Skip to main content

The Lemosho route is a favorite route up the western side of the mountain, as it passes through some of the most beautiful and pristine forest on Kilimanjaro and crosses the whole of the Shira Plateau, stretching out to the west of Kibo.

This trek is one of the longest and therefore highly recommended for acclimatization. The terrain changes as you ascend the mountain, passing through thick forest, moorland and scree en route to the highest point of the crater, Uhuru Peak. Choose this route for its gentle ascent to the summit.

Overview Itinerary

Day From To Distance & Time Altitude Change
Day 1 KILIMANJARO INT’L AIRPORT MOSHI 1 hour
Day 2 LEMOSHO GLADES

2389 m / 7,838 ft

BIG TREE CAMP

2785 m / 9,137 ft

5 km / 3.1 mi

2-3 hours

+396 m / +1,299 ft
Day 3 BIG TREE CAMP

2785 m / 9,137 ft

SHIRA HUT 1

3504 m / 11,496 ft

7 km / 4.3 mi

3 hours

+719 m / +2,359 ft
Day 4 SHIRA HUT 1

3504 m / 11,496 ft

SHIRA HUT 2

3895 m / 12,779 ft

7 km / 4.3 mi

3 hours

+391 m / +1,283 ft
Day 5 SHIRA HUT 2

3895 m / 12,779 ft

LAVA TOWER

4627 m / 15,180 ft

6.8 km / 4.2 mi

3-4 hours

+732 m / +2,401 ft
LAVA TOWER

4627 m / 15,180 ft

BARRANCO CAMP

3986 m / 13,077 ft

3.2 km / 2 mi

3 hours

-641 m / -2,103 ft
Day 6 BARRANCO CAMP

3986 m / 13,077 ft

KARANGA VALLEY

4034 m / 13,235 ft

5 km / 3.1 mi

4-5 hours

+48 m / +158 ft
Day 7 KARANGA VALLEY

4034 m / 13,235 ft

BARAFU CAMP

4662 m / 15,295 ft

3.5 km / 2.2 mi

2-4 hours

+628 m / +2,060 ft
Day 8 BARAFU CAMP

4662 m / 15,295 ft

UHURU PEAK

5895 m / 19,341 ft

5 km / 3.1 mi

6-8 hours

+1233 m / +4,046 ft
UHURU PEAK

5895 m / 19,341 ft

MWEKA HUT

3106 m / 10,190 ft

11.5 km / 7.1 mi

6-8 hours

-2789 m / -9,151 ft
Day 9 MWEKA HUT

3106 m / 10,190 ft

MWEKA GATE

1633 m / 5,358 ft

9 km / 5.6 mi

2-4 hours

-1473 m / -4,832 ft
Day 10 MOSHI KILIMANJARO INT’L AIRPORT 1 hour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Moshi

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Pristine Trails representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a pre-trek briefing with your Kilimanjaro guide either this afternoon/evening or the following morning.

Overnight:  Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Transfer Time: 1 Hour
Meals: None

Day 2: Moshi – Lemosho Glades – Big Tree Camp

The day begins with a three-hour drive from Moshi to Londrossi Park Gate for registration. Once formalities are completed, you will get back into the car, pass through village communities and arrive at the trailhead at Lemosho Glades to start hiking. You will spend this day in some of the most beautiful forest found on the mountain, with wildlife sightings possible. After a short 2-3 hours you will arrive at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite. Here, like all days, you’ll have an afternoon snack and delicious hot dinner.

Trekking Time: 2-3 hours • Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi • Altitude Change: +396 m / +1,299 ft

Overnight: Big Tree Camp
Transfer Time: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Big Tree Camp – Shira Hut 1

Leaving the forest early in the day, the trail gets steeper as it enters the grasses and wildflowers of the heath and moorland zone towards the valley. A gentle grade walk takes you across the high-altitude Shira Caldera past Shira Cave (views of Arrow glacier) and then gently downwards to Shira Hut 1 located near a stream on the Shira Plateau.

Trekking Time: 3 hours • Distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi • Altitude Change: +719 m / +2,359 ft

Overnight: Shira Hut 1
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Shira Hut 1 – Shira Hut 2

A gentle hike across the plateau within the moorland meadow takes you to Shira Hut 2 for the afternoon and overnight. Many short hikes are available on the Plateau, making this a great day for acclimatization.

Trekking Time: 3 hours • Distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi • Altitude Change: +391 m / +1,283 ft

Overnight: Shira Hut 2
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Shira Hut 2 – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp

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. The day has been spent at altitude, but you will have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding your bodies in acclimatization.

Trekking Time: 6-7 hours • Distance: 10 km / 6.2 mi • Altitude Change: +732 m / +2,401 ft; -641 m / -2,103 ft

Overnight: Barranco Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Barranco Camp – Karanga Valley

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 for overnight.

