The Lemosho route is renowned for its stunning scenery and diverse landscapes, making it one of the most beautiful routes on Kilimanjaro. It also boasts excellent acclimatization opportunities, a crucial factor for a successful climb. This route is ideal for climbers of all skill levels and experience, offering a rewarding adventure for everyone.
The Lemosho route on Kilimanjaro spans 70 km (43 mi) and offers a balanced trekking experience, falling between the most challenging and easiest ascent routes.
Introduced as an alternative to the Shira route, the Lemosho route begins at a lower altitude, making it more manageable and improving acclimatization. It has quickly gained popularity for its breathtaking scenery and diverse landscapes.
During the trek, you journey through lush rainforest, transition to Afro-alpine moorland, cross alpine desert, and finally ascend into the arctic environment of the summit. Approaching the mountain from the west, the route starts with a couple of days hiking through rainforest to Shira Ridge. From there, it merges with the Machame route near Lava Tower in the Afro-alpine zone.
The trail then follows the Southern Circuit, a scenic path winding beneath Kibo Peak’s Southern Ice Field. Summit night begins at Barafu Camp, with the climb starting at midnight. As you ascend, you enter the icy, arctic terrain of Kibo Peak, culminating at Uhuru Peak — the highest point in Africa.
After reaching the summit, the descent takes you back through the rainforest via the Mweka route, which runs along the southeastern slope of the mountain.
The Lemosho route offers flexibility, allowing climbers to complete it in either seven or eight days. Opting for the eight-day version provides an additional day for acclimatization, significantly enhancing your chances of a successful ascent.
The eight-day Lemosho route boasts one of the highest summit success rates on Kilimanjaro, with most trekkers reaching Uhuru Peak, the mountain’s summit. In fact, the only route with a better success rate is the nine-day Northern Circuit. This makes Lemosho an excellent choice for climbers aiming to maximize their likelihood of reaching the top.
Here’s a map of the seven-day Lemosho route for reference.
The map below highlights the extended acclimatization period on the eight-day Lemosho route compared to the seven-day version. You’ll spend more time at around 4,000 m, allowing your body to better adjust to the high altitude before tackling the higher elevations.
We’ve created a graph that visually outlines the day-by-day itinerary for the eight-day Lemosho route.
Detailed Itinerary for the Eight-Day Lemosho Route
Day 1: Lemosho Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
Your adventure begins at Londorossi Park Gate, where your entry into Kilimanjaro National Park is officially recorded. Afterward, enjoy a scenic hour-long drive to Lemosho Gate, the starting point of your trek.
From Lemosho Gate, you’ll embark on a 3–4 hour hike through the lush forest, ascending to Mti Mkubwa, or Big Tree Camp. Here, you’ll spend your first night under the stars in tents, surrounded by the beauty of the forest.
After an early breakfast, the day’s trek begins with an ascent out of the lush rainforest into the heather and moorland zone. Along the way, you’ll cross multiple streams and traverse a scenic plateau leading to Shira 1 Camp.
From the campsite, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Western Breach, a dramatic gap created by ancient lava flows, as well as the glistening glaciers. The day involves a total hiking time of about five to six hours.
Today’s trek takes you across the stunning Shira Plateau, offering breathtaking views of the Western Breach, where lava once broke through the outer rim of Kibo Peak. Along the way, you’ll encounter unique and fascinating vegetation, including giant lobelias and giant groundsels, both of which are endemic to Kilimanjaro’s distinctive ecosystem.
Today’s trek focuses on the principle of “climb high, sleep low,” which is excellent for acclimatization — the process of helping your body adapt to higher altitudes with less strain. The day is divided into two key sections: the ascent to Lava Tower and the descent to Barranco Camp.
Interestingly, you’ll sleep at a lower elevation tonight than the previous night, further aiding your acclimatization process for the days ahead.
The journey begins with a hike to Lava Tower, an impressive rock formation perched at 4,630 m (15,419 ft). This section of the Lemosho trail is a highlight, offering stunning views and a rewarding sense of progress as you reach this significant altitude. The trek takes around four to six hours and prepares your body for the elevation challenges ahead.
After enjoying lunch at Lava Tower, you’ll descend to Barranco Camp, a journey that takes around two to three hours. The camp is nestled in a valley beneath the Western Breach and Barranco Wall, offering a stunning and peaceful setting for the night.
Today’s hike, lasting four to five hours, plays a crucial role in your acclimatization. After an early breakfast, you’ll face the challenge of the Barranco Wall—a steep rock face that, while intimidating at first glance, many trekkers find easier than expected.
