Kilimanjaro Trekking – Lemosho Route

Altitude: 2,200 m – 2,600 m
Hiking Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours

After breakfast, you'll drive to the Londorosi Park Gate, a journey of about 5 hours. As you pass through the Shira Plateau, keep an eye out for big game, offering one of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival, you'll begin the hike up to Mti Mkubwa Camp. Once at the campsite, you'll set up camp and enjoy a delicious dinner to end your day.

Altitude: 2,600 m – 3,600 m
Hiking Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4–5 hours

After breakfast, begin the short hike from Mti Mkubwa to Shira Camp, which usually takes no more than 5 hours. A steady, calm pace is essential for proper acclimatization. As you hike, the impressive west face of the Kibo volcano towers above the campsite. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch, set up camp, and take some time to rest or embark on a short day hike. The trail traverses the lower moorland, where large shrubs and vibrant wildflowers create a striking landscape.

Altitude: 3,600 m – 3,840 m
Hiking Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours

After breakfast, break camp and begin a short hike to Shira Camp 2. This day is ideal for acclimatization, allowing your body to adjust to the increasing altitude. Take your time to enjoy the surroundings and ensure a steady pace throughout the hike.

Altitude: 3,840 m – 3,940 m
Hiking Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 7–8 hours

The route now heads east into a semi-desert, rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. After about 5 hours of hiking, you'll reach an altitude of 4,600 m. Lunch will be served in a designated area before continuing up the rocky scree path to Lava Tower, making this one of the toughest days so far. At this altitude, some climbers may begin to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, or headaches. After lunch, you'll descend nearly 680 m to the Barranco camping area, which takes about 2 hours. The true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear as you descend, offering excellent opportunities to capture stunning photographs of the Western Breach and the Breach Wall. The camp, nestled in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, provides a perfect setting for a memorable sunset as you prepare for dinner and your overnight stay at Barranco Camp.

Altitude: 3,960 m – 4,640 m
Hiking Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 7 – 8 hours

At this stage, the route is exposed to strong, persistent winds, and the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and potentially hazardous ridge. It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the terrain before darkness falls to avoid accidents. The summit is now just 1,345 m above you, and you’ll make the final ascent later that night. Prepare your gear, including ski sticks and thermal clothing, for the summit attempt. Ensure you have spare batteries for your headlamp and camera, and carry water in a thermal flask to prevent it from freezing. Aim to go to bed around 19:00 and rest as much as possible, though for no more than 5 hours, to conserve energy for the upcoming climb.

Altitude: 4,670 m – 5,895 m – 3,100 m
Hiking Distance: 17 km
Hiking Time: 15+ hours

Rise at around 23:30, enjoy some tea and biscuits, and begin your ascent into the night. You’ll head northwesterly, ascending through challenging scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. The 6-hour walk to Stella Point is one of the most demanding parts of the route for many climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m), take a short rest and, weather permitting, enjoy the most breathtaking sunrise. From Stella Point, you’ll encounter snow as you ascend for another 2 hours to Uhuru Peak. The time spent at the summit will depend on weather conditions, but avoid lingering for too long as the cold and fatigue will make it difficult to continue. Take a moment to savor the accomplishment of reaching the summit, a memory that will last a lifetime. The walk back down to Barafu Camp from the summit takes about 3 hours. After a brief rest and collection of your gear, descend further to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight rest.

After breakfast, you'll continue your descent from Mweka Gate down into Mweka village, typically a muddy, one-hour walk. From there, you'll drive back to your hotel in Moshi, where you'll be treated to a hot lunch and a well-deserved shower, followed by an overnight stay. Tips for your guide can be given at the hotel. This is also the moment when successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reach Stella Point (5,685 m) are awarded green certificates, while those who reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) receive gold certificates.

After 7 days of adventure on Mount Kilimanjaro, it's time to say goodbye to this stunning and unforgettable land. A transfer will take you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey. Alternatively, we invite you to continue your travels with a safari or a relaxing stay in Zanzibar.