The Lemosho route is one of the quietest routes on the mountain and begins from the western side of the mountain. The trail passes through some of the mountain’s finest features, including the cloud forest of Kilimanjaro’s southern plains, the dry and dusty Shira Plateau, and the delightful groundsel-clad Barranco campsite.
Mid-range Safari
You will drive from the hotel — Park View Inn in Moshi using a 4×4 vehicle to Londrosi gate (2250m) which will take 1 hour for registration and payment to obtain a permit. Then, you will drive back to Lemosho starting point (2100m) for your climb. The climb through the rain forest is 6 km to Mti Mkubwa Camp (Big Tree Camp) 2750m which will take 3 hours and the altitude gained is 650m. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at the campsite.
After breakfast, you will continue hiking through the heath and moorland zone to Shira One Camp (3500m) which will take 5-6 hours. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at the campsite. The distance covered is 9km and the altitude gained is 750m. The walk is steep, so a gradual climb is important.
After breakfast, you will continue hiking through the heath and moorland to Shira 2 campsites (3850m) which will take 3 hours. You will have dinner and an overnight stay at the campsite. The distance covered is 4km and the altitude gained is 350m. This day is a very short walk but very steep.
Drinking a lot of water on the way is crucial.
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will start hiking to Barranco Camp- (3940m) through Lava Tower – (4600m) for acclimatizing. It takes 6 -7 hours with a picnic lunch, dinner, and an overnight stay at Barranco camp (3940m). The distance covered is 10.75km via Lava Tower and the altitude gained is 750m then from Lava Tower to Barranco altitude gained is 660m
After breakfast, you will start climbing the Barranco walls- (4250m) to Karanga Camp – (4000m). You will have a hot lunch, rest, and walk around to acclimatize. It takes 3-4 hours. You will have dinner and an overnight stay at the camp. The distance covered is 4.25km and the altitude gained is 250m. It is a steep hill but a short distance.
After having breakfast at about 8:30 am, you will continue hiking through the heath and moorland to Barafu Camp 4600m. It takes 3-4 hours. The distance covered is 4.25km and the altitude gained is 600m. You will enjoy a hot lunch, rest, and then an early dinner. You will sleep for a few hours and then wake up at about 11:00 pm. You’ll pack the useful things for the summit have hot drinks and bites and start hiking to the top of Africa Uhuru Peak- (5895M). It takes about 6-7 hours. The distance covered is 4.86km and the altitude gained is 1295m.
It takes about 3 hours from the summit to Barafu Camp for breakfast. You’ll rest for a few hours and enjoy a hot lunch. Then, you will continue descending from the alpine desert, heath, and moorland to the edge of the rain forest at Mweka camp- (3100m). The distance covered from Uhuru Peak to Barafu Camp and to Mweka Camp is 11.5km and the altitude lost is 2795m.
You will have a walk after breakfast to Mweka Gate (1800m) through the rainforest for 3-4 hours. The distance covered is 9.1km and the altitude lost is 1400m. You’ll receive your award certificate if you have made it to the top. Later, you’ll meet the vehicle and transfer to the Park View Inn in Moshi for a hot shower and lunch.
End of climb.