Tour Price Range Per Person: ($ 2,150)
The Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route is widely regarded as the most beautiful of all the Kilimanjaro Routes 8 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route itinerary 2024-2025, is one of the newer routes on the mountain, and it shares a portion of the same trail as the Machame route, but it has a few advantages over that route that make it worthwhile to consider, especially for tourists with extra time.
The Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route is newer and approaches Kilimanjaro from the west. The journey begins at Lemosho Gate and the route was introduced as a substitute to the Shira Route which trails starts from a higher, more challenging altitude. Lemosho Route is a little wild and you may get to spot large buffalo, antelope, and maybe even elephant. The route is also home to some primates such as black and white colobus monkey, blue monkeys etc.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha; 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. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate, about a 3-hour trip. From here, a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2390 m) where you will start your trek through the rainforest.
Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa campsite (2750 m).
Trekking Time: 3 hours | Distance: 7 km | Altitude Gain: 360 m
After breakfast, we continue as the trail’s steepness gradually increases 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 (3505 m) located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours | Distance: 10 km | Altitude Gain: 755 m
A gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp (3810 m) on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of short hikes are available on the Plateau, making this a good acclimatization day.
Trekking Time: 3-4 hours
| Distance: 8 km |
Altitude Gain: 305 m
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east, passing the junction near the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction, which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier (4876 m). We now continue down to the Barranco Hut (3860 m). Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you began, this is another important day for acclimatization.
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours |
Distance: 10 km |
Altitude Gain: 50 m
We start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up what has been termed the Breakfast Wall. It is a climb over rocks, not technical but long and tiring.
Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga Valley (4000 m) overnight. TrekkingTime: 3-4 hours
| Distance: 6 km
| Altitude Gain: 140 m
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 between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit.
In the morning after breakfast, you will be trekking down to Mweka gate. The trek is a pleasant one through the lower rain-forested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). Although you cover 9km / 5.5 miles, the trek only takes 3-4 hours. Assuming you successfully reach Stella Point or Uhuru Peak you will be presented with official certificates – a green certificate for the former and a gold certificate for the latter. It is customary to tip your trekking crew before being transported back to your hotel in Moshi.
