The Lemosho route is a popular and scenic trail that starts in the west and travels through the lush forests and high moorlands of Mount Kilimanjaro to reach its summit. It is known for its high summit success rates due to good acclimatization profile.

Highlights of 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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5-Star Reviews for Popote

Below are some reviews specifically from clients who did Lemosho Route with us. See more of our fantastic testimonials on Tripadvisor and Google.

Tripadvisor ReviewsGoogle Reviews

  • "Me & my friend booked 8 days lemosho route and at the end we managed to do it in 7 days. For this we need to say a big thank you to our guides Thadeus and Meshack. They were very flexible with our requirements and always supportive..."

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  • "So you decided to climb Kilimanjaro? Awesome! What is without a doubt your biggest concern: am I gonna make it? Well, the Popote Team got your back! OMG, these guys are sooo dedicated! They will do everything in their power to get you up there...."

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  • "We had an amazing trip with this heartwarming and professionel crew. Stanley and Babu (as the main guides) and all porters created such a nice atmosphere! Everybody worked on the group's success, which ended up in a 100% summit rate..."

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Is Lemosho Route for Me?

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.

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The Popote Advantage

We have guided more than 10,000 climbers on Kilimanjaro since 2011. The following 4 aspects are the most important for anyone wanting to climb Kili. And we guarantee uncompromising quality for all and more.

#1 Highly Experienced Guides

Popote's guides know the ins and outs of Kilimanjaro, are trained in emergency procedures and can provide vital support in case of any unexpected situations. They also bring a wealth of knowledge about the local culture, flora, and fauna, which will make your climb even more enriching. Besides, they also play a crucial role in making the climb fun and enjoyable. It can be through singing along the way, narating anecdotes from the past, or by bringing a sense of camaraderie to your team. As as you will see, they offer every encouragement and support you will ever need.

#2 Reliable Porters

Porters carry equipment and supplies, allowing climbers to focus on the climb without carrying heavy loads. They setup your camps each day, and dismantle them when its time to move on. Without their support climbing Kilimanjaro will be next to impossible for most of us. At Popote, we value our porters highly because of the part they play in making each climb, week after week, a success.

#3 Lip-Smacking Meals

Our chefs will serve large, healthy meals to keep you happy and well-fed on your Kilimanjaro climb. You’ll have hot meals at breakfast and dinner, freshly prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. We prepare all our food to strict hygiene standards, ensuring it’s delicious and safe to eat. Our menus are designed to be nutritionally-dense, with plenty of variety to cater to the energy demands of the trek.

#4 Top Quality Equipment

We only use Mountain Hardwear’s rugged, 4-season tents, designed specifically for mountain conditions. Built to accommodate three people, we only ever have two people in a tent. These tents are manufactured to withstand high winds, heavy rain and snow cover, making them ideal for the environment on Kilimanjaro.

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 or,
  • 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 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 will be awoken around 11:30 with hot tea and biscuits and will then begin the steep incline up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. Your first checkpoint is Hans Meyer Cave where you will take a short break. The climb steepens as you approach Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters), which will be around 5-6 hours after departing School Hut. Take a moment to enjoy the approaching dawn and incredible view out and across to Mawenzi Peak, but remember you still have 2 hours trekking to reach Uhuru Peak so dig deep for the energy. The slope flattens as you head west around the crater rim and you should arrive at the summit at or just after sunrise. Your stay here will be brief so get as many pictures as you can of the incredible views and surrounding glaciers. You will then retrace your steps back around the crater rim to Stella Point (5,739 meters) where you will turn south and head down the heavily screed slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for your final night on the mountain. In total you will be trekking for 14-16 hours on day eight, so it is important to pace yourself, remain hydrated and keep your blood sugar levels 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

Day 9 – Departure

Whether you go on a safari with us, or fly to Zanzibar or any other destination, out vehicle will be ready for your transfer at a time of your choosing.

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

  • 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). 

    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)

    Please note: by default, you will share a room and a tent with your travel companion. If you travel solo on a group expedition, we will room you with a same-sex participant. Single supplement is available upon request.

    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)

    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.

    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.

    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.

  • The climb cost excludes

    • 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)
    • Mountaineering insurance. You'll need special insurance for climbing Kilimanjaro that covers high-altitude trekking up to 6000 m

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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Read about all that make us one of the best outfitters running Klimanjaro climbs.

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