Lemosho Route — 7 Days
Overview
Considered the most beautiful and successful route up Kilimanjaro, the 7-day Lemosho approach gives your body the time it needs to acclimatise — meaning you reach Uhuru Peak strong, lucid and able to actually enjoy the view from the roof of Africa.
Quick facts
- Start point
- Londorossi Gate (2,250 m)
- End point
- Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
- Distance
- ≈ 70 km / 42 mi round trip
- Highest point
- Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
- Group size
- Private, 1–12 climbers
- Best season
- Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Traffic
- Low to moderate
- Scenery
- Exceptional
- Accommodation
- Mountain tents
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1
Moshi → Londorossi Gate → Mti Mkubwa
Today's StatusHiking Time: 3–4 hoursTotal Distance: 6 kmStarting Altitude: 2,250 m (7,382 ft)Final Altitude: 2,820 m (9,252 ft)Elevation Change: +570 mHabitat: Montane rainforestMorning briefing and gear check in Moshi, then a 4-hour drive via Boma Ng'ombe around to the remote western side of the mountain and the Londorossi Gate (2,250 m) for park registration. Picnic lunch, then a gentle afternoon trek through dense montane rainforest — watch for black-and-white colobus monkeys in the canopy — to the quiet Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp.
Meals: Lunch, DinnerMti Mkubwa Camp · 2,820 m - 2Day 2
Mti Mkubwa → Shira 1 Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 5–6 hoursTotal Distance: 8 kmStarting Altitude: 2,820 m (9,252 ft)Final Altitude: 3,505 m (11,500 ft)Elevation Change: +685 mHabitat: Heather & moorlandClimb steeply out of the rainforest into the heather and moorland zone, following a ridge with increasingly wide views. The gradient eases as you crest onto the western rim of the Shira Plateau, an ancient collapsed caldera, and walk in across open ground with Kibo's glaciers directly ahead. Twice-daily pulse and oxygen checks begin at camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerShira 1 Camp · 3,505 m - 3Day 3
Shira 1 → Shira 2 Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 4–5 hoursTotal Distance: 11 kmStarting Altitude: 3,505 m (11,500 ft)Final Altitude: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)Elevation Change: +305 mHabitat: Shira Plateau moorlandA deliberately easy acclimatisation day traversing the wide, high plateau with Kibo ahead and Mt. Meru floating above the clouds behind. Optional afternoon walk toward the Shira Cathedral rock formation for 'climb high, sleep low' benefit before returning to camp for tea and popcorn.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerShira 2 Camp · 3,810 m - 4Day 4
Shira 2 → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 6–7 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)Final Altitude: 3,960 m (12,995 ft)Elevation Change: +820 m / −670 m (via Lava Tower)Habitat: Alpine desertThe key acclimatisation day. Trek east across alpine desert to the volcanic plug of Lava Tower (4,630 m) for lunch — mild headaches here are normal and ease on the descent. Drop 670 m into the lush Barranco Valley past forests of giant groundsel, camping beneath the Western Breach and the hanging Heim Glacier.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerBarranco Camp · 3,960 m - 5Day 5
Barranco → Karanga Valley → Barafu Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 7–8 hoursTotal Distance: 9 kmStarting Altitude: 3,960 m (12,995 ft)Final Altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)Elevation Change: +713 mHabitat: Alpine desertAn early start to scramble the Barranco Wall — a fun hands-on rock scramble past the famous 'Kissing Rock', no technical climbing — for morning light over the valley. Descend and re-ascend into Karanga Valley, the last water point on the route, then continue up the rocky ridge across barren alpine desert to Barafu, summit base camp. Early dinner at 17:00 and sleep by 19:00.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerBarafu Camp · 4,673 m - 6Day 6
Summit Day · Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 12–14 hoursTotal Distance: 17 kmStarting Altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)Final Altitude: 3,068 m (10,065 ft) via Uhuru Peak 5,895 mElevation Change: +1,222 m / −2,827 mHabitat: Arctic → moorlandWake at 23:30 for tea and biscuits, then climb by headtorch from midnight up frozen scree switchbacks at a slow pole-pole pace. Sunrise breaks as you reach Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim, with Mawenzi silhouetted below. Another 45–60 minutes along the rim brings you to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Descend to Barafu for brunch and rest, then continue down to Mweka Camp in the moorland.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMweka Camp · 3,068 m - 7Day 7
