The Lemosho route is considered the most scenic trail on Kilimanjaro, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. As one of the newer routes, Lemosho is a superb choice for your climb. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery and a high summit success rate. “Kili Holidays Tours” specializes in guiding on the Lemosho route. Most of our clients climb Kilimanjaro using this route and they consistently report that they loved it. Thus, Lemosho is highly recommended.
Day 01: Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be greeted by our transfer driver and taken to the Tulia hotel and Spa (https://www.tuliahotelandspa.com/ ) or similar in Arusha. The rest of the day will be at leisure and you may choose to relax at the hotel. Bed and Breakfast
Day 1: Arusha – Starting point Lemosho (2,385 m)– Big Tree Camp (2,780 m)
In the morning, you will be picked up at the Hotel and taken to the Londorossi Gate (2,250 m). Here you will be registered by the national park authorities. Then you will drive an approximate 15 km on a bumpy track that will take you into the dense rainforest to the drop-off point where your trek begins, you will be accompanied by an armed ranger during the first 2 days of your trek. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 2: Big Tree Camp (2,780 m) – Shira Camp 2 (3,900 m)
Today’s long trek starts on a small trail that passes through the rainforest. As one climbs, the forest gradually thins out and the landscape changes into heath and moorland where plants like erica and lobelia start to dominate the landscape. You will cross the Shira Ridge and after 4 to 5 hours of trekking, you will reach the Shira Camp 1. The landscape will change again and you will pass giant synecious that can grow to almost 9 m in height. At Shira Camp 2, you will camp for the night and with a little luck, enjoy the wonderful view of the Kibo summit at sunset. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner included
Day 3: Shira Camp 2 (3,900 m) – Lava Tower (4,640 m) – Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Today you will climb approximately 700 m, but you will spend the night at an elevation only slightly higher than the previous night. This will allow your body to acclimatize, as a height of over 4,600 m will be reached before descending again. In doing so, you will be able to see how your body reacts to such an altitude. The trek begins with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner included
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,960 m) – Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Today’s trekking leg has many ascents and descents and shortly after the start, you will tackle the steepest part of the entire route – the Barranco Wall. Every now and then, you may need your hands to hold on as there are no climbing “paths”. After reaching the top of Barranco Wall, you will walk along the mountain ridge. From here you will have fantastic views of the southern glacier of Kibo as well as of the Kibo summit. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner included
Day 5: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) – Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
After breakfast you will walk along a trail that passes through an alpine desert area until you reach the destination of today – the Barafu Camp. In the afternoon you can relax and stretch your legs in preparation of the upcoming summit night. You will have dinner early in order to catch a few hours’ sleep, before you will be woken up at around midnight. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner included
Day 6:Barafu Camp (4,640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
After some hot tea and a light snack, the climb begins at around midnight. By torchlight you will start walking on the lava ash that is still frozen. After 5 to 7 hours you will arrive at Stella Point (5,730 m), the crater rim of Mt Kilimanjaro. Another 1 to 2 hours climb along the crater ridge will lead you to the summit of Uhuru Peak. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner inclusive
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,080 m) – Mweka Gate (1,630 m) – Arusha
The final leg of your amazing adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. Then a gentle 2 to 3 hours’ descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back to Tulia Hotel and Spa and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to rest or to celebrate your achievement and this will mark the end of your adventure in Tanzania or you will plan to extend your holiday in Tanzania. Bed & Breakfast
Items included:
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- Mountain crew (cook & porters)
- Overnight stays in hotels and mountain tents
- Airport pick up on arrival and drop off after the treks
- Overnight stays in hotels and mountain tents
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, chairs, tables etc.)
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water
- All national park fees
- All mentioned transfer
Items excluded:
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending money
- Travel insurance
Marek –
Kilimanjaro is a lifetime experience, with fantastic views.
It’s tracks are easy: you can walk safely to the top without climbing. If you are healthy and normal fit, you make it.
We booked Lemosho route with Kiliholidays, they did a very good job.
Each of us had four (4) incredible fit porters: you only carry your day pack and each tourist sleep in it’s own tent. Porters carry everything: tents, food etc so you can enjoy the walk
The cook is good and hot meals are served to you in a separate mess tent with table and chair every day! We felt like kings!
Guide Caspar and his assistant guide Mussa have a lot of experience: they do not just walk stubbornly slow like other guides, but adjust the pace perfectly according to the tourist fitness: Since my colleague and me are experienced walkers, we walked normal speed up to 5’200m, then we choose a slower pace since we could feel the higher altitude. Caspar and Mussa perfectly assisted us in choosing the right speed at high altitude.
On 03.Jan 2019, my colleague and me made it successfully to the summit.
My equipment recommendation:
Bring two (2) backpacks: one small which you need to carry your day pack: raincoat and some water.
The other backpack may be large and will be carried by your porters. Each porter wants to carry 25kg !
The key is to keep yourself dry and warm, especially during nights:
Better clothe yourself in “shells” than carry a bulky winter jacket: During the day it’s mostly warm: a shirt and raincoat are sufficient, but in the night it gets below zero degree Celsius: warm underwear (example from ODLO), a good Cortex raincoat, rain trousers and a cap are “must haves”
I used one (1) light Cortex raincoat jacket/trousers, two (2) pullovers and 3 warm underwear’s, and I never felt cold.
No need to carry an expensive bulky sleeping bag: For sleeping, I used a cheap sleeping bag (comfort zone +3 degrees Celsius) together with a separate inner blanket and an inflatable Down Mat 7M from EXPED.
Since it can rain a lot, be prepared to walk in mud: keep your feed dry: Use good hiking boots, gaiters, carry a second pair of inner shoe sole and 3 good hiking socks.
Additionally pack everything in watertight bags; I always use “sea to summit” dry sacks to keep my stuff dry.
The coolest temperature you will face during your night walk to the summit: here you need good cloves and a cap.
If women climb Kilimanjaro, I recommend asking the porters to carry a separate toilet tent for them, since most public latrines on Kilimanjaro are not clean.