Tanzania · Trekking

10-Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Trek with expert summit support

10 Days Round trip from Kilimanjaro Airport Rd Hard pace

Trekkers led by Linus departing from Karanga camp to Barafu camp - Feb 2020

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Climb Kilimanjaro's Lemosho Route for superior acclimatization and safety
02 Witness breathtaking views from the Shira Plateau and Western Breach
03 Experience the challenge and triumph of reaching Uhuru Peak
04 Enjoy guided support from experts who have summited over 100 times

Standing on the summit of Kilimanjaro is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in your lifetime, so never compromise on acclimatization and safety. This trek follows the Lemosho Route, chosen for its strong acclimatization profile, safety, and success rate, with expert guides who have climbed Kilimanjaro more than 100 times. With 8 days on the mountain, you give yourself one of the best possible chances of reaching Uhuru Peak while enjoying the dramatic landscapes along the way.

Standing on the summit of Kilimanjaro is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in your lifetime, so never compromise on acclimatization and safety.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Arusha, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro

Languages English, French, German, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Moshi or Arusha

You should aim to arrive as early as possible the day before the trek. Once you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be picked up by our driver or representative for a 50-minute transfer to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha, where you will be booked on a bed and breakfast basis. In the evening, you will have a group briefing with our head guide to prepare you for the journey ahead. Our head guides are WFR-licensed, highly qualified, and among the best and most experienced on the mountain.

Day 02

Londorosi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

Your day starts with breakfast and a 3-hour drive from Moshi at 1,000 m to Londorosi Park Gate. Our guides and porters will be preparing and packing the supplies needed on the mountain. A hot lunch will be provided at the gate along with mineral water. After lunch, we will drive to the start of the forest track and the Lemosho Route entrance at 2,300 m / 7,546 feet. Your Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route climb is underway. We will walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Campsite at 2,800 m / 9,186 feet, which takes about 3 hours.
Our porters will arrive at the campsite before you, with your tent already set up on arrival. We use quality Mountain Hardwear 4-person tents for your comfort. Once you arrive, you will have water for washing, followed by tea and popcorn. In the evening, the chef will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Our kitchen staff will boil drinking water for you so it is ready for the following morning. Night temperatures can sometimes drop to freezing point at this campsite.

Day 03

Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp

Wake up at 6 am, and breakfast will be served at 7 am. You hike for an hour and a half before exiting the rain forest at 3,000 m / 9,842 feet. Your Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route day 2 is underway. The trail moves into more open terrain. We will then go up and down a few hills before arriving at our lunch spot. Tents will be set up, and lunch served. After lunch, the trail steepens along a ridge that leads to the Shira Plateau.
There are some great views off the western side of Kilimanjaro. Our goal is to stay hydrated and take our time, walking slowly toward the crest of the ridge. We will continue by traversing across the Shira Plateau. You will be rewarded with spectacular views back into the rain forest as the summit comes into view. The final section is downhill toward Shira Camp One at 3,500 m / 11,482 feet in the moorlands of Kilimanjaro for our second night's sleep.

Day 04

Shira Plateau Walk to Shira 2 Camp

After an early start, your Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route day 3 begins. We have a gentle walk across the Shira Plateau, leading to Shira Camp Two on moorland meadows next to a beautiful stream at 3,900 m / 12,795 feet. By now, you will be able to see, in an easterly direction, the Western Breach Route up Kilimanjaro with its stunning glaciers. Enjoy stunning sunset views across the dormant Shira volcano. The porters will boil drinking and washing water before serving dinner.
As this camp is quite exposed, it can be substantially colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping below freezing.

Day 05

Lava Tower Acclimatization and Descent to Barranco Camp

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding the Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4,640 m / 15,223 feet after approximately four to five hours of walking. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to the Lava Tower. This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point that, for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, illness, and headaches due to the high altitude.
After lunch, you descend again by almost 680 m / 2,231 feet to the Barranco camping area. After reaching the high altitude at the Lava Tower, this day's true acclimatization benefit becomes clear. This descent to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while waiting for your dinner.

