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
SCENIC & BIODIVERSE
The Lemosho Route offers stunning views of the mountain's forests, moorlands, and glaciers. It passes through several ecosystems, including tropical rainforest, alpine moorland, and arctic desert.
ACCLIMATIZATION
With a focus on acclimatization, the Lemosho Route is considered one of the safer options for climbing Kilimanjaro. This is because it allows climbers to adjust to the altitude gradually over the course of several days.
REMOTE TREKKING EXPERIENCE
The Lemosho Route is less crowded than other Kilimanjaro routes, making it a good option for those seeking a more remote and peaceful trekking experience.
SUCCESS RATE
The Lemosho Route is considered to be one of the best routes for summit success, with a higher success rate than many of the other Kilimanjaro trekking routes.
SCENIC DESCENT
The Lemosho Route offers a scenic descent via the Mweka Route, which provides a different perspective of the mountain and its ecosystems.
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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.
- Driving distance: 55 km
- Driving Time: 1 hour
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.
- Distance: 8km/5miles
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Elevation: 7,742ft 9,498ft
- Habitat: Rain Forest
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.
- Distance: 5km/3miles
- Hiking Time: 5-6hours
- Elevation: 9,498ft to 11,500ft
- Habitat: Heath
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.
- Distance: 5km/3miles
- Hiking Time: 5-6hours
- Elevation: 9,498ft to 11,500ft
- Habitat: Heath
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.
- Distance: 8km/5miles
- Hiking Time: 6-8hours
- Elevation: 11,500ft to 12,631ft
- Vegetation: Heath
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.
- Distance: 10km/6miles
- Hiking Time: 6-8hours
- Elevation: 12,500ft to 15,190ft to 13,044
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
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.
- Distance: 5km/3miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5hours
- Elevation: 13,044 ft – 13,106 ft
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
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.
- Distance: 10km/6miles
- Hiking Time: 6-8hours
- Elevation: 12,500ft to 15,190ft to 13,044
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
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.
- Distance: 5km/3miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5hours
- Elevation: 13,044 ft – 13,106 ft
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
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.
- Distance: 4km/2miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5hours
- Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
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.
- Distance: 5km/3miles and 7km/4mile
- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours and 2-4 hours
- Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341ft and 12,434 ft
- Vegetation: Arctic to Heath
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.
- Distance: 12km/7miles
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
- Elevation: 12,434 ft – 5,380 ft
- Vegetation: Rain forest
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.
