8 Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route — The Most Scenic Route
Where we will go
- Kilimanjaro
The Lemosho Route is widely regarded as the finest, most beautiful, and most rewarding route on Mount Kilimanjaro — a breathtaking eight-day journey from the remote western slopes across the spectacular Shira Plateau, through dramatic alpine desert, and along the stunning Southern Circuit to the legendary Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres — delivering the highest summit success rates, the most diverse scenery, and the most complete Kilimanjaro experience of any route on the mountain.
Altitude: 2,100 m (gate) → 2,650 m (camp) Distance: 5 km hiking Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours Meals: Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Forest Camp (2,650 m)
Transfer from Moshi to the remote Londorossi Gate (2,100 m) on Kilimanjaro's rarely visited western slopes — the most pristine and most uncrowded entry point on the entire mountain. Complete registration and meet your full guide and porter team before a short afternoon hike through the extraordinary montane rainforest to Forest Camp (2,650 m). Dinner and overnight.
Altitude: 2,650 m → 3,500 m
Distance: 8 km hiking Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Shira 1 Camp (3,500 m)
A beautiful day ascending through the upper rainforest and into the extraordinary open heath and moorland zone — the forest gradually thinning as the landscape opens into dramatic moorland studded with giant heather and the first extraordinary giant groundsel plants. Reach the edge of the magnificent Shira Plateau and descend gently to Shira 1 Camp (3,500 m) with spectacular views across the plateau toward Kibo's summit.
Altitude: 3,500 m → 3,840 m Distance: 9 km hiking Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Shira 2 Camp (3,840 m)
A spectacular day crossing the vast and beautiful Shira Plateau — one of the most extraordinary and most photogenic landscapes on the entire Kilimanjaro massif. The plateau stretches dramatically in every direction — ancient volcanic rock, sparse alpine vegetation, and breathtaking panoramic views of the Kibo summit cone rising magnificently above. Continue to Shira 2 Camp (3,840 m) — the main Shira Plateau camp with extraordinary sunset views over the western plains far below.
Altitude: 3,840 m → 4,600 m (Lava Tower) → 3,976 m (camp)
Distance: 10 km hiking Hiking Time: 6 to 7 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Barranco Camp (3,976 m)
The critical acclimatization day — ascending to the dramatic Lava Tower (4,600 m) for lunch before descending to Barranco Camp (3,976 m) following the essential "climb high sleep low" acclimatization principle. The dramatic volcanic landscape of the upper mountain opens dramatically with extraordinary views of Kilimanjaro's famous Breach Wall and the dramatic southern glaciers. The descent to Barranco delivers the most spectacular campsite on the entire route — a dramatic location directly beneath the extraordinary Barranco Wall.
Altitude: 3,976 m → 4,035 m
Distance: 5 km hiking Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
The most dramatic and most exciting day of the route — beginning with the legendary Barranco Wall scramble — a thrilling near-vertical 257-metre rock face requiring hands-and-feet scrambling with extraordinary views from the top across the entire southern Kilimanjaro landscape. Continue along the dramatic Southern Circuit with constantly changing and consistently spectacular glacier views to Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — a beautiful and sheltered campsite in a dramatic valley setting.
Altitude: 4,035 m → 4,673 m
Distance: 4 km hiking Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Early Dinner Overnight: Barafu Camp (4,673 m)
A shorter but critically important day — ascending steadily to Barafu Base Camp (4,673 m) for maximum rest before summit night. Arrive early afternoon for extended rest, hydration, and final summit preparation. Your guide conducts a detailed summit briefing covering equipment, pace, hydration, and safety procedures. Early dinner at 5:30 PM and rest by 7:00 PM before the midnight departure.
Altitude: 4,673 m → 5,895 m (Uhuru) → 3,100 m (Mweka)
Distance: 17 km hiking Hiking Time: 7 to 8 hours ascent + 4 to 5 hours descent Meals: Midnight snack, Breakfast (summit), Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Mweka Camp (3,100 m)
Midnight departure (11:30 PM) — the most extraordinary and most life-changing day begins in darkness under the brilliant Kilimanjaro night sky. The steady "pole pole" ascent through the arctic summit zone in complete darkness — the cold intensifying with every step — leads to Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim where the first spectacular pre-dawn light illuminates the horizon in breathtaking colours.
The final triumphant push along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — the highest point in all of Africa — arriving as the full African sunrise blazes across the horizon in one of the most emotionally powerful and most profoundly moving moments of your entire life. Congratulations — you are standing on the Roof of Africa. Descent to Barafu for lunch before continuing to Mweka Camp (3,100 m) for a well-earned final overnight.
Altitude: 3,100 m → 1,640 m Distance: 10 km hiking Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Overnight: N/A — return to Moshi
Final descent through the beautiful montane rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,640 m) where your official Kilimanjaro summit certificate is proudly presented. Transfer back to Moshi for a celebratory lunch and the beginning of your post-summit recovery — arriving as a Kilimanjaro summiteer with extraordinary memories and an achievement to be proud of for the rest of your life.
- ✅ Moshi hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✅ All transport — Moshi to Machame Gate and Mweka Gate to Moshi
- ✅ Professional certified Kilimanjaro lead guide
- ✅ Assistant guide (1 per 3 climbers)
- ✅ Experienced and fairly paid porters — maximum 15 kg per porter
- ✅ Skilled mountain cook and all cooking equipment
- ✅ All Kilimanjaro National Park fees — gate fee, camping fee & rescue fee
- ✅ All meals on the mountain — breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks daily
- ✅ Drinking water purified and available throughout
- ✅ Quality mountain tents — sleeping tent, dining tent & toilet tent
- ✅ Sleeping bags and sleeping mats (available on request)
- ✅ Emergency oxygen cylinder carried at all times
- ✅ Daily health monitoring — pulse oximetry checks at every camp
- ✅ Summit certificate upon successful completion
- ✅ Government taxes & levies
- ❌ International flights to Tanzania
- ❌ Tanzania visa fees (USD 50 per person)
- ❌ Travel insurance including emergency evacuation (mandatory)
- ❌ Personal climbing equipment (see equipment list)
- ❌ Tips for guides, porters & cook (strongly recommended — see tipping guide)
- ❌ Personal items, snacks & beverages
- ❌ Moshi hotel accommodation before and after climb (available on request)
