10-Day Lemosho Route Trekking

Your adventure starts with a warm welcome at Kilimanjaro International Airport. From there, it is a short 30-40 minute drive to a cozy hotel in Moshi— a lively town that sits at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Once checked in, you will participate in a detailed pre-trek briefing with your mountain climbing guide, covering the structure of the trek, safety measures, equipment, and how to cope with acute mountain sickness (AMS). You will already be at sea level, so Mose’s lively atmosphere is great for a walk. Try some of the Tanzanian coffee, visit the bustling markets, or learn about the Chagga people and their traditional music, storytelling, and handicrafts. Enjoy your hearty dinner and a comfortable night’s rest so you are well fueled for the trek, and well recovered to embrace the Lemosho Route’s adventure you are about to take. You are guided through the physiologically and psychologically preparing stages of Kilimanjaro’s awe-inspiring trekking routes, gearing you up for a beautiful mix of trekking and culture.
Activities: Airport pickup, pre-trek briefing, cultural visit.
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi.
Meals: Dinner.

Enjoy breakfast, as your 2-hour drive brings you to Londorossi Gate (2,100m/6,890ft) in Kilimanjaro National Park for registration. The journey starts with a 3–4-hour hike with 6 km distance, climbing 700m to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,800m/9,186ft). The trail is rich with dense vegetation, revealing blue and colobus monkeys. Even the birds are colorful, like the Hartlaub’s turaco. The flowers, such as impatiens kilimanjari, are lovely too. For safety, an armed ranger is provided to the group. Your guide will encourage “pole pole'' to manage energy and assist acclimatization. You’ll find Mti Mkubwa Camp calm and quiet, the tents inviting. After the hike, your crew serves a warm meal, and you are free to rest or walk in the nearby rainforest. Kilimanjaro’s peaceful nature helps you meditate as you mentally prepare for the upcoming days.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 6 km
Altitude Gain: 700m
Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

After a hearty breakfast, begin a 5–7-hour trek to Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,483ft) for a total of 8 km and a 700m elevation gain. The trail goes through a rainforest, heath, and moorland, as well as the rugged hills of the Shira Plateau, while giving a beautiful vista of Kibo Peak and the Western Breach. The Shira Plateau region is characterized by enormous groundsel, lobelia plants, and everlasting flowers. Because of the need to avoid AMS, a slow pace, plenty of hydration (3-4 liters daily), and storing AMS medicine is vital. Your guide will conduct regular health checks with a pulse oximeter. Shira 1 Camp is a tented campsite on the Shira Plateau, which is characterized by stunning views of the sunset. You will arrive around noon and enjoy a hot lunch. After that, there is the option to rest or take a walk to the ridges to explore and acclimatize. During the trek, your guide will talk about the volcanic geology of Kilimanjaro, helping you appreciate and enjoy the trek more.
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 8 km
Altitude Gain: 700m
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

On today’s trek, we will be walking from Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp. This trek lasts 4-6 hours and will cover 7 km. The starting elevation of Shira 1 Camp is 3,500m/11,482ft, and by the time we reach Shira 2 Camp, which is at 3,840m/12,598ft, the trek will have an elevation gain of 340m. The extensive Shira Plateau is one of the most beautiful areas of Mount Kilimanjaro, besides having the peak Kibo and the rest of the moorlands in view, there are also a lot of Verreaux’s Eagles. The gentle elevation gain through heather-covered volcanic rocks with plants such as the lobelias is essential for acclimatization. This is crucial for a good summit attack. Your guide will encourage taking slow and steady paces while drinking a lot of water to combat the altitude. He will be doing periodic health checks to ensure that you are doing well. Shira 2 Camp is a tented campsite that is set on beautiful moorlands. The campsite is known for having great sunset views and is also known for its serene environment. Your arrival by midday will ensure that a hot lunch awaits you, after which the afternoon is free, besides a rest, an optional acclimatization walk to the ridges. Your guide will share the boreal and alpine plants, such as the Kilimanjaro white-necked raven, which will help in appreciating the trek better.
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 7 km
Altitude Gain: 340m
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After reaching Shira 2 Camp (3,840m/3,840m 12,598ft), we do a 3–4-hour hike with a 2 km uphill trek to a viewpoint close to 4,100m (approximately 4,100m/13,451ft). Then we descend back to 3,840m, losing 260m in elevation, completing a total of 3–4-hour hike. The overnight stay brings the total to the “climb high, sleep low” strategy to improve acclimatization and significantly reduce AMS risk. The Shira Plateau, along with Kibo Peak, provides out-of-this-world views. Looking out for smooth-toothed everlasting flowers brings about a touch of excitement to the breathtaking views. You will be advised to take a slow and steady pace with a lot of breaks to sip water on the trek to ensure you are adapting to the new altitude. Shira 2 Camp is reached by midday safaris, which are accompanied by hot lunches. Guided free stretches to relax, gentle roam around the plateau, and guide-led short lectures about the climate regain prep are hot lunch zone. You will be thoroughly briefed on the adaptation of high-rise flora on Kilimanjaro. This is a guaranteed 100% success rate as you prep for the high altitudes during the climb.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 4-6 km
Altitude Gain/Loss: +260m, -260m
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This critical acclimatization day involves a 6-8 hour trek covering 10 km to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,959ft), with a temporary ascent to Lava Tower (4,600m/15,092ft) for a net altitude gain of 110m. The trail climbs through moorland to Lava Tower, a volcanic rock formation offering breathtaking views of the Western Breach and Kibo’s glaciers. The “climb high, sleep low” strategy at Lava Tower enhances acclimatization, reducing AMS risks. After a rest and lunch at Lava Tower, descend through the scenic Barranco Valley, surrounded by giant senecios and lobelias, with rocky terrain requiring trekking poles for stability. Barranco Camp, nestled beneath the imposing Barranco Wall, provides a dramatic setting for the night. Arrive for a hot meal and rest, with your guide offering tips for the next day’s challenging climb, ensuring you’re prepared for the ascent ahead.
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 10 km
Altitude Gain/Loss: +760m (to Lava Tower), -650m (to Barranco Camp)
Accommodation: Barranco Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

