7 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Hiking Itinerary & Prices

7 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Hiking Itinerary & Prices. The Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro is one of the newer routes on the mountain, and a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low traffic, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge. Unlike the popular Machame route, which simply intersects the Shira Plateau, the Lemosho route crosses the entirety of the plain from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. An added bonus is that climbers will encounter low traffic until the route joins the Machame route. Afterward, Lemosho follows the same route through Lava Tower, Barranco, and Barafu, known as the southern circuit. Descent is made via the Mweka route. Lemosho is considered the most scenic route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. Thus, Lemosho is highly recommended.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro via Lemosho Route, Tanzania

7 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Hiking Itinerary & Prices. Day 1: Moshi/Arusha to Londorossi Gate to Lemosho Glades to Mti Mkubwa Camp. Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1. Day 3: Shira Camp1 to Shira Camp 2. Day 4:Shira Camp 2 through Lava Tower to Barranco Camp. Day 5: Baranco Camp – Barafu Camp. Day 6:Summit Day! Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp. Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

Day 1: Moshi/Arusha to Londorossi Gate to Lemosho Glades to Mti Mkubwa Camp

Elevation(m): 915 m/1387 to 2,250 m to 2,000 m to 2,750 m

Elevation(ft): 3,000 ft/4921ft to 7,380 ft to 6,560 ft to 9,020 ft

Distance: 18 km, Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

Drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Londorossi Park Gate. From here follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for about 11 km/7 mi (45 minutes) to Lemosho Glades and a possible campsite. From the Glades, walk for 3 hours along beautiful forest trails to the Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1

Elevation (m): 2,750 m to 3,500 m

Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,485 ft

Distance: 12 km

Hiking Time: 5 hours

Habitat: Semi-Desert

The trail gradually steepens, enters the giant heather moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600 m/11,810 ft and drops gently to Shira Camp 1 located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

Day 3: Shira Camp1 to Shira Camp 2

Elevation(m): 3,500 m to 3,840 m

Elevation(ft): 11,485 ft to 12,600 ft

Distance: 6 km

Hiking Time: 2 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

A gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira Camp 2 on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are available on the plateau making this an excellent acclimatization day.

Day 4:Shira Camp 2 through Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation(m): 3,840 m to 4,630 m to 3,950 m

Elevation(ft): 12,600 ft to 15,190 ft to 12,960 ft

Distance: 15 km

Hiking Time: 7 hours

Habitat: Semi-Desert

After breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro’s looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft. There are numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.

Day 5: Baranco Camp – Barafu Cam

Leave slowly crossing the floor of the Great Barranco Valley and up the Barranco wall; continue the trek on the South Circuit path through the Karanga Valley. Then slowly trek (7 hours) to Barafu Hut (4600m). From Barafu you will have excellent views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Barafu Hut is situated on an exposed and dangerous ridge, so it is necessary to familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark. We will have our dinner, rest, and prepare for summit night.

Trekking Time: 7-8 Hours

Distance: 9km-Altitude Gain 800 m

Day 6:Summit Day! Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp:

Elevation(m): 4, 550m to 5,895 m to 3,100 m

Elevation(ft) : 14,930 ft to 19,340 ft to 19,340 ft

Distance: 7 km up, 23 km down

Hiking Time: 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down

Habitat: Scree and seasonal snow

You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point, you join the top part of the Marangu Route but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft).

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

Elevation(m): 3,100 m to 1,980 m to 890 m/ 1387 m

Elevation(ft): 10,170 ft to 6,500 ft to 2,920 ft/ 4921ft

Distance: 15 km

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Habitat: Forest

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will be driven back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and a comfortable night.