Kilimanjaro Trekking via Lemosho Route
8 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking via Lemosho Route
Overview
The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. We specializes in guiding on the Lemosho route. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and they consistently report that they loved it. Thus, Lemosho is highly recommended. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rain forest to Shira Ridge. The Lemosho route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. Crowds are low until the route joins the Machame route near Lava Tower. Then the route traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
What’s Included
Full board accommodation on the mountain
Services of Experienced Professional Tour guide
Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, chairs, tables)
All specified accommodation
All oxygen cylinder - only for emergency
Mountain crew (cook and porters)
first aid kit and pulse oximeter
VAT (18% charged by the Government)
All taxes, All entrances fees, and service fees included
What’s Excluded
International & Domestic Flights
Medical Insurance if needed
Gratuities for Mountain crew (please tip separately)
Visa fee (US $50 / US $100 for American or Irish Passport holders)
Sleeping bags
Drinks and beverages in the Camps
Expenses of a personal Nature
Meals not specified
Laundry service
Detailed Itinerary of the Trip
Arrival: Kilimanjaro International Airport - Welcome to Tanzania - The Trip of Your Lifetime!
Arrive anytime at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), there will be a pick up private transfer waiting to Stella Maris Hotel or similar hotel in Moshi. All airport transfers are the part of the package, no extra fee is required. We will gather in the evening for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check.
Day 1: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Londorossi Gate, Hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp
After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (about a 3-hour drive). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 2400m/7838ft to 2700m/9137ft
- Distance: 5km/3mi
- Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest
Day 2: Hike Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge then gently downwards to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 2700m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft
- Distance: 8km/5mi
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 3: Hike Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the Plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft
- Distance: 7km/4mi
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Hike Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elevation 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft
- Distance: 10km/6mi
- class="fas fa-check-circle dominant" aria-hidden="true"> Walking Time: 6-7 hours
- Habitat: Semi-desert
Day 5: Hike Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4050m/13,250ft
- Distance: 5km/3mi
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6: Hike Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4600m/15,350ft
- Distance: 4km/2mi
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 7: Hike Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included (FB)
- Elevation: 4600m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft down to 3100m/10,190ft
- Distance: 5km up / 12km down
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Day 8: Hike Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Moshi
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). A vehicle will meet you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).
- Meal Plan: Breakfast included (BB)
- Elevation: 3100m/10,150ft to 1633m/5358ft
- Distance: 10km/6mi
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Forest
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What Our Clients Say About Us
Best way to see Zanzibar
We were on an 11-day tour of the Northern and Central/Urban part of Zanzibar with a group of 16. We could not have been happier. We were split into two groups each with a guide, Ali and Mohammed. But we were often together giving us two guides. They were wonderful, so knowledgeable, helpful and caring. They could not do enough for us. They were so open and honest about their lives we gained insights into Zanzibar we could never have had without them. They were also hilariously funny. We loved all our stops but would have liked to have spent another night in Kendwa. We would highly recommend the trip.
Whitney May Baxter from Geelong, Australia
Date of experience: February 2020
Trip type: Traveled with family
Great tour operator & great local guide
Very efficient tour operator. I booked the 8 days Zanzibar tour and everything was perfect. Since the beginning they were very efficient. They answer to all your questions within one day and they send all the information you need before departure. The tour was well organized, intensive because we only had 8 days but it really covered the most important places. My guide Ahmed was amazing, he explained a lot of things about the history and the culture of Zanzibar. he was always available for us and he helped to organize all the excursions during the free time. Definitely recommend them for a great time in Zanzibar.
Raziel Paczkowski New York City, New York
Date of experience: October 2019
Trip type: Traveled Solo
Immersive holiday experience
After years of wanting to go to Tanzania, I landed in Zanzibar and in the good company of Mohamed. My booking with Khamis was efficient and she was super pragmatic about how I should go about the trip. Being a solo traveller can be expensive and I appreciated that Khamis and Mohamed were aware of this and provided me with options that didn’t burn a hole in my pocket. There was a genuine interest in curating my days to what I wanted and as a result not only did I drink some yummy coffee, eat mangoes off a tree on a highway but also watch the strange art of selling homes in an open market.
Ummi Ahda Ikrima from Hatta, United Arab Emirates
Date of experience: June 2019
Trip type: Traveled solo
Perfect for my group!
Everything was outstanding. The tour system they have set up met my needs and exceeded them. Considering that I have been on all of the tours before, I will say that they are just different than the other tour companies. Ahmed was young, very intelligent and loved sharing his knowledge and the history of his beloved country. He is very interactive with his clients and that makes it so much easier for his clients to understand what he is saying and made it easier for them to remember what he says. Thank you for making my trip go so smoothly! I will be using Wave Tours & Safari again!
Christian Günter from Frankfurt, Germany
Date of experience: July 2019
Trip type: Traveled with friends
One of the best tours we've ever done
My husband and I did a half day (3 or so hours) Stone Town Walking Tour with Mohammed which was absolutely fantastic. Mohammed was so unbelievably knowledgable about Zanzibar in general and had a great personality for what he's doing - very interesting historical facts and anecdotes laced with humour. Absolutely first class tour.
Alessia Lombardo Pomezia, Rome, Italy
Date of experience: August 2019
Trip type: Traveled Couples
Perfect Vacation in Zanzibar
I can just describe this company with one word: PERFECT. Since the moment I decided to plan my vacation to Zanzibar I contacted Khamis via email and she gave me all the recommendations and planned my days. Khamis was responsable and always responded my questions in a timely manner. During my days in Zanzibar we had the most amazing time thanks to our tour guide, Ibrahim. He was always on time, he answered all our questions and explained everything with details. They exceeded all my expectations and we were very pleased. I will definitely recommend this company to anyone traveling to Zanzibar.
Dimitri Semotchko from Saint Petersburg, Russia
Date of experience: January 2021
Trip type: Traveled with family
