Widely regarded as the most scenic route on Kilimanjaro with a 98% summit success rate. Excellent acclimatisation profile ideal for first-time climbers.
The Lemosho route is widely considered the most scenic trail on Mount Kilimanjaro. Starting from the western slope of the mountain, it traverses through lush rainforest, heath and moorland, before joining the Machame route for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak.
With a 98% summit success rate, the Lemosho route offers excellent acclimatisation due to its longer itinerary and gradual elevation gain. It is the preferred route for first-time high-altitude trekkers and those who want the best chance of reaching the Roof of Africa.
Maximum 8kg personal + 15kg porters. All excess equipment will be left at the hotel in Moshi and returned after your climb.
Some steep sections and uneven terrain. A good level of fitness is recommended.
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Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of booking. Pay just $100 deposit to secure your spot — the rest is due before your climb.
Each day is designed for optimal acclimatization on the Lemosho Route.
You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Meet your guide for a briefing and equipment check.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. The rest of your day will be free; you might want to explore the small and pretty town of Moshi, or you can just relax by the pool. Later on, our operations team and your mountain guide will meet with you and give you a thorough briefing in preparation for your trek. There will be an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear.
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will start your climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.
Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as we head towards our destination which is Shira 2. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views.
Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4,640m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3,960m).
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It's a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4,200m before descending back to camp.
After a good night's rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4,640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It's a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arrival at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead.
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5,739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour's walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5,895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp.
Descend to Mweka Gate, transfer back to your hotel in Moshi. Celebrate your achievement!
Everything you need for a safe, comfortable climb.
Additional costs you should budget for.
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Common questions about the Lemosho Route.
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