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi
Today's StatusHiking Time: 3–4 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,068 m (10,065 ft)Final Altitude: 1,640 m (5,380 ft)Elevation Change: −1,428 mHabitat: Montane rainforestA final descent on soft forest trail through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Sign out of the park and collect your summit certificate — gold for Uhuru Peak, green for Stella Point — then the crew's farewell song and tipping ceremony over a celebratory lunch. Transfer back to your hotel for a hot shower and a cold Kilimanjaro beer.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Pricing per person
All-inclusive on the ground. Price per person decreases with group size.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $2,500 |
| 2 people | $2,200 |
| 3 people | $2,095 |
| 4 people | $2,050 |
| 5 people | $2,000 |
| 6 people | $1,940 |
| 7 people | $1,900 |
| 8 people | $1,865 |
| 9 people | $1,800 |
| 10 people | $1,770 |
| Prices valid for current season bookings | |
What's included
Everything covered on the ground, and what's not.
The Trip Cost Includes
- All transportation in destination location
- Hotel accommodations, before and after the trek
- All government taxes and park entrance fees
- All meals while on the mountain
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Personal gear rentals
- Tanzania visa fee
- Tipping to the trekking crew
- Travel insurance
Trail map
A stylised overview of the Lemosho Route — camps, elevations and summit approach.
Elevation profile
Night-by-night altitude on the Lemosho Route — the shape of the climb, camp by camp.
Route FAQs
The questions climbers ask most.
Do I need previous climbing experience?+
No technical climbing is required on any of the standard routes. Good general fitness and prior multi-day hiking experience are strongly recommended — you'll be trekking 5–7 hours per day for a week at high altitude.
How cold does it get on the summit?+
Summit night temperatures typically range from −7 °C to −20 °C with wind chill. Daytime at lower camps is much milder (10–20 °C). We provide a detailed packing list and can rent quality cold-weather gear locally.
What is the summit success rate?+
Our overall summit success across all routes is 96 %. On the 8-day Lemosho itinerary it climbs to 99 %. Success comes down to route length (more acclimatisation days = more oxygen in your blood at 5,895 m) and guide quality.
Is travel insurance required?+
Yes — mandatory. Your policy must cover trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. We recommend World Nomads or Global Rescue.
How much should I tip the crew?+
The KPAP guideline is about USD 20–25 per climber per day, pooled and split among guides, cook and porters. We hand out a detailed tipping breakdown at the pre-climb briefing.
How long are the treks?+
Our Kilimanjaro treks run from five to eight days, and we recommend a minimum of six for proper acclimatisation. Total trekking distance is roughly 53–73 km depending on the route. Adding extra days significantly improves your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak — which is why we usually extend Marangu from five days to six.
How many hours will I trek each day?+
Expect 4–7 hours of hiking on a typical day. Summit day is the longest at 10–15 hours including the ascent and initial descent, and some descent days can run 8–10 hours. Actual times depend on your pace, the weather and the route.
Can children climb Kilimanjaro?+
Yes. Kilimanjaro National Park sets a minimum age of 10 years for children trekking to Uhuru Peak.
What kind of food will I eat?+
Our mountain chefs prepare three hot, nutritious meals a day plus trail snacks and afternoon tea, served in the dining tent. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, diabetic-friendly and other special diets are catered for with advance notice — ask us for a sample menu.
Are there charging points on the mountain?+
There are no charging stations on Kilimanjaro. Bring power banks and spare batteries; our vehicles have charging ports for transfer days.
What travel documents do I need?+
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with a valid entry or re-entry visa for Tanzania.
Have a question about Lemosho Route?
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