Lemosho Route 8 Days Itinerary Prices & Hiking Dates

In recent years, Lemosho’s classic trail status has skyrocketed. Justifiably so, as it has among of the best summit success rates of any route, spectacular views, and an excellent acclimatization profile. The Lemosho route offers three different itineraries, each lasting 6, 7, or 8 days on the mountain, and begins on the western slope of Kilimanjaro. The Cathedral Peak, at 3872 meters, is one of the highest elevations in Lemosho and the Shira Volcano. Acclimatization hikes to Cathedral Peak, where you may take in some of Kilimanjaro’s most breathtaking views, are available to you. Huge, otherworldly plants called Dendrosenecio kilimanjari are another famous sight on Lemosho. Along with Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company, 86-year-old Angela Vorobieva reached the peak of Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route, becoming the oldest person to ever do so and setting a Guinness World Record in the process.

Detailed Lemosho Route 8 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a representative from Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company will be waiting to drive you to your accommodation at no additional cost. All the necessities for a pleasant stay will be provided by the hotel: warm rooms, running water, friendly personnel, a pool, and Internet connection. You will be briefed by our management in the evening, and they will also ensure that you are prepared to start the ascent.

Transfers from and to the airport are part of most private trip packages. Adding more than one person to a transfer will incur additional fees. Get everyone in your company to agree on the same arrival and departure hours to save money.

Day 2: Trekking From Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

After a briefing and meeting with your guide and mountain support staff at the hotel in the morning, you will spend the next three to four hours traveling by car to the western entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park, Londorossi Gate (2,250 m /7,380 f). The party will begin their ascent to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m /8,692 f), the first camp along the route, after the expedited procedures of obtaining climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service. You should bring a raincoat because you’ll be walking through a rainforest today. Our expert mountaineers will have set up the tents, done all the necessary preparations, and started making lunch before you even reach camp. Soon after lunch, the group will go out on an ascent to Shira 1 Camp, which is 300 meters (984 feet) above sea level. Afterwards, you will descend to Mti Mkubwa Camp for a nice supper.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to hasten the process of acclimatization, the acclimatization hike is a leisurely walk that involves a small ascent in elevation. The ascents to acclimate should be a top priority for you. With their assistance, you can lessen the likelihood of experiencing altitude sickness and improve your chances of successfully climbing Kilimanjaro.

You should pay close attention to the following instructions from now on because this is your first day at this altitude:

• Throughout the day, slowly yet steadily consume more than four liters of bottled water;
• You might want to think about taking a high-altitude assistance medication as a preventative step in case you have symptoms of altitude sickness. Before setting out on their climb, many mountaineers take these medications to alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. Along with your vacation plans, our managers will give you additional particular information. We advise that you address any possible allergies or health issues with your doctor before the trip.

Because your breathing pattern slows down at night, your body receives less oxygen than during the day, which might lead to pain as you acclimate to the high altitude. Because of the high altitude, you can feel nauseous and have a headache. If you experience any signs of altitude sickness, it is important to listen to your body and inform your guide immediately.

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m /8,694 f)
Destination point en route to Shira 1 Camp (3,095 m /10,154f )
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1 hour
Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Distance: 6 km

Day 3: Trekking From Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp

Here, you’ll start your day with an early rise, a hearty meal, and then set off on your hike. An elevation of 3,414 m/11,483 ft will be reached by your group. The breathtaking vistas of the Kibo Volcano and the Shira Plateau will finally become visible at that juncture.

Overall, the hike from Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp, the second high-altitude camp at 3,414 m / 11,200 f, is short and simple, taking around 5-6 hours. The foundation of excellent hiking is acclimatization, and this will help you begin it gradually. Your expert team will prepare lunch when you get to camp, and then you can relax in your tent or explore the region.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 5 km

Day 4: Trekking From Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

The first high-altitude camp, Shira 1 (3,610 m/11843 f), will be your starting point for today’s hike to Shira 2 (3,850 m /12,628 f). Easy as pie, this hike will reward you with breathtaking vistas of the African savannah, Kilimanjaro’s rare vegetation, and more. Mount Meru, the second-highest peak in Tanzania and the fifth-highest in Africa, may be best be seen from Shira 2 Camp, weather permitting.

Ascent to Cathedral Peak, one of the highest summits of the extinct Shira volcano at 3872 meters (12,703 ft), will be offered by our guides during the trip between campgrounds. In addition to the fascinating hike itself, on a clear day, the vista from Cathedral Peak’s peak into the valley is quite breathtaking. The valley below, which looks like a lost world, is one of our favorite sights from our ten years of working on the mountain. This hike is easy and doesn’t present any technical difficulties. On cloudier days, you can still find a stella that will make for a stunning photo of the top. You can go straight to Shira 2 if you’d rather not do this climb or if you’re in bad weather. Since Cathedral Peak and Shira 2 are at around the same elevation, this decision has no bearing on acclimatization. Regardless, we highly recommend the hike to Cathedral Peak and think it is well worth the effort.

After lunch at camp, everyone will have two hours to recover before setting out on an acclimatization climb to Lava Tower Camp, which has a 300 m (984 f) elevation rise.

