LEMOSHO ROUTE

Lemosho Route 7 Days Itinerary

Climbing Kilimanjaro allows you to climb Lemosho in 7 or 8 days. The seven-day option combines days five and six and includes a trip from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp without stopping at Karanga.

DAY 1: Lemosho Glades – Mti Mkubwa/Big Tree Camp

• Distance: ~5.5km / 3.5 miles
• Trekking time: 3-4 hours
• Zone: Rainforest

You will arrive in the strange fortified village of Londorossi after a pretty long drive, where you have registered, paid the park fees, and have the porters’ luggage weighed. You will then continue to the start of the hike, located on the edge of the woodland.

The entire first day’s hike takes place in some of the most beautiful and scenic areas on the mountain. Because of the trail’s remote location and low visitor traffic, wildlife sightings are more frequent than most other trails. You will also witness some of Kilimanjaro’s more unique flora, including one of the mountain’s great emblems, the magnificent red impatiens Kilimanjaro.

The first day comes to an end at Mti Mkubwa, the Big Tree Camp (2785m); you will find your tent already set up and food waiting for you. You will enjoy a hearty dinner before falling asleep to the sounds of the forest, including monkeys and the raucous turaco bird, in this most beautiful of surroundings, beneath the spreading branches of a magnificent old podocarpus tree.

DAY 2: Mti Mkubwa/Big Tree Camp – Shira 1 Campsite

• Distance: ~8km / 5 miles
• Trekking time: 5-6 hours
• Zone: Rainforest /low Alpine Zone

The most varied day of the walk begins with continuing the previous day’s march into the forest. However, you will soon leave the trees behind and enter the heath and moorland zone, where you will find grasses and wildflowers. Observe how your guide has already started to walk at a deliberately slow pace to assist you in acclimating to the lack of air pressure at this altitude.

The journey will continue till you reach the northern slopes of the Shira Ridge, Kilimanjaro’s little-known third summit, and take a breather to admire the first glimpse of your target, the majestic snow-covered Kibo summit.

After descending a short distance, you will arrive at your second campsite, Shira One Campsite (3504m), on the western border of the Shira Plateau, with views across the plateau to Kibo.

DAY 3: Shira 1 Campsite – Shira Huts Campsite

• Distance: ~14km / 8.5 miles
• Trekking time: 5-7 hours
• Zone: low alpine zone / High alpine zone

You could cut a straight path across the plateau towards Kibo on the third day. But if you have the energy, a wonderful morning can be spent exploring some of the Shira Ridge’s features, such as the Cathedral, from which you can get great views across the plateau towards Kibo and along Kilimanjaro’s southern slopes. It’s also great for acclimatization because you will be climbing slowly to 3720m before descending to the plateau.

Continue east toward Kibo, finally arriving at the Shira Huts Campsite (3895m) in the plateau’s heart.

DAY 4: Shira Huts Campsite – Lava Tower and – Barranco Campsite

• Distance: ~12km / 7.5 miles
• Trekking time: 6-7 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone

The day starts with a slow march directly to Kibo. As you ascend higher, the flora becomes scarcer, with only a few everlastings, like living potpourri, decorating the route. It’s a lengthy hike, but it’s also an extremely beautiful one, with Kilimanjaro’s snowy summit looming ahead.

With Lava Tower, at the foot of Kibo, your next destination is at 4530m above sea level; you will be now heading into some serious altitude. The trail splits right here. If you wish to continue on the regular Lemosho Route to Barranco this evening, you will eat lunch near the Lava Tower.

You will camp at Lava Tower if you plan to climb via the Western Breach.

If you stay on the ‘regular’ Lemosho Route, you’ll soon reach Lava Tower, which is 4530 meters above sea level. As a result, it’s common for people to have a slight headache when they get to Barranco Camp, located at the bottom of a steep descent to 3985m. This is completely normal and only cause for concern if the symptoms continue. Barranco, located amongst a grove of senecios hard against Kibo’s south face, is the loveliest campground on the trek as compensation. In the evening, snacks and dinner are served.

DAY 5: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp/Huts via Karanga Valley

• Distance: ~7km / 4 miles
• Trekking time: 4 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone

The first hour or two of this long day is spent ascending the Breakfast Wall, the toughest stretch of the entire hike. From here, the route meanders down through valleys and scree slopes as it passes Kibo’s southern slopes before a sharp descent drops you to the Karanga Valley’s flora-rich. Though your lunch destination shares the same name as this lovely valley, it is located on the opposite side of the valley and requires a 20-minute climb.

You will have lunch at the Karanga Valley Campsite while admiring the views north towards Kibo’s southern face, which will hopefully divert you from any altitude-related ill effects. After that, you’ll trek the southern side of Kibo for a brief afternoon (3.4km), passing through a beautiful lunar landscape. 

On the south-eastern shoulder of Kibo, you reach freezing Barafu Camp (4662m) by climbing onto a ridge. You’ll rest here, eat both lunch and dinner, and attempt to get some sleep before the night’s rigors.

DAY 6: Barafu Camp/Huts – Summit and Decent to Mweka Camp/Huts

• Distance: ~6km / 4 miles
• Trekking time: 3 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone

Start your long march up to Stella Point (5745m) on the edge of the Kibo crater around midnight. This is where you will get your Kilimanjaro certificate, which is a steep, sluggish, freezing march and a test of your endurance. There’s no reason you should not be able to make it up to Stella Point if you have avoided altitude sickness and acclimatized correctly.

It’s only 45 minutes from Stella Peak to Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point at 5895 meters, across glaciers, snowfields, and breathtaking views over the Kibo Crater.  If you arrive early enough, you may watch the sunrise over the African continent, snap photos, and even take a break.

Continue down to Barafu Camp after a little rest at the summit — a much shorter hike than it was on the way up. Day 6 hike returns to the forest zone through Millennium Camp, passing through the alpine desert, heath, and moorland zones (3827m). The Mweka Campsite (3106m), the final destination on the trek, is hidden among the trees. 

DAY 7: Mweka Camp/Huts – Mweka Gate

• Distance: ~9km / 5.5 miles
• Trekking time: 3-5 hours
• Zone: Rainforest

From the campsite, it’s only a few hours to Mweka Gate (1633m), where those who reached the summit or Stella Point will receive their awards. A car will be waiting for you to return to your hotel and the land of hot showers and cold beers. Your journey has come to an end.