recommended
Price
$2570 per person
Duration
8 Days
Destination
Mount Kilimanjaro

8 Days Lemosho Route

  • Information
  • Tour Plan
  • Location
  • Reviews
The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate. Tanzania Private Select Safaris specialize in guiding the Lemosho route. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and they consistently report that they loved it. Thus, Lemosho is highly recommended. 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. The Lemosho route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. Crowds are low until the route joins the Machame route near Lava Tower. Then the route traverses underneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. The descent is made via the Mweka route. Tanzania Private Select Safaris offer Lemosho as an eight-day group climb or as a seven to eight-day private climb. The seven-day variation combines 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.

What's included

Destination
Mount Kilimanjaro Discover Mount Kilimanjaro
Departure Location
Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) Tanzania
Return Location
Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) Tanzania
Tour Start Date & Time
Everyday
Price includes
  • Airport pick up
  • All hot Meals prepared by our cook while on Mountain
  • All Kilimanjaro National Park Fees
  • Certified, experienced, English speaking mountain guides
  • Climbing permits
  • Enough porters to carry your luggage
  • Fair and ethical treatment of Porters
  • Government Climbing Taxes
  • Guides, Porters and Cook Salaries
  • Personal Summit Certificate signed by the National Park and your Guide
  • Private Transportation to and from your selected Route
  • Quality, Waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tent for camp route
Price does not include
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
  • All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc
  • Hotel (available as an optional addon)
  • International airfares and departure taxes
  • Personal items and toiletries
  • Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
  • Tips for guides, porters and cook
  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6
  • Day 7
  • Day 8
Day 1

LEMOSHO GATE – MTI MKUBWA CAMP

  • Elevation: 7,742 ft to 9,498 ft
  • Distance: 6 km/4 miles
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest

We depart from Arusha for Lemosho Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities, we begin hiking through an undisturbed forest that winds to the first campsite.

Day 2

MTI MKUBWA – SHIRA ONE

  • Elevation: 9,498 ft to 11,500 ft
  • Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
  • Hiking Time 5-6 hours
  • Habitat: Health

We continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau

Day 3

SHIRA CAMP ONE – MOIR HUT

  • Elevation: 11,500 ft to 13,800 ft
  • Distance: 11 km/ 7 miles
  • Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
  • Habitat: Heath

We explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east on moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then we divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little-used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

Day 4

MOIRT HUT – LAVA TOWER – BARANCO

Elevation: 13,800 ft to 15,190 ft

Distance: 7 km/4 miles

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft

Distance: 3 km/2 miles

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

We begin the day climbing up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitudes is very beneficial for acclimatization.

Day 5

BARANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

  • Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
  • Distance: 5 km/3 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall, we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Day 6

KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP

  • Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
  • Distance: 4 km/2 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Day 7

BARAFU CAMP – UHURU – MWEKA CAMP

Day 8

MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE

  • Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
  • Distance: 10 km/6 miles
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest On our last day,

we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Arusha to continue with your safaris if you have.

More about Mount Kilimanjaro

The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate. Tanzania Private Select Safaris specialize in guiding the Lemosho route. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and they consistently report that they loved it. Thus, Lemosho is highly recommended. 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. The Lemosho route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. Crowds are low until the route joins the Machame route near Lava Tower. Then the route traverses underneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. The descent is made via the Mweka route. Tanzania Private Select Safaris offer Lemosho as an eight-day group climb or as a seven to eight-day private climb. The seven-day variation combines 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.

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8 Days Lemosho Route

Price
$2570 per person
Duration
8 Days
Destination
Mount Kilimanjaro

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