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The minimum duration for the Lemosho route is 6 days, however we strongly recommend hiking the route in 8 days. The additional 8th day will give your body more time to acclimatize, reducing the effects of altitude sickness and give you more time to rest before attempting the summit.
Kilimanjaro Lemosho starts in lush, fertile rainforest. It is the first ecological zone you encounter on Kilimanjaro (we will trek through four). The route heads up and across the Shira Plateau, which used to be Kilimanjaro’s third peak before it collapsed. Then, we make our way north to Moir Hut, which serves as a great acclimatization day due to short hikes than can be done in the nearby Lent Hills.
Next, we climb high up and over Lava Tower before dropping into Barranco Valley, one of the prettiest areas on the entire trail. We climb the intimidating Barranco Wall and then circle along the southern circuit to Karanga and high camp Barafu Hut.
The summit attempt is made from Barafu in the early morning hours, often during the full moon. This is the coldest, windiest section of your adventure. But once the sun comes up, so can most of your extra layers. After the summit, the descent follows the Mweka trail.
On your arrival, you will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to a hotel in Moshi town; where you will meet a mountain guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gears. The missing gears can be hired on this day or on the next morning before leaving for your Kilimanjaro Rongai Trekking.
Hotel in Moshi: bed and breakfast included.
After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (3-hour drive). From here 4WD vehicle leads will pick you to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
Elevation: 1830 m / 6000 ft to 2650 m / 8700 ft
Distance: 6 km / 4 miles
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
After breakfast, we continue Kilimanjaro Lemosho as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge then gently downwards to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.
Elevation: 2650 m / 8700 ft to 3500 m / 11,500 ft
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: included
After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the Plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.
Elevation: 3500 m / 11,500 ft to 3850 m / 12,600 ft
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: included
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elevation 4650 m / 15,250 ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction, which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp.
Although you end the day around the same elevation, as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Elevation: 3850 m / 12,600 ft to 4000 m / 13,000 ft
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: included
After breakfast, we will leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and to the junction, which connects the Mweka Trail.
Elevation: 4000 m / 13,000 ft to 4050 m / 13,250 ft
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: included
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. South Circuit will be completed, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Elevation: 4050 m / 13,250 ft to 4700 m / 15,350 ft
Distance: 4 km / 2 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: included
Very early in the morning, we will continue our Kilimanjaro Lemosho Trekking to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will have a short rest and rewarded most magnificent sunrise ever seen. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit (Uhuru Peak) highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro.
From the summit we begin to descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Elevation: 4700 m / 15,350 ft to 5895 m / 19,340 ft - down to 3090 m / 10,150 ft
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles up / 13 km / 8 mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: included
After breakfast we continue to descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax | 7 Pax | 8 Pax | 9 Pax | 10+ |
| $2575 | $1925 | $1725 | $1650 | $1550 | $1500 | $1470 | $1425 | $1400 | $1375 |
There is not only one single option to trekk to the summit of Kilimanjaro. In total there are 6 optional routes. Please find in the buttons below the information and daily itinerary of the other routes.
