Mt Kilimanjaro Trek (Lemosho Route)
Region Tanzania
Trek Days 7-8
Max Alitude 5895m
Grade Strenuous
Join in Date: 7 Days Trek: 20 -28 Jan 2023; 8 Days Trek: 2-11 Aug 2023
Lemosho route is one of the less used trail which makes it to have its originality, unspoiled and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It can either be used to gain the Western Breach route or followed by the Kibo South Circuit to ascend by the easier Barafu Route. Lemosho route is one of the few routes where hikers may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in big game animals like buffalo, elephant and others.
Lemosho route is a long and most remote route while ascending mt Kilimanjaro. After the beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira Plateau to meet up with the Machame Route. The South Circuit is then followed, offering superb views of the Southern Ice fields, past the Barranco Hut then on to Barafu and then the summit. Descent is by the Mweka Route. Mt kilimanjaro climb via Lemosho route takes from 7 days to 8 days , The more days the better as it gives the body more time to acclimatize hence increasing better chances of reaching to the summit.
The Lemosho route is one of the most beautiful camping routes on Mt Kilimanjaro ascent. We consider it one of our favorite routes as it has less traffic, amazing landscape views and high summit success rate as the ascent is gradual.
TREK CODE: AF-KLMR7
Best Season June, July, August, September , October , December , Jan, February & March
Day 1 Arrival (No meals)
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport you will meet with our driver and office representative and transfer to Arusha (just one hour drive from Kilimanjaro airport) for overnight. Your Kilimanjaro guide will brief you and check all your gears to make sure you have the successful trek.
Overnight Arusha Planet Lodge Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 Arusha (1400m) – Londorossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m, 3hrs trek) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Montane forest
After breakfast at 800am You will drive 2 hours from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). In the village near Londorossi Gate, you will receive a packed lunch and you can buy mineral water for the hike. Then the final 45 minutes of the drive leading up to the gate will be on a bumpy forest track requiring 4WD vehicles. At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rain forest. Be on the look out for Colobus monkeys! Along the way, you will stop for an afternoon lunch break and arrive at Mti Mkubwa (“Big Tree”) Campsite (2750m) in the early evening. The porters, who will arrive earlier at the campsite, will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing. Enjoy a snack then dinner prepared by the chef. At night, the mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
Day 3 Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m) – Shira 2 Camp (3840m, 6.5hrs) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Moorland
After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather moorland zone. You will cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. Enjoy the evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.
Day 4 Shira (3840m) – Lava Tower (4630m) – Barranco Camp (3950m, 7hrs, about 15km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Semi desert
Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.
After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2hrs for overnight at baranco camp.
Day 5 Barranco Camp (3950m) – Karanga Camp (3950m, 4-5 hrs, about 5km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Alpine desert
This is a short hiking day meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. You will spend the night at Karanga Camp (3950m) and enjoy dinner and washing at the site.
Day 6 Karanga Camp (3959m) – Barafu Hut (4600m, 2-3hrs, about 4km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!
Day 7 Summit attempt Barafu Camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m, 8hrs, about 7km) – Mweka (3100m, 7-8hrs, about 23km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascend for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours.
At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After lunch, continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. Enjoy dinner, wash, and rest at camp.
Day 8 Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m, 3hrs, about 15km) – Arusha ~ (BL)
Habitat: Forest
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips directly to each member of the team and your guide will assist you on how to split it accordingly . After celebrating, descend for 3 hours back to Mweka Gate where you will enjoy your hot buffet lunch and drinks like beer, soda and water. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, you will be transferred back to Arusha for long overdue showers.
Overnight Arusha Planet Lodge Bed & Breakfast
Day 9 Departure Kilimanjaro Airport ~ (B)
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.
10 Days Mt Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route (8 Days Trek)
TREK CODE: AF-KLMR8
Best time to travel: June, July, August, September, October, December , Jan, February & March
Day 1 Arrival (No meals)
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport you will meet with our driver and office representative and transfer to Arusha (just one hour drive from Kilimanjaro airport) for overnight. Your Kilimanjaro guide will brief you and check all your gears to make sure you have the successful trek.
Overnight Arusha Planet Lodge Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 Arusha (1400m) – Londorossi Gate (2100m) – – Forest camp (2750m, 3-4hrs trek, 6km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will brief you on the day. You will then drive 2 hours from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). In the village near Londorossi, you will complete entry formalities before drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead). Upon arrival at trailhead, enjoy your lunch before commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site.
Day 3 Forest Camp (2750m) – Shira 1 Camp (3540m, 5.5hrs, 8km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Moorland
We continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. Enjoy the amazing views of Kibo from across the plateau.
Day 4 Shira 1 (3540m) – Shira 2 (3840m) – Moir Hut (4114m, 5- 7hrs, about 15km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Moorland
This spectacular camp we will be going to today is located beneath the Northern Ice Fields of Kilimanjaro. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization.
