANCO

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into 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.

Day 5

BARANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

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.

Day 6

KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP

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.

Day 7

BARAFU CAMP – UHURU – MILLENNIUM CAMP

You’ll wake at 11:30 for hot tea and biscuits, then start the steep ascent of Kibo in darkness. After a break at Hans Meyer Cave, you’ll climb to Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters) in 5-6 hours. Enjoy the dawn and Mawenzi Peak views, then trek 2 more hours to Uhuru Peak. After quick photos, descend to Stella Point (5,739 meters) and Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). After a short break, continue to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for your final night. The trek lasts 14-16 hours, so pace yourself, stay hydrated, and keep your energy up.

Day 8

MILLENNIUM CAMP – MWEKA GATE

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 welcome shower then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at your arranged Hotel.

Lemosho Route Prices

We do no compromise on safety and quality, so our prices are not the cheapest. However, they are also not unreasonably high like some other companies. We take a lot of pride in the value for money we provide to each and every client. The per person prices below are based on how many people are booking the trek together.

8-DAY ROUTE PRICE

1 person – $2,830
2-5 persons – $2,495
6-10 persons – $2,440
11+ persons – $2,390

7-DAY ROUTE PRICE

1 person – $2,475
2-5 persons – $2,185
6-10 persons – $2,135
11+ persons – $2,085

FAQs for Lemosho Route

HOW DIFFICULT IS THE LEMOSHO ROUTE?
From the perspective of acclimatization and daily altitude gain, the Lemosho Route is considered one of the easiest routes to climb Kilimanjaro. The extra time and distance of this route helps acclimatize well and minimizes the risk of altitude sickness. However it still includes the challenging ascent up the Barranco Wall and a steep climb to the summit on the final night.
HOW LONG IS THE LEMOSHO ROUTE?
The exact trekking distance for the Lemosho Route is 71km or 43 miles fom start to finish. This is done over 7 or 8 days. The average daily altitude gain is about 500m mainly because of the much higher starting point at 2360m and the longer duration of the trek. On the summit night you will climb 1200m from Barafu camp to Uhuru peak.
WHAT IS LEMOSHO ROUTE'S SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE?
Due to its longer length, summit success rates on the Lemosho route are one of the highest on the mountain. Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate across all operators is 90% for the 8 day trek and a 85% success rate for the 7 day trek. However, we have a success rate of over 95% for the 8 day Lemosho route and a 92% success rate for the 7 day option.
HOW IS THE SCENERY ON THE LEMOSHO ROUTE?
The Lemosho Route is considered to be the most scenically beautiful of all the routes. The route takes trekkers from the west side of the mountain through lush rainforest before joining up with the Lemosho Route to cross the spectacular Shira Plateau. The route takes in the west and south of the mountain and the views are incredible, particularly from on the southern circuit.

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THE CLIMB COST INCLUDES

Transfers:

• Return transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to accommodation in Moshi
• Return transfer from accommodation in Moshi to the entry gate into Kilimanjaro National Park

Entry fees:

• Park Fees: all park fees collected by Kilimanjaro National Park (conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, vehicle fee, rescue fee and all others).

Taxes:

• 18% VAT, 1% TDL and 0.3% Service Levy. Popote Africa is an honest and responsible tour operator working in full compliance with the tax law of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Accommodation:

• Accommodation at 3* hotel in Moshi (WeruWeru Lodge) one night before and one night after the expedition. You will have all for a comfortable stay - friendly staff, clean rooms, Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool
• Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern comfortable 4-season North Face VE-25 tents)

Hiking and safety equipment:

• 4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats
• All group equipment (dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery)
• If you choose extra comfort package you additionally will have walk-in tents, sleeping cots, hot water bottles for the night as well as portable toilets included
• Oxygen cylinders and oximeters • GPS-tracking service
• Complete medical kits including Diamox.

Meals:

• Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike
• All meals on the hike. You will find delicious energy-rich meals on our mountain menus. Our professional chefs will prepare assorted soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables. Vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost
• All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water)

Climbing crew:

• Professional guides licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All guides are holder of Wilderness First Responder certification. All of them have 7+years of successful experience
• Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.)

It goes without saying that we treat our porters, cooks and guides as well and fairly. It is an unbiased evaluation of our commitment to fair treatment of our mountain crews.

*International flights, tips (250-300 USD per climber for the whole mountain crew), visa fee (100 USD for American citizens and 50 USD for all others), personal gear rentals, lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the climb), portable toilets (if required – 250 USD per unit, one can be shared between 3 people), and mountaineering insurance (special insurance for climbing Kilimanjaro that covers high-altitude trekking up to 6000m) are not included.