Lemosho Route

Lemosho Route

6 Day Lemosho Itinerary

Day 1: Londorossi Gate – Forest Camp (7,800ft – 9,500ft, 6 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast we leave our Hotel in Arusha or Moshi to Londorossi Gate where we will get our entry permits. Then we drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival we will eat our lunch boxes, and then we will continue to Forest Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Forest Camp – Shira 1 – Shira 2 (9,500ft – 12,500ft, 18 km, 8 – 10 hrs)

After breakfast we start today ascending to Shira ridge and then descend to Shira 1 and late we continue ascending to Shira Camp 2 for dinner & overnight.

Day 3: Shira 2 – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (12,500ft – 13,000ft, 10 km, 6 – 8 hrs)

Today we continue our direction to 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 for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (13,000ft – 15,000ft, 9km, 8 – 10 hrs)

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall (Porters call it ‘Breakfast’), to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail and continue up to the Barafu Hut for dinner & overnight.

Day 5:Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp (15,300ft – 19,345 – 10,000ft, 5 km ascent / 12 km descent, 7 – 8 hrs ascent / 4 – 6 hrs descent)

In the midnight we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend towards Stella Point on the crater rim. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1 hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. After lunch we continue to Mweka Camp for our last dinner and overnight on the mountain.

Day 6: Mweka Camp – Moshi / Arusha (10,000ft – 5,400ft, 10 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive our summit certificates. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where we will meet our driver who will transfer as to our hotel in Moshi or Arusha.

7 Day Lemosho Itinerary

Day 1: Londorossi Gate – Forest Camp (7,800ft – 9,500ft, 6 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast we leave our Hotel in Arusha or Moshi to Londorossi Gate where we will get our entry permits. Then we drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival we will eat our lunch boxes, and then we will continue to Forest Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Forest Camp – Shira 1 (9,500ft – 11,500ft, 8 km, 5 – 6 hrs)

After breakfast we continue ascending until we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp for dinner & overnight.

Day 3: Shira 1 – Shira 2 – Moir Hut (11,500ft – 13,800 ft, 14 km, 5 – 7 hrs)

Today we explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on. 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 opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth, dinner & overnight at Moir Hut.

Day 4: Moir Hut – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (13,800ft – 13,000ft, 7 km, 4 – 6 hrs)

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.” 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 nearly the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (13,000ft – 15,000ft, 9km, 8 – 10 hrs)

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 6: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Hut (15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft), 5 km ascent / 12 km descent, 7 – 8 hrs ascent / 4 – 6 hrs descent)

In the midnight we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend towards Stella Point on the crater rim. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1 hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. After lunch we continue to Mweka Camp for our last dinner and overnight on the mountain.

Day 7: Mweka Camp – Moshi / Arusha (10,000ft – 5,400ft, 10 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive our summit certificates. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where we will meet our driver who will transfer as to our hotel in Moshi or Arusha.

8 Day Lemosho Itinerary

Day 1: Londorossi Gate – Forest Camp (7,800ft – 9,500ft, 6 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast we leave our Hotel in Arusha or Moshi to Londorossi Gate where we will get our entry permits. Then we drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival we will eat our lunch boxes, and then we will continue to Forest Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Forest Camp – Shira 1 (9,500ft – 11,500ft, 8 km, 5 – 6 hrs)

After breakfast we continue ascending until we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp for dinner & overnight.

Day 3: Shira 1 – Shira 2 – Moir Hut (11,500ft – 13,800 ft, 14 km, 5 – 7 hrs)

Today we explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on. 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 opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth, dinner & overnight at Moir Hut.

Day 4: Moir Hut – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (13,800ft – 13,000ft, 7 km, 4 – 6 hrs)

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.” 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 nearly the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp (13,000ft – 13,100ft, 5km, 4 – 5 hrs)

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall (Porters Call it ‘Breakfast), to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Day 6: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (13,100ft – 15,300ft, 4 km, 4 – 5 hrs)

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, 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. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 7: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Hut (15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft), 5 km ascent / 12 km descent, 7 – 8 hrs ascent / 4 – 6 hrs descent)

In the midnight we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend towards Stella Point on the crater rim. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1 hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. After lunch we continue to Mweka Camp for our last dinner and overnight on the mountain.

Day 8: Mweka Camp – Moshi / Arusha (10,000ft – 5,400ft, 10 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive our summit certificates. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where we will meet our driver who will transfer as to our hotel in Moshi or Arusha.