The Lemosho Route is considered one of the most beautiful routes, and is often referred to as the “Lemon” route. The route is less crowded than the Marangu and Machame Routes and has a higher success rate. The Lemosho Route takes 7-8 days to complete.
Lemosho offers spectacular view of the mountain’s different faces and is regarded as the most scenic route on Kilimanjaro. It is our preferred route because it strikes the perfect combination between little traffic, beautiful scenery, and a high rate of summit success. Lemosho is therefore highly recommended. Lemosho is used by most of our clients.
View Itinerary
After traveling for about 4 hours from Moshi, we arrive at the Londorossi Gate, where you must complete the entry procedures. After that, proceed to the Lemosho trail head. When we arrive at the trek starts, we begin trekking through vegetation to the first camp site.
On the trail leading out of the rain forest and onto a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock covered in lichen beards, we continue. We reach the Shira Ridge before descending gently to Shira 1 Camp as we ascend through the verdant rolling slopes and cross various streams. Here, across the plateau, we receive our first view of Kibo.
We spend the entire day exploring the Shira Plateau. A leisurely stroll through moorland meadows leads to Shira 2 Camp. Then we leave the main trail and head off to Moir Hut, a remote location at the foot of Lent Hills. Lent Hills offers a wide range of treks, making this a fantastic chance to acclimate. One of the highest plateaus in the planet is the Shira Plateau.
We start the day by ascending a mountain and then move southeast in the direction of the 300-foot-tall Lava Tower, a volcanic rock formation. We drop to an elevation of 13,000 feet before entering the unusual but lovely Senecio Forest. Even if you start and end each day at the same level, spending time at a higher altitude helps your body adjust to the higher altitude.
We start the day by making our way down a gully to the Great Barranco Wall’s base. Then we up the approximately 900-foot cliff, which is not technically difficult. We travel through a number of hills and valleys after leaving the top of the Barranco Wall before making a sudden turn into the Karanga Valley. We have one more tough ascent before we reach Karanga Camp. Acclimatization is the goal of today’s shorter day.
After leaving Karanga, we arrive at the intersection where the Mweka Trail joins it. We keep going up the steep slope to Barafu Hut. You have now finished the Southern Circuit, which provides views of the peak from a variety of positions. We set up camp here, take a nap, and eat a leisurely dinner before the summit day. From here, one can see Mawenzi and Kibo, the two summits.
We start the ascent very early in the morning (about midnight). The hardest part of the walk both physically and mentally is this section. At this altitude and time of day, the wind and cold can be very strong. We climb in the dark for several hours, stopping frequently but only briefly. You will be rewarded with the most breathtaking sunrise you are ever likely to see approaching Mawenzi Peak close to Stella Point (18,900 feet). Finally, we reach Uhuru Peak, which is both Mount Kilimanjaro’s and Africa’s highest point.
We now begin our descent from the summit, going straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite while pausing at Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles are helpful because the terrain is fairly rocky and can be quite taxing on the knees. Due to its location in the upper forest, Mweka Camp may experience late-afternoon mist or rain. We have our final meal on the mountain later in the evening before a well-earned rest.
We continue the descent to Mweka Gate on our final day, where we pick up the summit certificates. It could be muddy and damp at lower altitudes. We go another hour to Mweka Village from the gate. We’ll be picked up by a car at Mweka Village and taken back to Arusha.
