The Lemosho Route is widely considered to be the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It has been a bit long ago, there were only two main routes used to climb Kilimanjaro – the Marangu (Coca Cola) route and the Machame (Whiskey) route. But as Tanzania’s tourism industry flourished, the Kilimanjaro park authority created more trails to African’s highest peak.
Lemosho, a relatively new route, and perfect route due to its beauty, remoteness and success rate. In short, it maximizes the chances that a climber will reach the summit, and enjoy the experience overall.
The Lemosho route can be done in as little as six days
(five nights) on the mountain. However, it is ideally tackled over eight days (seven nights) for a better altitude acclimatization schedule. The trek begins at Londorossi Gate, located in the western base of mountain, within its lush, fertile rainforest. The route heads across the Shira Plateau, before circling along the southern circuit halfway around the mountain, exposing the climber to great views from all angles. The approach to the summit is made from the east, and the descent follows the Mweka trail. With eight days (seven nights) on the mountain, your chances of reaching the “Roof of Africa” are very high, around 90%. The Lemosho route is approximately 70 km/ 42 miles from gate to gate. It is designed for physically fit people with some hiking experience.
Upon arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be meeting with our representative. After greetings you will be transferred to Moshi town to a designated accommodation for hot shower and overnight.
Hike time: 4 hrs
Elevation change: +650m
Final elevation: 2650m
In the morning after breakfast you will meet your mountain guide for briefing about the mountain climbing and thereafter transferred to Marangu gate for park formalities before been transferred to Lemosho gate for starting climbing. A three hour drive from Moshi, around the mountain, brings you to the Londorossi Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate, you pick up a game ranger who will protect you from elephants and buffalo during the trek. After a short drive to the trail head at Lemosho Glades you will start your trek through the pristine rain forest. Today you will hike to Mti Mkubwa, which means ‘Big Tree; in Kiswahili. In the evening dinner and overnight at the camp.
Hike time: 5 hrs
Elevation change: +950m
Final elevation: 3610m
After a good breakfast, you start the climb through the remaining rain forest toward the giant Erica moorland zone. You will enjoy a great lunch stop in a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater. Today you will get your first close views of the summit. Dinner and overnight at Shira one campsite.
Hiking time: 6 hours
Elevation change: +240m
Final elevation: 3850m
After an early breakfast, you hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral toward Shira Two camp. We only gain 240m in elevation which allows you to acclimatize slowly to the altitude. The views of the plateau are spectacular. Dinner and overnight at Shira Two Camp.
Hiking time: 6 hours
Elevation change: +700m
Final elevation: 4650m
You will head up to Lava Tower, traversing the southern flank of Kibo. This is one of the most valuable days for acclimatization. If you prefer we can substitute Lava Tower for Barranco Camp, but this makes the walk a few hours longer.
Hike time: 7 hrs
Elevation change: -650m
Final elevation: 4000m
After leaving Lava Tower, you descend into the stunning Barranco Valley which is adorned with giant lobelia and senecia plants. There are good views of Kibo peak from here. After the Barranco Wall, we descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest for the night before the hard climb to Barafu Hut.
Hike time: 4 hrs
Elevation change: +600m
Final elevation: 4600m
This is a tough, steep, climb uphill to the rocky, craggy slopes at the camp. ‘Barafu’ means, ‘Ice’ in Swahili and it is extremely cold at this altitude. You will get a half day rest before you begin the final summit ascent at midnight.
Summit time: 7 hrs
Elevation change: +1300m
Final elevation: 5896m
Descent time: 5 hrs
Elevation change: -2800m
Final elevation: 3100m, 10,170 ft
This is a 17 hour day, commencing at midnight and hiking until the next afternoon. You will begin your summit ascent around midnight, and will arrive at the Kilimanjaro summit before sunrise. After the sunrise, you will head back down the mountain, stopping at Barafu Camp to rest, and heading to Mweka Camp, just a few hours from the gate.
Descent time: 4 hrs
Elevation change: -1250m
Estimated distance: 10km
Final elevation: 1828m
In the morning you will hike for about 3 hours through lush forest to the gate. After a welcome lunch, you will get your climb certificate and say goodbye to your crew and porters. After sign out to the park gate you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi for hot shower probably dinner and overnight or otherwise in the evening you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to connect with your flight back home.
You can climb for 7 Days or with acclimatization for 8 Days
Kilimanjaro - Tanzania
We had an excellent tour with mboni. We made our reservation online one month before the trip, and we were able to talk to the staff to address some questions prior to the trip. I had previous hiking experience but my wife did not. High point of a great holiday. It was absolutely incredible , through this company we got a lot of individual attention.
My family and I just came back from 15 days in Tanzania. The purpose of the trip was to climb mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. Mboni adventures and Safari Company who was our host were excellent and hard working. We did a 3 days trip to Mount Meru which was amazing and very beautiful. We had a crew of 11 portes, one cook, one guide and a park ranger who clearly made sure that we were safe and protected throughout our journey, many thanks to him.
I Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro via machame route and my entire trip was amazing.
The company and its people are well organized and welcoming, I found them waiting for me at the airport and I was received with so much joy and humbleness.
I had a quick chat with JACKSON who introduced himself as Mboni Adventures and Safari representative where i later came to find out He is the owner!
Thanks to the quick and accurate responses i received from MBONI, i was able to plan my kilimanjaro trek and safari in no time. Everything was good organized, the hotel was good, perfect food and good service. During climbing our guides told us interesting facts about mountain. We had a wonderful trip with kindly guides, cook and porters. We are extremely satisfied with Mboni Adventures and our trip as whole.