Day 5 Moir Hut ( 4114) – Lava Tower ( 4600) – Barranco Camp (3950m, 7 hrs, about 7km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Semi desert
From Moir hut, 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.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Day 6 Barranco Camp (3950m) – Karanga Camp (4235m, 4-5hrs, about 5km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Alpine desert
This is a short hiking day meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. You will spend the night at Karanga Camp (3950m) and enjoy dinner and washing at the site.
Day 7 Karanga Camp (4235m) – Barafu Hut (4600m, 3-4hrs, about 4km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!
Day 8 Summit attempt Barafu Camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m, 8hrs, about 7km) – Mweka (3100m, 7-8hrs, about 23km) ~ (BLD)
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascend for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours.
At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After lunch, continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. Enjoy dinner, wash, and rest at camp.
Day 9 Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m, 3hrs, about 15km) – Arusha ~ (BL)
Habitat: Forest
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips directly to each member of the team and your guide will assist you on how to split it accordingly . After celebrating, descend for 3 hours back to Mweka Gate where you will enjoy your hot buffet lunch and drinks like beer, soda and water. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, you will be transferred back to Arusha for long overdue showers.
Overnight Arusha Planet Lodge Bed & Breakfast
Day 10 Departure Kilimanjaro Airport ~ (B)
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.
LAND Price per person in SGD:
Join in Date
7 Days Trek: 20-28 Jan 2023
8 Days Trek: 2-11 Aug 2023
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 & above |
| 7 Days Trek | 8880 | 3880 | 3780 | 3580 | 3480 |
| 8 Days Trek | 10580 | 4200 | 4040 | 3980 | 3920 |
Price is subjected to changes without prior notice
A deposit of S$2000 per person is required upon confirmation and the balance must be paid in full 30 days prior to the departure date. Non-payment by required date may result in the cancellation of your booking and subjected to cancellation charges.
LAND Price includes
- Airport transfer Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha – Kilimanjaro Airport (Shared basis)
- Transport from the hotel to the mountain and back to the hotel
- 2 Nights twin share at Arusha Planet Lodge Bed & Breakfast
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
- 4 Season mountain hardware 2 persons sleeping tents
- -29C Extreme Limit Sleeping Bags
- Double layered Sleeping Mats
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Filtered water throughout the trek
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA)
- Supplemental summit Oxygen & Pulse Ox meter- used encase of emergency
- Private portable toilet
- A comprehensive Climbing Kilimanjaro Travel Information pack
- Briefing prior departure
- 15% discount for travel gears at X-Boundaries before your travel
Price excludes
- All airfares, Airport taxes and fuel surcharge
- Return scheduled riverside bus shuttle: Nairobi-Arusha-Nairobi if arrival Nairobi Airport (If arrival Nairobi)
- Expenses of personal nature
- Visa fees if applicable
- Tips to porters, guides and cook (recommended in USD, Cash – suggested per US$ 200-250 given at the end of the trek)
- Climbing gears (can be rented on arrival)
- Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
Note:
– The pack that the porters carry is limited to 15kgs
– Overweight or extra luggage will require an extra porter at US$10/bag/day (Subject to changes).
– You can leave extra luggage in Hotel in Arusha or at our local office (do not leave any valuables like cash, jewellery, electronics, etc)
Reviews
“The climb was absolutely the best experience. We had wonderful guides, porters & cook who tried their utmost to cheer our spirits, feed us when our appetites were down and celebrate with us when we summited. It is an inspiration to see their unflagging good cheer despite their daily fight for survival (they are really poor!) & their determination to succeed in their own lives. They, due to their warm welcome & sincere interest, always made us feel as though we are not foreigners.”
- there was always someone waiting with a sign (my name) waiting for me upon arrival at my destination……this really made me feel comfortable knowing where I was going to next….even when i was delayed at NBO waiting for my backpack and then completing all the related forms for lost luggage.
- since i arrive at NBO very early (6:30AM) and my luggage did not arrive with the plane, I was glad to spend the day in Nairobi taking a walking tour, otherwise i would not have know what to do next…..it was worth spending the day in NBO.
- The local tours were well organized and accommodated my “slow” hiking and were constantly reinforcing the you can do it attitude…..which paid off even after my dyarea and vomiting (due to acclimatization)…..it worked as I made it to the peak!
- the food cooked was delicious and abundant, Milo, tea, chocolate powder for hot drink, good coffee, fresh vegetables, crepes and french toast, and everything in between!
- the porters were warm, helpful, encouraging, and their sincerity came from the heart, not just lessons of courtesy for how to treat the clients….
- shuttle vans/buses were punctual and the porters made the trip to/from the mountain enjoyable with their conversation
- the aid provided by Alpa and the various handouts and face-to-face meetings made making the arrangements a personal experience to remember!!
- the accommodations in Arusha were first rate, clean, courteous, and attentive.