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Lemosho Route: This is the longest and most remote route, offering a more gradual ascent and plenty of time for acclimatization. It’s also one of the most scenic routes, passing through rainforests, heathlands, and alpine zones. It’s less crowded than the other routes, but also requires camping equipment. Lemosho follows the same route through Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu, known as the southern circuit. Descent is made via the Mweka route
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 rain forest to Shira Ridge. Unlike the popular Machame route, which simply intersects the Shira Plateau, the Lemosho route crosses the entirety of the plain from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike.
Kilimanjaro International Airport – KIA (JRO) (Google Map)
Departure Time
3 Hours Before Flight Time
Our guide will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro international airport to Arusha. Once at Arusha you will be taken to your preferred hotel and be briefed on your safari.
The day begins with a long drive to Londrossi Park Gate (2100 m) for registration. Pass through village communities to the trailhead to start hiking on the route along a narrow forest path to reach Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite (2800 m).
Leaving the forest, the trail gets steeper as it enters the moorland zone towards the valley. A gentle grade walk takes you across the high altitude Shira Caldera past Shira Cave (views of Arrow glacier) at 3500 m and then gently downwards to Shira Hut 1 located near a stream on the Shira Plateau.
A gentle hike across the plateau within the moorland meadow takes you to Shira Hut 2 for the afternoon and overnight. Many hikes are available on the Plateau, making this a great day for acclimatization.
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. Traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach to reach Barranco camp (3900 m). The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600 m), but you will have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding your bodies in acclimatization.
Start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. Then exit steeply, up what has been termed the Breakfast Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It is a climb over rocks, although not technical. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, head towards the Karanga Valley (4000 m) for overnight
The day is characterized by a short hike on terrain formed by scree. Walk through arid land towards Barafu Camp (4600 m) where you have the entire afternoon to rest before ascending towards the summit.
We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting around midnight, and walking steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 5 to 6 hours but you gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. You should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5750 m) as the first rays of the sun emerge. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround you and the views to Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walk takes you to your goal, the summit of Uhuru (5896 m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili. Trekking Time: 6-8 hours ⎟Distance: 7 km⎟Altitude Gain: 1296 m After a quick celebration and photos at the top, you will begin the descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on the scree slope back to Barafu Camp for breakfast and a short rest before finally heading down to Millennium Camp (3000 m) for a well-earned rest. On the descent, you will have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi peak.
A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate (1640 m), where park formalities will be completed, you will be met by our vehicles, and receive your certificate of ascent courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Thereafter, drive back to Moshi where you can treat yourself to a well-earned shower and a cold beer or two.
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport to continue your holidays at Zanzibar or your flight back home
