10 DAYS CLIMBING KILIMANJARO EXPEDITION, LEMOSHO ROUTE IN 7 DAYS!
Lemosho route is one of the most beautiful and longest routes to climb Kilimanjaro. The scenery and views are spectacular and the success rates to reach the summit are high. The climb starts on the west side of the Kilimanjaro. On day three the trail joins the popular Machame route, but the first two days on the mountain are quiet, with few other climbers around. Although Lemosho is a more expensive route, it gives climbers plenty of time to acclimatize properly.
During your climb, a professional team of guides, porters and cooks assists you. Zebra-safaris have selected the best guides, with the highest safety standards and high summit success rate. To guarantee your safety, they check your pulse and oxygen saturation each day. After your booking is confirmed, we will send you a comprehensive Kilimanjaro Packing List.
For an overview of all the options, check: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kilimanjaro_climbing_routes
Day 1: arrival kilimanjaro – moshi
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver will transfer you to the hotel. Settle in and take time to relax and to get used to the African atmosphere. It is possible to book an extra rest day prior to the start of the climb, to give you ample time to acclimatize and recover from the flight. This extra day increases your chances of reaching the summit.
NOTE: The hotel below is a suggestion for the first and last night. Depending on your preference we can offer you various options in Moshi, from basic to luxurious accommodations. The choice is yours!
Accommodations:
Category A: Kilemakyaro Mountain Lodge
Category B: House of West Kili – http://houseofwestkili.com/
Category C: Weru Weru River Lodge – http://www.weruweruriverlodge.com/
Day 2: Lemosho Trailhead (2,000 m/6,561 ft) – Big Tree Camp (2,800 m/9,186 ft)
Elevation gain: 800 meters / 2,624 feet
Today your driver will pick you up and bring you to Londorossi Gate on the west side of Kilimanjaro to arrange entry formalities. Before you start the climb, he will drive you to Lemosho trailhead for lunch. The climb begins with an easy walk through thick forest where you can spot buffaloes and monkeys, such as the rare black-and-white-colobus monkeys. This first day’s climb takes only about 3 hours, on a small trail with a few steep sections.
Day 3: big tree camp (2.800 m / 9.186 ft) – shira 2 camp (3.800 m / 12.467 ft)
Elevation gain: 1,000 meters / 3,280 feet
Today will be a long day (7-8 hours walk) since the trail is steep and you will need several breaks. You trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and landscape with volcanic rocks. This trail leads you up and down with beautiful views of the Kibo summit and Shira Ridge. Shira is one of the three volcanic summits of Kilimanjaro. This steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau ends at Shira 2 Camp.
Day 4: shira camp 2 (3.800 m / 12.467 ft) – barranco camp (3.850 m / 12.631 ft)
Elevation gain: 750 meters / 2,460 feet
Elevation loss: 700 meters / 2,296 feet
Your trek starts with an ascent from Shira Camp towards Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock. This part takes around 4 hours and provides stunning views. After reaching the Lava Tower, you will decend into Barranco Valley, passing surreal 5m high flowering plants during this 1-2-hour climb. This decent is a great practice for the rapid decent after reaching the summit in a few days. You will sleep in a camp in Barranco Valley at the foot of the impressive Barranco Wall (same elevation as the previous day) to help your body to acclimatize.
Day 5: barranco camp (3.850 m / 12.631 ft), via karranga camp (3.950 m / 12.959 ft) naar barafu camp (4.600 m / 15.091 ft)
Elevation gain: 750 meters / 2,460 feet
For a lot of climbers this is the best part of the route due to the adventure. You start with a descent into the base of the Barranco Wall and then climb a steep cliff. On top of the Barranco Wall you are rewarded with beautiful views. From the top of this wall you circle through hills and valleys around the mountain. To your left the sighting of Kibo is spectacular and to your right you will see Mount Meru. The trek continues across slopes until you arrive at Barafu Camp, located just under the Kilimanjaro summit. Today consists of a long active climb of 8-10 hours. It is also possible to split this into 2 days to give your body more time to acclimatize.
Day 6: barafu camp (4.600 m / 15.091 ft) – uhuru peak (5.895 m / 19.340 ft) – mweka camp (3.110 m / 10.203 ft)
Elevation gain: 1,295 meters / 4,248 feet
Elevation loss: 2,785 meters / 3,137 feet
Around midnight you start the last part of the journey, 6-8 hours upwards climb to Uhuru Peak (summit). This is the most challenging part of the trek due to the sharp increase in altitude, of cold and darkness. You arrive at Stella Point when the sun rises. A breath-taking view to see the red sunrise over Mawenzi Peak that slowly turns yellow. After another hour walking you arrive at the highest point of Kilimanjaro, the Uhuru Peak. Celebrate your accomplishment at the summit while looking out onto an incredible vast landscape of white snow and towering peaks. From the summit you start your descent along the rocky trail to Stella Point and Barafu Camp, before arriving at Mweke Camp after 6 hours. Enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a good night’s sleep.
Day 7: mweka camp (3.110 m / 10.203 ft) – mweka gate (1.830 m / 6.000 ft) – moshi
Elevation gain: 1280 meters / 4,199 feet
This last trek down takes you in 2-3 hours through the beautiful forest to the Mweke Gate. You have the chance to spot monkeys. At the gate you can collect your summit certificate. Your driver brings you to your hotel in Moshi to relax, have a shower and enjoy a delicious dinner and sleep.
Day 8 en 9: moshi airport
Today you can relax at the lodge or explore the surrounding area. You can choose to extend your journey with a beautiful Tanzania Safari. Another option is to unwind on the tropical Zanzibar Island or one of the other exotic beach destinations Pemba Island and Mafia Island. If you choose to fly home after your Kilimanjaro trek, you will arrive back home on day 9.
How fit do you need to be to climb Kilimanjaro via the lemosho route?
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a real challenge due to the altitude, rate of ascent and different temperatures. During an average climbing day, you will walk 6-7 hours . If you are healthy and fit it is absolutely achievable. There are many things you can do to increase your chances to reach the summit and to make sure you enjoy the trek. It is important you take your time. Do not hike too fast so your body has time to adapt and acclimatize. Being in good shape also makes the climb much easier. Go hiking a few months before the climb, especially multiple day hikes are excellent training. But also, running, and aerobic exercise are a good preparation. It is always difficult to predict who will be affected by altitude sickness. Fortunately, the Lemosho Route offers good opportunities to ‘walk high and sleep low’ which is essential to avoid altitude sickness. This route (with extra day for acclimatizing) gives climbers enough time to acclimatize properly and the trails are pretty good. Not many people experience altitude sickness on this route to the summit.
By adding 1 extra day to your climb, you will reduce the chance to get altitude sickness. Because you spread the climb over more days and your body gets more time to get used to the higher altitude. We do really advise to do this to increase the chance of making it to the top. The costs of this extra day are $ 420 per person.
If you would like advice on how to prepare yourself for climbing Kilimanjaro, you can always contact us.
Lemosho price information
Prices per person
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
- Pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport, transfer to lodge/hotel
- Transfer lodge/hotel to Kilimanjaro Airport
- Private guide speaking fluent English
- Private cook speaking fluen English
- Park Fees for national park
- Porters who carry your luggage
- High quality tents
- Chairs and tables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Dinner-tent
- Rescue fee
- All government taxes and fees.
- 24/7 service from our local office in Tanzania or The Netherlands
EXCLUDED
- International flight tickets and tourist visa
- Accommodation on day of arrival and departure
- Insurances (travel, flying doctors etc)
- Covid-19 form
- Reservation costs
want to relax?
After all the hard work, enjoy a few days at the beach!