Day 06

Climb the Great Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp

After spending a night under the Great Barranco Wall, we make our way up this awesome-looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier at 4,200 m / 13,779 feet, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is with its spectacular views. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins the Mweka Route. There can be amazing panoramic sunset views from Karanga Camp while we enjoy our evening at 4,010 m / 13,156 feet.

Day 07

Karanga Camp to Kosovo High Camp

Today is another reason that we are different from other trips. From Karanga Camp, we will head steadily upward to Kosovo High Camp, which will give our teams a better chance of reaching the summit. A steady 4-hour walk takes us to Kosovo Camp at 4,900 m / 16,010 feet, from where we will set up to make our summit attempt. This is a short day, but it is included to give some essential pre-summit acclimatization without being too physically exhausting. The air is noticeably thin now, and you will be running short of breath as you climb out of the Karanga Valley.
It is a slow, tough hike up to Kosovo Camp, and we will be moving extremely slowly as a group as we pass Barafu Camp, where most other teams will be stopping for the day. On arrival, we begin to get ourselves ready for our summit attempt. This means preparing all our gear and water for the push to the top, getting as much to eat and drink as possible, and going to bed very early. We will wake at 11:00-11:30 pm to prepare for our summit attempt. If the weather is not in our favour and it is too windy at Kosovo Camp, we may have to stay a bit lower at Barafu Camp at 4,650 m / 15,250 feet, but our goal will always be to reach Kosovo Camp.

Day 08

Summit Uhuru Peak and Descend to Mweka Hut

We wake up around 11:30 pm and start preparing for the summit. After some tea, coffee, and a light breakfast, we will move off into the night. We head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. It normally takes five hours to reach Stella Point, without a doubt the most challenging part of the route. At Stella Point, 5,756 m / 18,885 feet, we will stop for a short rest. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. From Stella Point, we may encounter snow all the way on our 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.
Once we reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m / 19,341 feet, we will enjoy our accomplishment and take pictures before beginning the descent back to Kosovo Camp and further down the mountain. After the two to three-hour journey back to camp, we will have a short, well-deserved rest, collect our remaining gear, and head down to Mweka Hut at 3,100 m / 10,171 feet. The route to Mweka Hut is not difficult, but you will be tired. This route takes us down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest with many downward steps. The camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared, along with drinking water - time to rest and sleep hard.

Day 09

Descend to Mweka Gate and Return to Moshi

Finally, after an early start and a well-deserved breakfast, you will have a scenic 3-hour trek to Mweka Gate. At Mweka Gate, 1,700 m / 5,577 feet, you sign out of Kilimanjaro National Park and receive your summit certificate. Those climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates. Those who reached Uhuru Peak receive a gold certificate. From Mweka Gate, you will drive back to Moshi for a long-overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations. Your Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route climb is over.

Day 10

Departure or Onward Safari

Wake up and have breakfast with the team. You have options today. You can go for a massage at the hotel, sit by the pool, play golf, or visit the local market before transferring back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. If you have chosen one of our quality safaris, you will start that journey today.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kilimanjaro Airport Rd 3 cities · 10 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Guide Team

Lead guide(s)
English-speaking and Wilderness First Responder trained
Assistant guide(s), for 2+ people
Cook
Porters and equipment
Porters for personal client luggage (15 kg per client)

Equipment

Sleeping tent, 3-person size for 2 people
Sleeping mat, 2-inch foam
Pillow
Walk-in dining tent and table
Backed chairs
Washbasins with hot water each morning and evening
Private portable toilet with toilet paper

Food & Drinks

Three meals per day and an afternoon snack during the trek
- Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free upon request
Treated drinking water
- Minimum of 3L per day while trekking, with additional water available at camp
Coffee and tea during the trek

Health & Safety

Pulse oximeter
Altitude sickness checklists
First aid kit
Emergency oxygen

Preparation & Fees

Kilimanjaro National Park fees
- Camping/hut, rescue, conservation, and taxes
Pre-trek briefing with your guide

Accommodation & Transfers

Roundtrip airport transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Moshi
Roundtrip transfer between Moshi and the park gate
Hotel stays in Moshi pre- and post-trek (2 nights total) on a bed and breakfast basis at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel or others depending on the request