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,631 f)
Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,270 m /14,009 f)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hour
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 7 km

Day 5: Trekking From Shira 2 Camp to The Lava Tower and Descent to Barranco Camp

Your journey will begin at Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,628 f) after breakfast, and you will continue on to the route’s pivotal point: Lava Tower (4,600 m /15,088 f). There are several climbs and descents throughout this portion of the trail, but it all culminates at a camp above 4,600 m /15,088 f. In order to properly adjust to the altitude, you must spend at least one or two hours here, therefore this is where you can have your lunch, even though some sections of the hike might be challenging and you might feel some discomfort.

Barranco Camp (3,900m/12795f) is the next destination on your descent. The world-famous Barranco Wall, staggering in both scale and steepness, is seen from that vantage point. It has a straightforward hiking path that won’t scare you half to death, so you shouldn’t be too worried about climbing it the following day.

Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 12 km

Day 6: Trekking From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

The hike up the Barranco Wall will begin with an early start and a hearty breakfast. Getting out of camp early will allow you to beat the other groups and their potentially sluggish crowds. It takes about an hour to hike up the gorge wall, and it’s not hard at all. Take a break and snap some shots in front of Kibo after your ascent.

The next day, you’ll set off on a more challenging journey to Karanga Camp. The trail is riddled with multiple climbs and descents, but fear not—our guides are pros at determining the best group pace. Warm lunch will be provided to you once you reach the camp. A couple of hours later, you’ll have to acclimatize by hiking up to Barafu Camp, which is 200 meters (656 feet) above sea level, and then descending again.

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (3,990 m /13,106 f)
Destination point en route to Barafu Camp (4,270 m /14,009 f)
Hiking distance: 2.5 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5 km

Day 7: Trekking From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Your ascent to Barafu Summit Camp will commence first thing in the morning following a hot and filling breakfast. Your last ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f), your ultimate objective, begins at this camp. When you get to Barafu Summit Camp, your sleeping bags and tents will already be put up by our crew, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your stay. Prior to the night summit, it is recommended to spend the rest of the day sleeping and relaxing.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 6 km

Day 8: Ascent to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp

At night, your group will set out from Barafu Camp (4,673 m /15,327 f) and begin the last ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f), Kilimanjaro’s highest peak. Although the climb is not very difficult from a technical standpoint, the high altitude makes even light exercise feel like a major challenge. Therefore, throughout the climb, each pair of climbers will be accompanied by a personal guide who will keep a closer eye on their emotional and physical health. Once you have reached Uhuru Peak, the highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and the last destination for climbers on the Lemosho Route, you have the option to descend to the closest glacier. After that, you’ll have a two-hour break at Barafu Camp before continuing your descent to Millenium Camp, which is located at 3,950 m /12,956 f.

PLEASE NOTE: Keep in mind that the majority of injuries, including broken bones, happen on the way down. The danger of injuring your toenails is great, so be careful with your feet.

Trekking time: 8-12 hours
Distance: 15 km

Day 9: Descent From Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate

In the middle of a lush rainforest is the Millenium Camp. Upon awakening, you will have a sense of relief from the descent in elevation and a sense of accomplishment at having reached the peak. Your journey to the park’s entrance, Mweka Gate (1,640 m /5,379 f), will begin after a hearty meal. Everyone will be there to congratulate you as you descend, and then they’ll give you an opportunity to write down your thoughts about the climb in a guestbook. Your commemorative certificates will be presented to you in our office, and a transfer back to the hotel will be arranged as a final service.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 12 km

Day 10: Departure

Have a night’s sleep before your transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE: Time to check out of the hotel is 11:00 AM. You can choose to prolong your hotel stay for an additional cost if you require a late check-out due to an evening flight.

Lemosho Route – Summit Success Rate

Over the years, Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company has collected extensive data on every Kilimanjaro route. Based on statistics from thousands of our climbers, below are the success rates for reaching the Crater Rim and Uhuru Peak on the 6, 7, and 8-day itineraries of Lemosho:

Lemosho 6 – Uhuru Peak: 94.1%, Crater Rim: 95.5%

Lemosho 7 – Crater Rim: 96.5%, Uhuru Peak: 94.9%

Lemosho 8 – Uhuru Peak: 91.7%, Crater Rim: 95.0%

You may be curious as to why the success percentage is marginally lower for the lengthier 8-day schedule. Despite the increased difficulties, many seasoned high-altitude hikers choose the 6-day route and still manage to reach the peak. Furthermore, the 8-day route starts at 2100m and demands climbers to reach 3610m in 24 hours, which can be quite challenging. For this reason, novices are advised to stick to the 7-day plan, as it increases the likelihood of reaching the peak. We also mark it as two failed efforts if one individual goes back and their companion follows. Therefore, your chances of reaching the peak may be higher than what the numbers suggest.

Unlike many operators, Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company can actually achieve such outstanding summit success rates in practice for a number of important reasons. To begin with, we bring in the top guides, mountain crews, and operations experts by providing them with the greatest working conditions and wages in the Kilimanjaro region. Second, the happiness of our clientele is our first priority. To aid with acclimatization and alleviate altitude sickness symptoms, Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company makes use of its more oxygen systems than any other operator put together. To ensure that your acclimatization is progressing without a hitch, our guides perform two comprehensive medical checks daily. Last but not least, all Kilimanjaro Trekking Services adventures have comprehensive medical supplies, and our guides are highly skilled in mountain first aid.