7 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
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. Jayva African Adventures specializes in guiding on 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 rain forest 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. Descent is made via the Mweka route. Jayva African Adventures offers 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.
Scenery
The route offers stunning views and varied terrain, including lush rainforests, moorlands, alpine deserts, and the iconic Barranco Wall
Difficulty
Moderate to challenging, with some steep sections but no technical climbing required
Acclimatization
The route follows a "climb high, sleep low" strategy, which helps improve acclimatization and increases the chances of reaching the summit
Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2,100m/6,890ft) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820m/9,250ft)
Distance: 7km / 4.3 miles
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Ascent: 720m / 2,360ft
Max. altitude: 2,820m / 9,250ft
Habitat: Rainforest
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Lunch / Dinner
Your adventure begins at the Londorossi Gate, where you’ll complete registration formalities before driving to the starting point of the trek. The hike starts through the lush rainforest, where you may spot wildlife such as colobus monkeys. You’ll reach Mti Mkubwa Camp in the late afternoon, where you’ll set up camp and enjoy your first night on the mountain.
Overnight: Mti Mkubwa Camp
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820m/9,250ft) to Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,485ft)
Distance: 8km / 5 miles
Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
Ascent: 680m / 2,230ft
Max. altitude: 3,500m / 11,485ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Today’s trek takes you out of the rainforest and into the moorland zone. The trail becomes steeper and more rocky as you ascend, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. You’ll reach Shira 1 Camp in the early afternoon, where you can rest and acclimatize to the higher altitude.
Overnight: Shira 1 Camp
Day 3: Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,485ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,850m/12,630ft)
Distance: 7km / 4.3 miles
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Ascent: 350m / 1,145ft
Max. altitude: 3,850m / 12,630ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Today’s trek is a relatively short and gentle hike across the Shira Plateau, offering panoramic views of the mountain and the surrounding landscape. You’ll reach Shira 2 Camp in the early afternoon, where you can rest and acclimatize to the higher altitude.
Overnight: Shira 2 Camp
Day 4: Shira 2 Camp (3,850m/12,630ft) to Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,870ft) via Lava Tower (4,600m/15,180ft)
Distance: 10km / 6 miles
Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
Ascent: 750m / 2,460ft
Max. altitude: 4,600m / 15,180ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours (7 km). This tower is a 300 feet high volcanic plug. From Lava Tower, we begin our steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants which actually look like trees, senecios. This is good practice for your descent from the summit in a few days’ time and will take around 2 hours (3km). Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit night. Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.
Overnight: Barranco Camp
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,870ft) to Karanga Camp (4,035m/13,235ft)
Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours
Ascent: 135m / 445ft
Max. altitude: 4,035m / 13,235ft
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Your climb today begins with the challenging ascent of the Barranco Wall, a steep and rocky path that requires some scrambling but offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Once you conquer the Barranco Wall, you’ll traverse through the alpine desert, crossing several valleys and ridges. The trek to Karanga Camp is relatively short but involves a series of ascents and descents, making it a good acclimatization day. Along the way, you’ll pass by the Karanga Valley, known for its unique vegetation and scenic beauty. The day ends at Karanga Camp, where you can rest and prepare for the higher altitudes ahead.
Overnight: Karanga Camp
Day 6: Karanga Camp (4,035m/13,235ft) to Barafu Camp (4,640m/15,220ft)
Distance: 6km / 3.7 miles
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours
Ascent: 605m / 1,985ft
Max. altitude: 4,640m / 15,220ft
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Your climb today takes you from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp, the base camp for your final ascent to the summit. The trek begins with a steady climb through the alpine desert, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. As you ascend, you’ll pass through a series of ridges and valleys, with the terrain becoming increasingly barren and rocky. The path is well-defined but can be challenging due to the altitude and the steepness of the ascent. Upon reaching Barafu Camp, you’ll have time to rest and prepare for the summit attempt. The camp is situated on a narrow, rocky ridge, providing breathtaking views of the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. This is your last stop before the final push to the summit, so it’s essential to rest and acclimatize properly.
Overnight: Barafu Camp
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4,640m/15,220ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,341ft) to Mweka Camp (3,080m/10,105ft)
Distance: 17km / 10.5 miles
Hiking time: 11 – 14 hours
Ascent: 1,255m / 4,121ft
Descent: 2,815m / 9,236ft
Max. altitude: 5,895m / 19,341ft
Habitat: Arctic to Rainforest
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Your summit attempt begins around midnight, with a challenging climb through the arctic zone to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The ascent is steep and demanding, but the reward is an unforgettable sunrise over the vast African plains. After celebrating your achievement at the summit, you’ll begin your descent back to Barafu Camp for a short rest before continuing down to Mweka Camp. The descent is long and tiring, but the lower altitude and lush rainforest provide a welcome change of scenery.
Overnight: Mweka Camp
- Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your Accommodations in Moshi.
- 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi
- Transportation to and from the Kilimanjaro gate
- Park entry fees
- Hut fees
- Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
- Oxygen cylinder
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- All camping equipment
- Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook, and porters
- 3 hot meals a day while on the mountain
- Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
- Hot water for washing
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO) Government taxes
- Ox meter
- Emergency first-aid kit
- Lunches, dinners, and drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Laundry (Available at the hotel)
- Personal items and toiletries
- Tips for guides, porters, and cook
