8 days Trekking Lemosho route

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8 days

unlimited

Trekking

Any desired

short overview

This is a good climbing route for Kilimanjaro with beautiful panoramic landscapes. Throughout the trek, your Kilimanjaro Unforgettable guides will share facts and stories about Tanzania’s nature and wildlife, you will experience great evenings at the overnight camps and witness unforgettable African sunsets.

Climbing Lemosho begins with an altitude of 3,400 meters (11483 feet) above sea level on the western slope of Kilimanjaro. You will pass through five climatic zones of Kilimanjaro, including equatorial, rainforest, and arctic. It’s like hiking from the hot equator to snowy Antarctica in just a week!

Kilimanjaro Unforgettable recommends the seven-day Lemosho route for both beginners and experienced mountain hikers. The ascent is quite simple in technical terms, you don’t need any special equipment or climbing skills to reach the summit. According to our statistics, 98 out of 100 people successfully reach the summit along the eight-day Lemosho route, making it the most successful route of all! This is one of our favorite routes, and it is along Lemosho that we led the legendary Wings of Kilimanjaro expeditions.

itinerary

Arrival

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet a Kilimanjaro Unforgettable representative, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay, cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

Accommodation:

DAY 1 - Londorossi gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

A guide and the mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle (roughly 3-4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park’s western entrance: Londorossi Gate (2,250 m /7,380 f). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking towards the first camp of the route, Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m /8,692 f).

Raincoats are necessary on this day in particular, as you will be walking through a rainforest. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will have prepared everything necessary, put up the tents, and begun preparing lunch. After lunch, the group will depart on an acclimatization hike towards Shira 1 Camp that features a 300-meter (984-foot) gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Mti Mkubwa Camp, where a hot dinner will be served.

The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances to climb Kilimanjaro successfully and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

Accommodation:

DAY 2 - Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp

On this day you will wake up early and enjoy a filling breakfast, then start trekking. Your group will reach an altitude of 3,500 m /11,483 f. At that point, you will be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano for the first time. On the whole, the passage from Mti Mkubwa Camp to the second high-altitude camp, Shira 1 Camp (3,610 m / 11,841 f), is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This will allow you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is a mainstay of good trekking. When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will cook lunch and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or walk around the nearby area.

Accommodation:

DAY 3 - Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

On this day you will depart from Shira 1 Camp (3,610m/11843f) and trek towards the second high-altitude camp: Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,628 f). This trek is not difficult and you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the African savannah, the unique flora of Kilimanjaro, and the surrounding area. Shira 2 Camp is the best place on the trip to see Mount Meru (the fifth summit of Africa and second-highest in Tanzania), weather permitting.

During the trek between camps, our guides will offer ascending Cathedral Peak – 3872 meters (12,703 feet), one of the highest points of the extinct Shira volcano. Besides the captivating hiking experience, reaching the summit of Cathedral Peak on a clear day offers breathtaking views down into the valley. In our decade of experience working on the mountain, the valley below resembling a lost world is among our favorite views. This is a straightforward hike with no technical challenges.

Although the peak may be shrouded in clouds at times, there’s a stella providing an opportunity for a memorable photograph.If you prefer to skip this ascent or encounter unfavorable weather, heading directly to Shira 2 is an option. This choice doesn’t impact acclimatization since Shira 2 and Cathedral Peak stand at a similar elevation. Nevertheless, we believe the hike to Cathedral Peak is worth it and wholeheartedly recommend it.

Accommodation:

DAY 4 - shira 2 Camp to The Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

After breakfast you will leave Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,628 f) and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,600 m /15,088 f). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at above 4,600 m /15,088 f. Some parts of the trek might be difficult, and it is common to experience some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where you will enjoy your lunch.

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,900m/12795f). There you will see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! The next day you will be climbing it, but don’t worry: it features a very simple hiking trail that is not intimidating at all.

Accommodation:

DAY 5 - Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

You will have an early start and a filling breakfast before beginning to hike the Barranco Wall. We recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups which could slow you down. Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you will start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don’t worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you will have to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 200 m/656 f gain in altitude and then descend back down to the camp.

Accommodation:

DAY 6 - Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

In the morning, after a warm and hearty breakfast, you will begin your hike to Barafu Summit Camp. This camp is the starting point for the final night summit to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f) – your end goal. Our team will set up camp ahead of time, so when you arrive your tents and sleeping bags will already be prepared, meaning you can just relax and rest when you reach Barafu Summit Camp. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before the night summit.

Accommodation:

DAY 7 - Ascent To Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp

Your group will depart from Barafu Camp (4,673 m /15,327 f) at night and start the final summit toward the highest point of Kilimanjaro – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f). Technically speaking, the climb is relatively simple; however, given the high altitude, even normal physical activity can feel strenuous. For this reason, every two climbers will be paired with a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor their physical and mental well-being more closely.

After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak – the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the final point of the climb on the Lemosho Route, you can descend to the nearest glacier, if desired. Then you will return to Barafu Camp for a 2-hour rest before continuing your descent to Millenium Camp (3,950 m /12,956 f).

Please Note: Don’t forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including most broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.

Accommodation:

DAY 8 - Descent From Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate

The Millennium Camp is situated in a tropical rainforest. When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of altitude and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park’s exit: Mweka Gate (1,640 m /5,379 f). After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you with a transfer back to the hotel.

Accommodation:

Departure

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
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.

No Accommodation

Included/excluded

Oxygen
Oximeters
Camp pillow
Airport Transfer
Extra sleeping pad
Hut or camping fees
National Park gate fees
Hyperbaric pressure bag
Dining chairs with backs
All meals on the mountain
Hot lunches on the mountain
Salaries for all crew members
Kilimanjaro map for the group
Rescue fees (as required by the national park)
Accommodation in Moshi/ Arusha
Celebration dinner at the hotel after returning from trek
Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
Special Kilimanjaro guide with Wilderness First Responder certification
Transport from Moshi/ Arusha to starting point on the mountain and return to Moshi/ Arusha

Drinks
Laundry
Tips or gratuity
Travelers insurance
Communication charges
Visas, international airfares
Lunch or dinner in town (option and extra charges direct)
Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities