Tanzania · Trekking

8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Trek with Uhuru Peak Sunrise

8 Days Round trip from Moshi Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Hike through undisturbed forest on Kilimanjaro's scenic Lemosho Route
02 Cross the stunning Shira Plateau, one of the highest plateaus on Earth
03 Climb the legendary Barranco Wall on a non-technical but exhilarating ascent
04 Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa
05 Witness a magnificent sunrise over Mawenzi Peak during the summit push

Embark on an unforgettable 8-day trek to Mount Kilimanjaro via the scenic Lemosho Route. Traverse undisturbed forests, savannahs, and moorlands as you cross the stunning Shira Plateau and tackle the legendary Barranco Wall. Follow the Southern Circuit for varied summit views before making your final push to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Witness a breathtaking sunrise over Mawenzi Peak and descend through misty forest to collect your well-deserved summit certificate.

Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will ever see coming over Mawenzi Peak.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, a drive of about 4 hours, where you will complete the entry formalities. We then continue to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival, we begin hiking through the undisturbed forest as the trail winds to the first campsite at Mti Mkubwa.

Day 02

Rainforest to Shira 1 Camp

We continue on the trail leading out of the rainforest 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 descending gently to Shira 1 Camp. Here, we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.

Day 03

Shira Plateau Exploration to Shira 2 Camp

We explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east across moorland meadows toward Shira 2 Camp. We then divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little-used site at the base of the Lent Hills. The various walks around the Lent Hills make this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on Earth.

Day 04

Shira 2 Camp via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

We begin the day by climbing up a ridge and then heading southeast toward the Lava Tower - a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at a higher altitude benefits acclimatization.

Day 05

Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp

We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. We then climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall, we cross hills and valleys before descending sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Day 06

Southern Circuit to Barafu Camp

We leave Karanga and reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section of Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many angles. Here, we make camp, rest, and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this position.

Day 07

Midnight Summit Push to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Mweka Camp

We begin our push to the summit very early in the morning, around midnight. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours, taking frequent but short breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will ever see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
From the summit, we descend and continue straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The rocky trail can be hard on the knees, so trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 08

Descent to Mweka Gate and Return to Moshi

On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, the trail can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue for another hour to Mweka Village, where a vehicle will meet us and drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

Where this trip takes you

Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Barranco Wall, Uhuru Peak

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Moshi 2 cities · 8 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Guide
Park fees
Tax
Meals according to the itinerary
Gate transfer
Crew wages
Fair and sustainable crew wages
Environment fees
During the climb, you will sleep in tents
6 breakfasts
7 lunches
7 dinners
Drinking water
Porters
Cook

What's Not Included

Flights
Items of a personal nature
Laundry services
Tips to the mountain crew

Know before you go

The eight-day 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. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and consistently report that they love 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 rainforest 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. The route then 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.

Logistics