Lemosho Route—8-Day Trek

Summit Mount Kilimanjaro VIA the Lemosho Route

The Lemosho Route is highly recommended by experts, particularly for those seeking a balance of scenic beauty and optimal acclimatization. The 7-day itinerary is favored for its gradual ascent, beginning at 3,414 meters, allowing trekkers to adjust to the altitude effectively. This longer duration ensures shorter hiking distances during the initial days, promoting better acclimatization and improving summit success rates. For most trekkers, especially beginners, the 7-day itinerary is the ideal choice for a safe and successful climb.

Best Time to Use the Lemosho Route

The best time to climb Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route is during the dry seasons: late June to October (warmest/driest) and January to March (clear skies/colder). These months offer the best weather, highest summit success rates, and optimal visibility. Mid-June to October is generally considered the top choice for dry, stable, and warmer trekking conditions.

Route Success Rates

Below, you’ll find the success rates for reaching both the Crater Rim and Uhuru Peak on the Lemosho 7- and 8-day treks:

Lemosho 7-day – Crater Rim: 96.5%, Uhuru Peak: 94.9%
Lemosho 8-day – Crater Rim: 95.0%, Uhuru Peak: 91.7%

Quick Route Note

Scenery

Excellent

Traffic

High

Difficulty

Medium

Price Per Person (8-Day Lemosho Route)

2 Persons	3 Persons	4 Persons	5 Persons	6 Persons
$2,800	$2,500	$2,360	$2,200	$1,880

DAY 1: Londorossi Gate (2,250m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820m)

After breakfast, you’ll be driven from Moshi to Londorossi Gate for registration. The drive takes approximately 3 hours. After completing the registration process, you’ll begin your trek through the dense rainforest, where you may encounter colobus monkeys and a variety of bird species. The trail ascends gradually, offering an introduction to Kilimanjaro’s rich biodiversity. Upon arrival at Mti Mkubwa Camp (Big Tree Camp), you’ll settle in for dinner and an overnight stay.

Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

Accommodation:

Mkubwa Camp

Meal Plan:

Dinner and BreakFast

DAY 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820m) to Shira 1 Camp (3,610m)

Today’s trek starts with a steep climb out of the rainforest into the heather and moorland zone. The trail offers expansive views of the Shira Plateau and Mount Meru in the distance. As you trek across the Shira Plateau, you’ll pass through an ancient caldera and continue to Shira 1 Camp. Dinner and overnight stay at Shira 1 Camp.

Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Accommodation:

Shira 1 Camp

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.

DAY 3: Shira 1 Camp (3,610m) to Shira 2 Camp (3,850m)

This is a relatively easy day as you continue your trek across the Shira Plateau towards Shira 2 Camp. The day is meant for acclimatization as you walk slowly, allowing your body to adjust to the altitude. You’ll have stunning views of the western breach and the volcanic formations. You’ll arrive at Shira 2 Camp in the early afternoon, giving you time to explore the surrounding area. Dinner and overnight at Shira 2 Camp.

Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Accommodation:

Shira 2 Camp

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.

DAY 4: Shira 2 Camp (3,850m) to Barranco Camp (3,950m)

Today is a challenging day with a significant altitude gain as you trek towards Lava Tower, a 4,630-meter-high volcanic rock formation. This day is crucial for acclimatization, as you will ascend high but sleep low. After reaching Lava Tower and taking a break for lunch, you’ll descend to Barranco Camp. The descent helps with acclimatization and prepares you for the upcoming challenges. Barranco Camp is situated in a valley below the Barranco Wall, where you’ll have dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.

Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Hiking Time: 6- 8 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert

Accommodation:

Barranco Camp

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.

DAY 5: Barranco Camp (3,950m) to Karanga Camp (3,995m)

The day begins with the challenging climb of the Barranco Wall, a steep, rocky slope that requires some scrambling. Although the wall may look intimidating, the trail is manageable and offers breathtaking views as you climb. After successfully conquering the Barranco Wall, the trail follows a series of ridges and valleys, with occasional descents and ascents. The landscape remains arid, with scattered boulders and views of the southern glaciers. You’ll reach Karanga Camp in the early afternoon, giving you time to rest, acclimatize, and prepare for the higher altitudes to come.

