Climbing Kilimanjaro 6 Days Lemosho Route Hike

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This 6-day Kilimanjaro hike follows the Lemosho Route, widely considered to be the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro. The Lemosho route is approximately 70 km/ 42 miles from gate to gate.

Mount Kilimanjaro in Kilimanjaro National Park is located in the northern regions of Tanzania, straddling the border with nearby Kenya. At 5,896m (19,336 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa.

Kilimanjaro climbing – Lemosho Route 6-day Itinerary 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’s perfect for somebody looking to get off the beaten track and those who want to avoid the crowds you would find on Machame or Marangu.!  It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate.

This guided trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro via Lemosho Route begins with a transfer from Arusha to Londorossi Gate at 2250m above sea level. Arriving at the gate you are registered by the National Park authorities. Then we continue along a bumpy track for 15km, heading into the dense rainforest where the starting point of the Lemosho Route is located.

We walk for about two and a half hours before reaching our first overnight stop on the trek up Kilimanjaro, the Big Tree Camp at 2800m. Birds and wild animals, such as colobus monkeys, are often spotted here, so keep your eyes open.

Day two long trek begins with a 4 to 5 hours trek to reach Shira Camp 1 where we stop for lunch, relax for a while, and continue climbing (approximately three hours), reaching Shira Camp 2 where we camp for the night and with a little luck, enjoy the wonderful view of the Kibo summit in the warm evening light.

On day three, the trek begins with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower Hut (4600m). The vegetation becomes sparser as the landscape moves toward an afro-alpine desert.  After 6 to 7 hours of walking, you will arrive at perhaps the most beautiful camp on Kilimanjaro – the Barranco Camp. Here you will stay for the night.

On day four we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. After a filling meal, you can get some sleep in preparation for the climb up to the summit of Kilimanjaro!

Day five begins very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit, and after five to seven hours of walking through the night, we arrive at Stella Point, on the crater rim of the dormant Kibo volcano. Another one to two hours of climbing along the crater ridge leads us to the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895m.

After taking a short break and numerous photographs at the summit, we begin our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. At Camp Mweka, we enjoy dinner, followed by a relaxing evening and a very good night’s sleep.

We continue the descent down on day six to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the hotel in Moshi/ Arusha where our Climbing Kilimanjaro 6 Days Lemosho Route hike comes to an end.

Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2400 Meters/ 7,800 Feet) to Forest Camp (2900 Meters/ 9,500 Feet)
Day 2: Forest Camp to Shira Camp 1 (2900 Meters/ 9,500 Feet)  Hike to Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2 (3810 Meters/ 12,500 Feet)
Day 3: Shira Camp 2 (3810 Meters/ 12,500 Feet) Hike to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (3976 Meters/ 13,000 Feet)
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3976 Meters/ 13,000 Feet) Hike to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4600 Meters/ 15,000 Feet)
Day 5: Barafu Camp (4600 Meters/ 15,000 Feet) Hike to Summit (5895 Meters/ 19,345 Feet) to Mweka Hut (3068 Meters/ 10,000 Feet)
Day 6: Mweka Camp (3068 Meters/ 10,000 Feet) Hike to Moshi (1640 Meters/ 5,400 Feet)

Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2400 Meters/ 7,800 Feet) to Forest Camp (2900 Meters/ 9,500 Feet)

We depart Moshi/ Arusha for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities.

Then drive to the Lemosho trail-head (another hour to reach the trail-head). Upon arrival at trailhead, we eat lunch, then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site.

The hiking time is 3 to 4 Hours and the distance covered is 6 Kilometers through rain forest.

Overnight at Forest Camp site
Meal Plan: {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Forest Camp to Shira Camp 1 (2900 Meters/ 9,500 Feet)  Hike to Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2 (3810 Meters/ 12,500 Feet)

We continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards.

As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp.  The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.

From here, it is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glacier peak, across the plateau to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.

The hiking time is 8 to 10 Hours and the distance covered is 18 Kilometers through Moorland.

Overnight at Forest Camp site
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 3: Shira Camp 2 (3810 Meters/ 12,500 Feet) Hike to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (3976 Meters/ 13,000 Feet)

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards 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 at an altitude of 16,000 Feet. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000 Feet.

Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

The hiking time is 6 to 8 Hours and the distance covered is 10 Kilometers through Semi Desert.

Overnight at Barranco Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3976 Meters/ 13,000 Feet) Hike to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4600 Meters/ 15,000 Feet)

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite.

Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.

Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

The hiking time is 8 to 10 Hours and the distance covered is 9 Kilometers through Alpine Desert.

Overnight at Barranco Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 5: Barafu Camp (4600 Meters/ 15,000 Feet) Hike to Summit (5895 Meters/ 19,345 Feet) to Mweka Hut (3068 Meters/ 10,000 Feet)

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.

You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch.

You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.

Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. The hiking time up is 7 to 8 Hours and the distance covered is 5 Kilometers through Arctic.

The hiking time down is 4 to 6 Hours and the distance covered is 12 Kilometers through Arctic.

Overnight at Mweka Hut
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 6: Mweka Camp (3068 Meters/ 10,000 Feet) Hike to Moshi (1640 Meters/ 5,400 Feet)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.

Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village.

A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi. The hiking time up is 3 to 4 Hours and the distance covered is 10 Kilometers through Rain Forest.

Meal Plan: {Breakfast}

Climbing Kilimanjaro 6 Days Lemosho Route Hike Rates Includes:

Three meals daily + Park fees, camping fees, rescue fees + Transport to and from mountain gates + Guide, assistant guides, cooks and porters + Camping Equipment: Three-season Vaude/ Salewa tents, sleeping mats, and sleeping bags + Day 1, we provide 1.5 liters of Bottled Mineral Water + Day 2 until the end of the climb, we provide filtered water & Fair wages for porters and guides approved by Kilimanjaro National Park, Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project as well as Tanzanian Association of Tour Operators

Notes
* Wildlife can be seen at the start of the trek in the forest zone
* The route joins the Machame trail at Shira 2 thus sharing some of the features of that route
* Coupled with the Barafu option to the summit, this route is the longest summit-bound trail on the mountain

Climbing Kilimanjaro 6 Days Lemosho Route Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Laundry
* Gamow Bag is extra
* Travelers insurance
* Portable oxygen tank is extra
* Communication charges
* Portable manual flush toilet is extra
* Local Tanzanian Mountaineering Doctor for hire
* Visas, international airfares and airport taxes; meals
* Tips or gratuity (Recommended 15% of the total payment)
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)