8 Days Lemosho Route Trek

Route Overview

As a newer route, it is more remote and arguably more beautiful, but a bit longer and slightly more expensive. It starts on the Western side of the mountain at the Londorossi Gate, which is a further drive from town, and was introduced as an alternative to the Shira route. After beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira Plateau on day 3 to connect with the Machame Route at Lava Tower and down towards Barranco Valley via the Southern Circuit. You may be lucky enough to see buffalo, elephant and other game. Because this route can be done over a longer period of time for acclimatization, it has a higher success rate of summit.

8 Days Trek - Lemosho Route

Route Itinerary

DAY 1

4.8km /3mi | 3-4 hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 2389m/7838ft to 2785m/9137ft
Altitude gained: 396m

Your chief guide will give you a briefing immediately after your breakfast at the hotel. You will drive about two hours from the hotel to Londoros gate (2100m). The guides and porters will be packing your supplies and equipment while you are doing paperwork and registration. Thereafter, you will drive up to starting point just about 2360m. This is where the trekking starts! You will hike on the rainforest zone up to 5.5 kilometers to the next camp which takes 4-5 hours.

DAY 2

7.9km/5mi | 4-6hrs | Moorland
Elevation: 2785m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft
Altitude gained: 719m

On this day you will start from Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820m) to Shira One Camp (3,505m). You will hike 8 kilometers from the rainforest zone through shira ridge to heath and moorland zone which takes 6 – 8 hours. Expect to see the first view of Mount Kilimanjaro at this point.

DAY 3

6.9km/4.3mi | 5-7hrs | Moorland
Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft
Altitude gained: 391m

Day three starts at Shira Camp One (3,505m) which is at moorland zone to Moir Camp (4,160m) which is at semi desert zone. You will hike about 9 kilometers to eastern side through semi-desert and rock landscape which takes 6-8 hours.

Day 4 – Acclimatization Day

10.1km/6.3mi | 4-6hrs | Semi Desert
Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft
Altitude gained: 91m

This day starts at Moir Camp (4160M) to Barranco Camp (3950m). We will start at Moir Camp (4160m), ascending for about 3-4 hours to Lava Tower (4500m), then descending through Senecio Forest to Baranco Camp (3959m) for 2-3 hours. Baranco Camp is in the shadow of huge Barranco wall with easterly foggy winds from the Barranco valley. The distance between these camps is about 7 km.

DAY 5

5.2km/3mi | 4-5hrs | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft
Altitude gained: 48m

In this day you will hike from Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karanga Camp (3995m). The main task of the day will be to climb Barranco wall which is about 150m stiff. On top of the wall we will have a short rest, enjoying the view, taking photos and then descending to Karanga Valley and then ascending to Karanga Camp where we will spend the night. The total distance is 5 kilometers which takes about 5 hours hiking time.

DAY 6

3.3km /2 mi | 4-5hrs | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft
Altitude gained: 628m

In day 6 you will start from Karanga Camp (3995m) to Barafu Camp (4600m). You will start hiking early in the morning – just after breakfast. The hike is slow and steady uphill pace to the arctic zone about 4km which takes 3-4 hours.

Day 7 (Summit Day)

13km /8mi down | 5-6hrs | Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit
Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1233m
Descent to 3106m/10,190ft
Altitude lost: 2789m

The hike starts at 01:00 a.m. from Barafu Camp (4600m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) back to Barafu Camp (4600m) then to Mweka Camp (3100m). The journey is about 21 km hike which takes 12 – 14 hours with meals included. This is the most challenging day to reach the most beautiful point.

DAY 8

9.1km/6mi |3-4hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m

This is the last day on this Mountain; you will descend from Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1650m). Your vehicle will be waiting for you at the gate and you will start your trip back to the hotel after finishing all the paper work. The descending distance for this day is 10 km which takes 3 – 4 hours.