Distance: 5 km (3 miles)
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Accommodation:

Karanga Camp

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.

DAY 6: Karanga Camp (3,995m) to Barafu Camp (4,673m)

The trail to Barafu Camp is a steady ascent over rocky and barren terrain, with little vegetation. As you approach Barafu Camp, the terrain becomes steeper and more rugged. The camp is located on a rocky ridge, with breathtaking views of Mawenzi Peak and the summit of Kibo. You’ll arrive at Barafu Camp in the early afternoon. This is your base camp for the summit attempt, so after an early dinner, you’ll rest and prepare for the final ascent.

Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles)
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Accommodation:

Barafu Camp

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.

DAY 7: Barafu Camp (4,673m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) to Mweka Camp (3,100m)

The summit attempt begins around midnight. With headlamps lighting the way, you’ll begin the challenging climb up steep scree and ice slopes. The climb to Stella Point is the most physically demanding part of the journey. Upon reaching Stella Point at sunrise, you’ll take a short rest and then continue along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro and in Africa. After celebrating at Uhuru Peak, you’ll descend back to Barafu Camp for a brief rest, and then continue the descent to Mweka Camp.

Distance: 5 km (3 miles) ascent to Uhuru Peak + 12 km (7.5 miles) descent to Mweka Camp
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours to the summit, 4-6 hours descent to Mweka Camp
Habitat: Arctic to Rainforest

Accommodation:

Mweka Camp

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.

DAY 8: Mweka Camp (3,100m) to Mweka Gate (1,640m)

On the final day, you’ll continue descending through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. The trail is gentle and surrounded by the sounds and sights of the forest, a stark contrast to the barren summit. At Mweka Gate, you’ll complete park formalities and receive your summit certificates. After celebrating with your guides and porters, you’ll be driven back to Moshi, where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Distance: 10 km (6 miles)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

Accommodation:

Your Pre-destined Accommodation Facility (Dinner).

Meal Plan:

Breakfast, & Picnic Lunch

Cost Inclusions

All park fees, entrance fees, and Government Taxes
Airport Transfers (upon Arrival and Departure)
Certified and experienced English-speaking Guides
All meals while on the Mountain 
Rescue Fees and all taxes
Salaries for Porters, Cook, and Guides 
Oxygen Tanks, Pulse Oximeter, and First Aid Kit
Private cook speaking fluent English
Fair wages for the mountain crew.
Transfers from the Hotel to the Kilimanjaro entrance gate and from the Kilimanjaro exit gate to the hotel.

Trekking Cost Excludes

Travel insurance
Tips for guides, porters, and cooks
Accommodation on day of arrival and departure
Visas & vaccinations
Personal expenses eg. Laundry, beverages, etc.
Bed, Sleeping Bag, and walking Poles.
Private Toilet and hot shower tent.
International flights (can be booked for you on request)

Request Quote

Reviews about Safaris with Happy Moments Tours

We had a fabulous experience time with our excellent guide. Communication, service, value and reliability are great. Everything has been really amazing from start to finish and our wonderful guide went over and beyond to let us see the animals as close as possible always with the best views….. Thanks to him we had a wonderful experience of Tanzania which was a life long dream. I cannot recommend them enough.

We did a 4 days safari throughout the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the lake Manyara. The communication before booking and all the way until the end has been great. Our guide was very kind, dedicated in providing us with the best experience and comfort, shoutout to him and the rest of the team. Highly recommend it!

It was a fantastic experience. Happy Moments has arranged accommodation in Dreams of Farms, another unique lodge with excellent facilities. In Serengeti, we stayed in the lodge, and the food prepared by the chef was excellent in taste. I recommend them as excellent value for money spent. Our guide Ben has excellent eyesight to spot the animals far away.

We booked the 5-Day Tarangire-Serengeti-Ngorongoro-Manyara Adventure, and it was beyond our expectations. During the safari, the service and hospitality were immaculate. We had Joshua as our guide, and he truly impressed us with his expertise. We even had a private chef for two of the five days. We are also very happy with the animals we saw, as we got to see the Big Five and a myriad of other animals. Overall we highly recommend happy moments for anyone looking for an amazing safari experience.

Read Reviews