Trekking Time: 4-5 hours • Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi • Altitude Change: +48 m / +158 ft

Overnight: Karanga Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Karanga Valley – Barafu Camp

The day is characterized by a short hike on terrain formed by scree. Walk through arid, lunar land towards Barafu Camp where you have the entire afternoon to rest before your assault on the summit begins at midnight.

Trekking Time: 2-4 hours • Distance: 3.5 km / 2.2 mi • Altitude Change: +628 m / +2,060 ft

Overnight: Barafu Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Hut

We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting around midnight, 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 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, the highest point in Africa. You made it!

Trekking Time: 6-8 hours • Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi • Altitude Change: +1233 m / +4,046 ft

After a quick celebration and photos at the top, you will begin the descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope back to Barafu Camp for breakfast and a short rest before finally heading down to Mweka Hut for a well-earned rest. On the descent, you will have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi peak.

Trekking Time: 6-8 hours • Distance: 11.5 km / 7.1 mi • Altitude Change: -2789 m / -9,151 ft

Overnight: Mweka Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Mweka Hut – Mweka Gate – Moshi

A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where park formalities will be completed and you will be met by our vehicles to return you to the Pristine Trails office. Here you will receive your certificate of ascent courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority, have the tipping ceremony for your mountain crew and collect any luggage you stored. Thereafter, you will be driven back to your hotel where you can treat yourself to a well-earned shower and a good night’s sleep.

Trekking Time: 2-4 hours • Distance: 9 km / 5.6 mi • Altitude Change: -1473 m / -4,832 ft

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Transfer Time: 45 mins
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Continuation of Your Journey or Departure

After breakfast, you will begin the next leg of your journey either onto your wildlife safari or you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.

Transfer Time: 1 hour to airport
Meals: Breakfast

Pricing

Valid through December 31, 2023

1 Person 2-3 People 4-6 People 7+ / Open Group
$4,130 $3,310 $3,045 $2,900

Inclusions / Exclusions

The details are outlined below. We will take the utmost care to ensure your trek is safe and the experience of a lifetime.

Price Inclusions:

Category

Item

Crew

Lead Guide(s)
English Speaking & Wilderness First Responder Trained

Assistant Guide(s), for 2+ people

Cook

Porters, equipment

Porters, personal client luggage (15 kg per client)

EQUIPMENT

Sleeping tent, 3-person size for 2 people

Sleeping mat, 2-inch foam

Pillow

Walk-in dining tent and table

Backed chairs

Wash basins with hot water each morning and evening

Private portable toilet with toilet paper

FOOD & DRINK

Three meals per day & afternoon snack during the trek
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free upon request

Treated drinking water
(minimum of 3L per day while trekking with additional water available at camp)

Coffee and tea during the trek

HEALTH & SAFETY

Pulse oximeter

Altitude sickness checklists

First aid kit

Emergency oxygen

PREPARATION & FEES

Kilimanjaro National Park fees
Camping/hut, rescue, conservation and taxes

Pre-trek briefing with your guide

ACCOMMODATION & TRANSFERS

Roundtrip airport transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Moshi

Roundtrip transfer between Moshi and the park gate

Hotel stays in Moshi pre- and post-trek (2 nights total) on bed & breakfast basis at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel

Price Exclusions:

  • Gratuities/tips
  • Personal trekking gear such as sleeping bag and clothing
  • Favored beverages (water, soda and alcohol at hotels)
  • Additional accommodation or meals resulting from early descent
  • Tanzania entry visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Domestic or international flights
  • Expenses of a personal nature

Additional Amenities Available:

  • Private portable shower/wash tent
  • Sleeping cot and walk-in sleeping tent
  • Portable altitude chamber
  • Custom evacuation stretcher

Recommended Tipping Guide

Tipping is customary on Mount Kilimanjaro for all members of your mountain crew.

Although they receive a fair wage, they rely on tips for a total fair compensation as set by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project Partners for Responsible Travel.

Crew Member Per Crew Member
Per Day Per Group
Per Crew Member
Per Trek Per Group
Lead Guide $20 $160
Assistant Guide $15 $120
Cook $15 $120
Special Porters:
Waiter; summit porters
$8 $64
Porters $6 $48

The standard guide to client ratio on your trek is 1 lead guide and 1 assistant guide for every 2-4 clients, 1 cook, 2-3 special porters and an average of 4-6 porters per client. Therefore, the total recommended tipping amount per client for this trek ranges from $350-500, depending on the trekking package and total number of people in the trekking group.

To ensure fair and transparent tipping for each crew member, there will be a tipping ceremony at the Pristine Trails office following your descent from the mountain. Envelopes will be provided to divide your tips for each member of the crew.

Looking for more?

We’ll help you customize your own itinerary for a once in a lifetime adventure in Tanzania.

Plan My trip
Back to top