The Lemosho route which is longer than others allowing climbers to acclimatize properly to the altitude is the most preferred one among climbers.
The Lemosho Route 7 days is a very scenic hiking route, starting on the western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro before merging with the Machame Route halfway through. It leads you through the lush rainforest, past the eerie forest, and up to the Barranco Wall. The altitude profile of the Lemosho Route is ideal for acclimatization, allowing climbers to hike to higher altitudes during the day than they’ll be sleeping overnight.
The Lemosho Route can be completed in 7 or 8 days. We mostly recommend the 8-day Lemosho Route over the 7-day Lemosho Route to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
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, hat, cold weather jacket, gloves, pants, and spare clothing.
Accommodation: Two nights of accommodations based on Bed and Breakfast at 3 stars hotel (upgrades on request).
Customizations: Can be customized upon request, to meet traveller’s needs
Extensions: Trip Extensions are available on request.
Trip Availability: All year round.
Trip Highlights
Arrival
Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m)
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m) – Shira 2 Camp (3840m)
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) – Karanga Camp (3950m)
Day 5: Karanga Camp (3959m) – Barafu Hut (4600)
Day 6: Summit attempt Barafu Camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)
Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)
Departure
Itinerary
Arrival Day :
Arrive in Moshi, Kilimanjaro
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet our representative, and transfer to your hotel in Moshi town. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a classic stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing with our guides, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.
One Night Hotel Accommodation at Bristol Cottages in Moshi before the hike.
Day 1 :
Londorossi Gate (2100m) – 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 rain forest. Be on the look out 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 then dinner for the clients. At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
High Altitude Mountain Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 2 :
Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m) – 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 prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed 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 be 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 from 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 to allow 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 sun setting.
Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers Habitat: Semi-desert
High Altitude Mountain Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro
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 intimating 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.
High Altitude Mountain Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 5 :
Karanga Camp (3959m) – Barafu Hut (4600)
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 “barafu” in Swahili means, “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers 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!
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours. At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka Distance: Approximately 7 kilometers ascent and 23 kilometers descent Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
High Altitude Mountain Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 7 :
Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)
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
High Altitude Mountain Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro
Departure :
Departure
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Note: Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
Breakfast
Includes/Excludes
Trip Cost Includes
Two way private airport transfers
All park fees collected by the National Park
Hotel ccommodations one night before and one night after the expedition
Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro
All meals on the hike
All group equipment (dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery)
Oxygen cylinders and oximeters
Complete Expedition medical kits
Professional guides licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park
Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.)
Government taxes
Crew salaries
Medical evacuations with AMREF Flying doctors
Purified water while on the mountain
Portable tented private flush toilet
Trip Cost Excludes
Personal Climbing gears
Tanzania Visa on arrival
Mountaineering Insurance
Tips and Gratuities
Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
Costs
Number of People
Cost Per Person in US($) Standard Package
1 Person
$ 2,650
2 people
$ 2,120
3 people
$ 2,095
4 people
$ 2,050
5 people
$ 2,000
6 people
$ 1,990
7 people
$ 1,985
8 people
$ 1,965
9 people
$ 1,945
10 People +
$ 1,920
When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed anytime throughout the year. Most travelers prefer climbing during the dry seasons: December to March, June to October. Many consider the best months to climb Kilimanjaro to be January, February, and September.
Who are your operators in Tanzania?
We are. We are not agents for anybody, but run the treks ourselves through our own Tanzanian company. So you can rest assured that whoever you speak to in our company has climbed Kilimanjaro – and probably many times.
How long is the hike?
There are at least six routes to the top, Uhuru peak. You will hike between 53 and 73km depending on which route you choose. The shortest and toughest is the 5-day Umbwe route. Allowing extra days will help you to acclimatize better and improve your chances of reaching the summit. The easiest and most popular route is Marangu (which can be done in five), but we use six days for this route.
What kind of experience do I need?
None, but previous hiking or climbing experience will help. You need to be fit and healthy and have a good pair of worn-in hiking boots. The fitter you are the more you are likely to enjoy it.
Do you offer private and fully customizable climbs for Kilimanjaro
Your Kilimanjaro dream climb is entirely your own to design. We will work with you to customize exactly the triumphant Tanzanian mountainous quest experience you want. You go with the people you choose. You leave on whatever day you wish. You decide on your preferred route option, pace, and the number of days you will take.
How many hours will I trek each day?
On most routes, you’ll trek 4-7 hours most days. On certain routes you’ll trek as many as 10-15 hours on the longest days.
Will I see wildlife?
Prior to the climb, you’ll enjoy an acclimatization day with wildlife viewing and nature walks. Trekking through the rain forest, you’re likely to spot black-and-white Colobus monkeys, tropical birds and more.
What kind of food will I eat?
Highly-trained chefs prepare three hot nutritious meals daily, as well as trail snacks and afternoon tea each day. You’ll eat all your meals in a solar-lit dining tent with your fellow trekkers and head guide. Delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other specialty meals can be provided (with advance request). We’re happy to send you a sample menu—just ask!
What are the Kilimanjaro accommodations like?
Your mountain camps are set up and broken down each day by expert camp porters. You’ll stay in double occupancy all-weather tents with full-ground pads to keep you and your gear dry. Private toilet tents, solar-lit dining tents with tables and chairs, and basins of hot water for washing are provided in every camp. Grand Traverse treks include upgraded solar-lit walk-in-height sleeping tents with mountaineering beds and mattresses for additional comfort.
Who are your operators in Tanzania?
We are. We are not agents for anybody, but run the treks ourselves through our own registered Tanzanian local company.
Do you arrange airport pick up & Drop off?
Yes, we do arrange this. Please send your request to Safari.
What travel documents do I need?
You will need a passport that is valid at least six months beyond your dates of travel with an entry or re-entry visa, duly endorsed.
Where is Kilimanjaro?
The mountain is in Tanzania, East Africa, about 350km from the equator. The nearest towns are Moshi and Arusha.
How high is Kilimanjaro?
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Africa. Its highest point is Uhuru Peak on the Kibo crater at 5895m above sea level.
Do we tip the hiking crew?
Yes, it is expected and much appreciated. The amount depends on the number of days, but can range from $150 and $350 per hiker. Tips are pooled and shared amongst the crew.