Once you reach the top, you’ll be above the clouds, treated to stunning views of the southern ice fields and the summit of Kilimanjaro. The trail then meanders, with some ups and downs, until you reach Karanga Camp, where you’ll rest for the night.
The summit is within reach! Today’s hike to Barafu Camp is a short but rewarding three-hour trek, offering spectacular views of the mountain. The campsite sits at 4,600 m (15,091 ft) above sea level, and as you settle in, you’ll feel the excitement building.
You’ll head to bed early tonight in preparation for the challenging summit hike, which begins in the early hours of the morning. This early start is essential to catch the sunrise from the summit and to allow for the long, demanding day ahead.
Today is summit day! One final push to victory. The days’s trek consists of two parts: the climb from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, the tallest spot on Kilimanjaro, followed by the descent to Mweka Camp.
You are woken up around midnight to get ready for your summit attempt. This is the moment to dig deep mentally and physically to try reach the tippy-top of Africa. The route heads northwest into the dark night. After about six to seven hours of trekking you reach Stella Point on the crater rim. You then continue for another hour or so on a sometimes snow-covered trail to reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level. You did it!
After reaching the summit, it’s time to begin your descent to Mweka Camp, where you’ll rest for the night. After an intense 12 to 16 hours of hiking, you’ll likely fall asleep as soon as you settle in—trust us, you’ll be exhausted!
Today marks the final leg of your journey as you descend to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. After a scenic hike through lush forest, you’ll arrive at Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting to take you back. Congratulations — you’ve completed the climb of a lifetime!
At Great Image Expedition, we’re big fans of the Lemosho route. It’s one of our top picks because it offers a bit of everything. We especially love the untouched, wild beginning of the trail that winds through the lush rainforest. Another highlight is that the ascent and descent follow different paths on opposite sides of the mountain, offering diverse scenery throughout the journey.
Adding to its appeal, the eight-day Lemosho route boasts a high summit success rate, making it an excellent choice for trekkers aiming to conquer Kilimanjaro.
With its stunning landscapes, varied experiences, and strong summit success rate, the Lemosho route truly checks all the boxes for a fantastic Kilimanjaro adventure.
✓ Good route for proper acclimatisation
✓ High summit success rate
✓ Beautiful scenery
✓ Varied terrain
– Forest section can be muddy in wet season
– It can be busy in peak season
The Lemosho route is renowned as one of the most scenic trails on Mount Kilimanjaro.
The journey begins with a trek through lush rainforest during the first couple of days. While spotting large wildlife like antelopes is rare, it’s not impossible!
As you ascend beyond the rainforest, you’ll cross the stunning Shira Plateau, one of the world’s largest high-altitude plateaus. This section offers breathtaking views, including the dramatic Shira Cathedral rock formation. The unique vegetation in this moorland zone is truly captivating, featuring extraordinary species such as giant lobelia and giant groundsel.
The Lemosho route features campsites renowned for offering some of the most breathtaking sunrises and sunsets on Kilimanjaro.
Additionally, the descent follows the Mweka route, which runs along the mountain’s southeast slope. This provides you with entirely different but equally stunning scenery as you make your way down.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a challenge that requires physical fitness, regardless of the route you choose. If you’d like to prepare thoroughly, check out our guide on What is the best training for Kilimanjaro?
Among the routes, the Lemosho route is considered ‘easier’ than some, like the shorter and steeper Umbwe route. However, it’s not the easiest — that title goes to the nine-day Northern Circuit, which offers the most gradual ascent.
The Lemosho route stands out because it allows for excellent acclimatization, especially on the eight-day itinerary. This is achieved not only through a less steep ascent but also by incorporating a high-altitude climb followed by a descent to a lower elevation for overnight rest.
Thanks to these features, the Lemosho route boasts one of the highest summit success rates among all Kilimanjaro routes. Only the Northern Circuit surpasses it in helping trekkers reach the peak!
The Lemosho route is generally quite busy, as many folks do, naturally, want to climb the most scenic route up the mountain! The first couple of days through the beautiful rainforest section is relatively quiet, however. It’s when you join the Machame route on Day 4 near Lava Tower that the crowds can get a little bigger in peak season.
As of June 2024, Great Image Expedition provides the Lemosho route as an eight-day climb, available as a group or private experience, for $2,890 per person sharing. An additional fee applies if you prefer a private tent. This cost includes the eight days spent on the mountain, as well as one night before and after the trek at a lovely lodge in the nearby town of Moshi.
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