Lemosho Route
Kilimanjaro Trekking
Destinations: Lemosho Park Gate, Mti Mkubwa Camp, Shira 1 Camp, Shira 2 Camp, Karanga Camp Barranco campsite, Barafu camp, Mweka Camp
Style: Mountain Trekking
Overview
The Lemosho Route offers excellent acclimatization opportunities, maximizing your chances of a successful Kilimanjaro summit while immersing you in diverse and breathtaking landscapes
Day by day
Full Itinerary
Day 1:
Londorossi Gate (2,360 m) → Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp (2,895 m)
Terrain & Vegetation: Begin your journey through dense, humid rainforest rich in wildlife such as colobus and blue monkeys. The thick canopy provides shade, though expect potentially wet conditions from occasional rains.
Climate: Warm and humid, typical of tropical rainforest zones.
- Distance: ~6 km (4 miles)
- Duration: 3–4 hours
- Altitude Gain: 535 m
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Campsite
Day 2:
Mti Mkubwa Camp → Shira I Camp (3,505 m)
Terrain & Vegetation: Transition from rainforest into open moorland characterized by heather and giant lobelias. The landscape begins to open up, showcasing early alpine scenery.
Climate: Cooler, drier, and windier as you enter higher elevations and shift into the alpine zone.
- Distance: ~8 km (5 miles)
- Duration: 5–6 hours
- Altitude Gain: 610 m
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Campsite
Day 3:
Shira I Camp → Moir Hut (Shira II) Camp (4,200 m)
Terrain & Scenery: Trek across the expansive Shira Plateau, an ancient volcanic caldera, with sweeping views of Kilimanjaro’s towering peaks and dramatic lava formations.
Climate: Crisp, windy conditions prevail with significant temperature drops and high UV exposure during the day.
- Distance: ~11 km (7 miles)
- Duration: 5–7 hours
- Altitude Gain: 695 m
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4:
Moir Hut → Lava Tower (4,630 m) → Barranco Camp (3,976 m)
Key Note: This day follows the “climb high, sleep low” acclimatization strategy crucial for summit success.
Terrain: Rocky semi-desert volcanic terrain with steep climbs to Lava Tower followed by a relaxing descent to camp.
Climate: Cold, dry, and windy in the alpine desert zone.
- Distance: ~7 km ascent to Lava Tower, then ~3 km descent — total ~10 km (6 miles)
- Duration: 4–5 hours ascent, 2–3 hours descent (6–8 hours total)
- Altitude Change: Ascend 430 m to Lava Tower, then descend 654 m to Barranco Camp
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5:
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp (3,995 m)
Terrain: Ascend the iconic Barranco Wall — a steep but non-technical climb with breathtaking panoramic views from the top — then continue along ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp.
Climate: Cold, windy, and exposed alpine desert conditions.
- Distance: ~5 km (3 miles)
- Duration: 4–5 hours
- Altitude Gain: Minimal (about 19 m) but includes a steep scramble
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6:
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp (4,673 m)
Terrain & Environment: Trek through barren, rocky alpine desert. “Barafu” means “ice” in Swahili, reflecting the frigid and windy conditions at this high camp.
Focus: Rest, hydrate well, and mentally prepare for the demanding summit attempt ahead.
- Distance: ~4 km (2.5 miles)
- Duration: 4–5 hours
- Altitude Gain: 678 m
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7:
Summit Day — Barafu Camp → Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) → Mweka Camp (3,068 m)
Conditions: Expect freezing temperatures and possible snow near the summit. This is the most physically and mentally demanding day, with altitude sickness risk at its peak.
Descent Terrain: Steep scree and rocky slopes descending through alpine desert, moorland, and rainforest zones.
- Distance: ~5 km ascent + ~12 km descent = ~17 km (10.6 miles)
- Duration: 6–7 hours ascent, then 4–6 hours descent (total 12–15 hours)
- Altitude Gain & Loss: 1,222 m ascent to summit, followed by 2,827 m descent to Mweka Camp
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8:
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
Terrain & Climate: Descend through lush rainforest with warmer, humid conditions; a gentler final stretch after summit day.
Celebration: Celebrate your achievement, receive your official summit certificate, and enjoy moments with your guides and crew at the gate.
- Distance: ~10 km (6 miles)
- Duration: 3–4 hours
Meals:
Breakfast,
Price per Person
on request
This trip can be tailored to your preferences.
Traveling with a large group? We've got you covered.
We can tailor the trip to suit your specific needs.
We can adjust the trip to match your budget.
What to know before climbing Kilimanjaro.
Excellent rating
Based on 122 reviews
- Tripadvisor
omar75
Solo
After a lot of research and contacting multiple operators for a Kilimanjaro trek, I settled on African Zoom. I found them via the Forbes Kilimanjaro glamping article. I found other operators by internet search and others by youtube fame. Maggie was my main point of contact throughout. She was always responsive and very helpful.
omar75
Solo
The price was reasonable compared to some of the outrageous prices with some of the “luxury” operators. But I would say we had enough comfort to make the adventure as comfortable as being in the harsh environment of a mountain as can be.
Our guides Godluck and Gabriel were great, our cook papa john!
omar75
Solo
After a lot of research and contacting multiple operators for a Kilimanjaro trek, I settled on African Zoom. I found them via the Forbes Kilimanjaro glamping article. I found other operators by internet search and others by youtube fame. Maggie was my main point of contact throughout. She was always responsive and very helpful. My friend and I ended up deciding on a private adventure each with a private tent. The price was reasonable compared to some of the outrageous prices with some of the “luxury” operators. But I would say we had enough comfort to make the adventure as comfortable as being in the harsh environment of a mountain as can be.
Our guides Godluck and Gabriel were great, our cook papa john! Cooked amazing meals and I absolutely can’t say enough about the porters. If you ever decide to go to Kilimanjaro you will see that the porters are a special kind of people.
We had an airport to airport trip. We were picked up by our main guide from the airport and taken to a nice 4 star hotel in Arusha. Godluck checked us in and came next day to take us in a tour in the city. We realized we have a day that we can go for a safari in. Maggie made that happen with one day notice. We spent a day in Terngeri saying all kinds of animals. It is not the Serengeti but we had a one day so we can’t complain.
We did an 8 day Lemosho climb. On the mountain we had 3 meals and a snack. The meals were excellent, the nightly briefing for next day was accurate and what we needed. We summitted successfully on day 7 and were out of the gate back to the hotel day 8. It was the most out of ordinary thing I’ve done in my life and African Zoom made it happen. I won’t hesitate to recommend them to any of my friends.
It is difficult to find reviewes for Kilimanjaro Climb operators on trip advisor, google reviews and others, I am not sure why.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
Our Trekking Packages
Our safari packages are crafted with care to suit different interests, travel styles, and durations—whether you’re here for the thrill of the great migration, a romantic escape, or a professional photography adventure.
Lemosho Route
8 Days | 7 Night
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