8 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.
Day 1: Lemosho Trailhead (2,100m/6,930ft) to Big Tree Camp (2,650m/8,745ft)
Distance: 7km / 4 Miles
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Ascent: 550m / 1815ft
Max. altitude: 2650m / 8745ft
Habitat: Montane forest
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Lunch / Dinner
This morning we will drive to Lemosho gate taking approximately 2 – 3 hours. Here we will complete entry formalities and commence trekking through lush undisturbed forest. Sometimes we may be lucky to see colobus and blue monkeys. The path undulates steeply in places to arrive at the first camp.
Overnight Big Tree Camp
Day 2: Big Tree Camp (2,650m/8,745ft) to Shira 1 Camp (3610m/11,913ft)
Distance: 7km / 4 Miles
Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
Ascent: 960m /3168ft
Max. altitude: 3610m / 11913ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Today our trek will begin in the forest; however we will soon leave this ecosystem behind taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock. This is a full day ascending through the lust rolling hills below the Shira plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action. Finally the trail begins to ease as you rich the edge of the plateau. You will camp at Shira 1 camp (3610m/11913ft). The view of kibo from across the plateau is incredible.
Overnight at Shira 1 Camp
Day3: Shira 1 Camp (3,610m/11,913ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,850m/12,705ft)
Distance: 10km / 6 Miles
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Ascent: 240m / 792ft
Max. altitude: 3850m / 12705ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Our third day on the mountain consists of a trek across the Shira plateau with an optional climb to Shira Cathedral (3,872m/12778ft) which will help our acclimatization and is therefore advisable. Shira is one of the highest Plateaus on the earth. The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira two Camp.
Overnight Shira 2 Camp
Day 4: Shira 2 Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) to Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,870ft) via Lava tower (4600m/15180ft).
Distance: 10km / 6 Miles
Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
Ascent: 750m / 2474ft
Max. altitude: 4600m / 15180ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Our climb today will take us steadily up and over expansive ridgelines of high desert to lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours(7km). This tower is a 300 ft high volcanic plug. From Lava Tower we begin our steep descent into the Barranco valley passing large flowering plants which is actually look like trees, Scenecios. This is good practice for our descent from the summit in few days’ time and will take around 2 hours (3km). Although we will end our day at almost the same elevation as we started, today is very important for acclimatization and will help our 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 (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karanga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,800ft)
Distance: 6km / 4 Miles
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours
Ascent: 300/ 990ft
Max. altitude: 4200m / 13860ft
Habitat: Moorland
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
After breakfast, we leave Barranco camp and begin our climb up the Barranco Wall. This is impressive scramble where you will be rewarded with fantastic views back toward camp. The porters climbing the wall are also an impressive sight. From the top at 4200m/13860ft we will follow an undulating path around the mountain side. On a clear day there are spectacular views of kibo to your left and mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karanga valley your climb takes you up a short steep path to Karanga camp (3995m/13184ft).
Overnight Karanga camp
Day 6: Karanga Camp (3,995m/13,184ft) to Barafu Camp (4,673m/15,421ft)
Distance: 4km / 2.5 Miles
Hiking time: 2 – 3 hours
Ascent: 678m / 2237ft
Max. altitude: 4673m / 15421ft
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Tent
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Spend the morning climbing steadily to Barafu which is Swahili for ice; this camp is located on the ridge below the summit cone. We have now completed the south circuit, which offers views of summit from many different angles. Today we will arrive at Barafu in time to spend the afternoon resting and enjoy an early dinner. After dinner and a summit briefing, rest in preparation for the summit climb. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from here.
Evening of rest at Barafu Camp, depart for the summit in the early hours.
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4,673m/15,421ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,454ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,230ft)
Distance: 14 – 17.5km / 9 – 11Miles
Hiking time: 11 – 14 hours
Max. altitude: 5895m / 19454ft
Accommodation: Tent
Habitat: Alpine Desert / Moorland / Montane Forest
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
In the early hours of the morning, we will begin our final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak, taking approximately 6-8 hours(5km). It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes. Just when you think you’ve had enough of climbing in the dark the sun will rise and you will be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point (5,756m/18995ft) you join the crater rim. From here, climb less steeply to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit the descent will take you down to Mweka Hut, with lunch served at Barafu Camp on the way, taking about 6 – 8 hours. If you’re too tired to descend all this way, there is an alternative option to camp slightly higher at Millennium/ high camp (3995m/13184ft).
Overnight Mweka Hut or Millennium Camp
Day 8: Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,230ft) to Mweka Gate (1,650m/5,445ft)
Distance: 10km / 6Miles
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Descent: 1460m / 4818ft
Habitat: Montane forest
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
Descend to the gate through lush forest, looking for monkeys along the way. From Mweka Gate we will transport you to your accommodation for a well-earned hot shower!
- National park fees
- Camping fees
- Rescue fees
- Guides, cook & porter’s salaries
- Food; drinking water
- Camping equipment
- Accommodation
- Transport to/from park entry gate.
- Hiring of clothing, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, walking poles etc.
- Tipping to your mountain crew.