The trek takes 3 to 4 hours to complete 5 km, which includes an elevation increase of 50m to Karanga Camp at 4000m (13,123ft). A warm and inviting hot lunch awaits you in the middle of the day, which will be to Karanga Camp's arrival time. A relaxed afternoon enables you to nap or partake in an optional walk for further acclimatization, where you can marvel at the adjoining ridges. A stimulating scramble follows over the Great Barranco Wall, the initial stretch of the day. This non-technical and gentle scramble retains the form of a climb over stones and unlocks breathtaking views of the Heim, Kersten, and Decken glaciers. The track continues over the slope covered with loose stones and passes through the Karanga Valley. This alpine desert landscape is harsh, rugged, and beautiful. This shorter walk enables smoother acclimatization with the guide checking your health every while to gently advise you to maintain slow, steady paces. Karanga Camp, from where you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the perpetually covered majestic peaks and panoramic views, is a valley courtyard. During the walk, the guide will enlighten you on some of Kilimanjaro's famous plant giants, known as giant senecios, that will make you love this eco-friendly hike more.
Hiking Duration: 3-4 hours
Distance: 5 kilometers
Altitude Gain: 50 meters
Accommodation: Karanga Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On this second acclimatization day at 4000m (13,123ft) you will perform a 3-4km hike to a viewpoint at approximately 4200m (13,780ft), which is a 2–3-hour hike. You will gain and lose 200m in elevation. This hike helps acclimatization and rewards you with views of the Southern Glaciers and Kibo Peak. Your guide will elaborate on the glacial features you observe at higher altitudes. Arrive back at Karanga Camp by late morning to enjoy a hot lunch and then take the rest of the afternoon to relax, hydrate, and prep for the summit push. Your guide will perform health check evaluations and strategy talks for the ascent, focusing on mental toughness and the right approach to gear, including layered clothing and trekking poles. This extra acclimatization day aids in your body's strengthening adaptation to high altitudes. Your guide will share Kilimanjaro high altitude fauna, a as the white necked raven, and make your eco-friendly trek even better.
Hiking Duration: 2-3 hours
Distance: 3-4 kilometers
Altitude Gain/Loss: +200m, -200m
Accommodation: Karanga Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

It will take 3 to 4 hours to trek the 4 kilometers, which will take you to Barafu Camp, which is at 4670 meters or 15,321 feet, where you will have gained 670m. The Kibo Peak is one splendid sight, along with other equally stunning views. The trail you take is through the scree slopes, which a desert-alpine. The terrain is bare and otherworldly. Your guide is trained to check up on you regularly to ensure your pace is steady and that you are drinking enough to combat the now higher altitude. Barafu Camp, which means ice in Swahili, is at the base of the summit. At the camp, you can enjoy the view of Kibo Peak and the surrounding glaciers. During the afternoon, you will have a hot lunch, and after that, you will have a resting period where you will receive a detailed summit briefing. Your guide will go over the last-minute essentials like warm clothes, what to wear in extreme cold, and risk management for drinking, to prepare you for the midnight trek. Make sure you go to sleep early, which will help you for the challenging summit trek waiting for you at the Uhuru Peak.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 4 km
Altitude Gain: 670m
Accommodation: Barafu Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

The summit trek starts at midnight for the 5-to-7-hour trek to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,341ft), which requires an altitude gain of 1,225m. Starting from Barafu Camp, the trail is extremely steep and requires headlamps along with layered clothing and trekking poles due to the harsh weather and freezing temperatures. After 1 to 2 hours of trek from Stella Point, the final portion to Uhuru Peak is 1 to 2 hours, which is the very last segment. Celebrate and take photos with the stunning glaciers in the background, which will start your descent back to Barafu Camp. After you’re done resting take the 3-to-4-hour trek back to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,171ft), which will bring your overall descent to 2,795m. After resting at Mweka Camp, take the 3-to-4-hour trek to Mweka Gate (1,640m/5,381ft), which requires an altitude gain of 1,460m. This marks the start of the moorland and rainforest descent, which is extremely steep, making gaiters and poles necessary. Once at the Gate, you’ll receive the summit certificates, the final memento of your harsh but beautiful trek. After a 30-minute drive, you’ll arrive in Moshi, which will allow you to take a warm shower. From there, you can have your final dinner and relax at the hotel; in the end, your mind will linger over the trails leading you from glaciers to the rainforest.
Hiking Time 14-18 hours (5-7 hours ascent, 9-11 hours descent)
Distance 27 km (5 km ascent, 22 km descent)
Altitude Gain/Loss +1,225m, -4,255m
Accommodation Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner