Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8 Days
Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8 Days
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The Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8 Days is one of the most scenic and rewarding ways to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It offers breathtaking views, rich wildlife encounters, and a gradual ascent that helps climbers adjust to the altitude. This route is perfect for adventurous trekkers who want a quieter and more beautiful path to Africa’s highest peak.
Your journey begins at Londorossi Gate, where you’ll trek through lush rainforests filled with colobus monkeys and vibrant birdlife. As the trail climbs higher, the forest gives way to heather and moorland zones, with sweeping views of the Shira Plateau. Each day brings new landscapes, from volcanic ridges to alpine deserts, and eventually to the icy slopes of Uhuru Peak.
The 8-day Lemosho Route provides enough time for acclimatization while keeping the adventure exciting. You’ll spend nights in well-organized mountain camps, enjoy hot meals prepared by experienced guides, and feel the spirit of teamwork as you approach the summit together. Reaching Uhuru Peak at sunrise is a life-changing experience, standing above the clouds with the vast African plains below.
Choosing the Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8 Days means combining challenge, comfort, and incredible beauty. It’s ideal for climbers who seek both adventure and a higher chance of success on the mountain.
Tour Highlights
- Departure and Return Place: Moshi Town to Lemosho Gate and then back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (Google Map)
- Departure Time: Please be ready by 8:15 AM for a prompt departure at 9:30 AM.
- Return Time: Approximately 10:30 AM on the last day.
- Dress Code: Casual. Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, a hat, cold cold-weather jacket, gloves, pants, and spare clothing.
- Accommodation: Two nights of accommodations based on Bed and Breakfast at 3 3-star hotel (upgrades on request).
- Extensions: Trip Extensions are available on request.
- Trip Availability: All year round.
Included/Excluded
- Two-way private airport transfers
- All park fees collected by the National Park
- Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro
- All meals on the hike
- All group camping equipment
- Oxygen cylinders and oximeters
- Hotel stays before and after the trip
- Complete Expedition medical kits
- Kilimanjaro licensed professional guides
- Hiking dedicated support crews
- Government taxes
- Crew salaries
- Medical evacuations with AMREF Flying doctors
- Purified water while on the mountain
- Portable tented private flush toilet
- Personal Climbing gears
- Personal Climbing gears
- Mountaineering Insurance
- Tips and Gratuities
- Personal Expenses
Tour Plan
DAY 1: Londorossi Gate – Mti Mkubwa camp
After eating breakfast at your hotel, your guide will brief you on the day. You will drive two hours from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). In the village near Londorossi Gate, you will receive a packed lunch and can buy mineral water for the hike. Then the final 45 minutes of the drive leading up to the gate will be on a bumpy forest track requiring 4WD vehicles. At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rainforest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys! Along the way, you will stop for an afternoon lunch break and arrive at Mti Mkubwa (“Big Tree”) Campsite (2750m) in the early evening. The porters, who arrive at the campsite before the clients, will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing. The chef will prepare a snack and then dinner for the clients. At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
Hiking time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
DAY 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp – Shira 2 Camp (3840m)
After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather moorland zone. You will cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up before arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks and then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.
Hiking time: 6.5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
DAY 3: Shira – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi-desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects of the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath. After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage in allowing their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the sunsetting.
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Semi-desert
DAY 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) – Karanga Camp (3950m)
This is a short hiking day meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimidating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. You will spend the night at Karanga Camp (3950m) and enjoy dinner and washing at the site.
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert
DAY 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Hut
After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “bara” in Swahili means, “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so hikers need to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert
DAY 6: Summit attempt Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kilometres ascent and 23 kilometres descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
DAY 7: Mweka camp – Mweka Gate
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). And you will drive back to your hotel in Moshi.
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Forest
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