8 Days Lemosho Route

Your 8 Days Lemosho Route begins with a transfer to Londorossi Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. At the gate, your guide completes the park registration while the mountain crew prepares the equipment.

You then begin hiking through the rainforest toward Forest Camp.

The trail is mostly shaded by tall trees, and the first day is relatively short. This gives you time to settle into the hiking pace and get used to walking with your daypack.

• Starting elevation: Londorossi Gate — about 2,100 m
• Ending elevation: Forest Camp — about 2,780 m
• Distance: about 6 km
• Hiking time: 3–4 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Forest Camp

After reaching camp, you have time to wash, rest and have dinner before spending your first night on the mountain.

After breakfast, you continue climbing through the upper forest. The trees gradually become shorter before the trail enters the heath and moorland zone.

The landscape becomes more open as you approach the Shira Plateau.

• Starting elevation: about 2,780 m
• Ending elevation: about 3,500 m
• Distance: about 8 km
• Hiking time: 4–6 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Shira Camp 1

The pace remains slow and steady. Your guide will encourage you to walk comfortably rather than trying to finish the day quickly.

You continue across the Shira Plateau, passing through a wide high-altitude landscape with views toward the upper slopes of Kilimanjaro.

The route passes Shira 2 before continuing toward Moir Hut. The higher elevation means that you may notice your breathing becoming harder, even when walking slowly.

• Starting elevation: about 3,500 m
• Ending elevation: about 4,200 m
• Distance: about 11–14 km
• Hiking time: 5–7 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Moir Hut

Your guide monitors the group closely at this altitude. Drink regularly, eat your meals and tell your guide if you feel unwell.

Today you climb higher toward Lava Tower before descending to Barranco Camp.

You reach approximately 4,630 m at Lava Tower before losing elevation again as you continue toward Barranco.

This change in elevation is useful for acclimatization because you spend time at a higher altitude during the day but sleep at a lower elevation.

• Starting elevation: about 4,200 m
• Lava Tower: about 4,630 m
• Ending elevation: Barranco Camp — about 3,960 m
• Distance: about 12 km
• Hiking time: 6–8 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Barranco Camp

After arriving at Barranco Camp, you can see the Barranco Wall rising above the camp. Your guide will explain the following day's route and what to expect.

The day starts with the climb up the Barranco Wall.

The wall looks steep from below, but the normal route is a walking route rather than technical rock climbing. You move carefully from one section to another while following your guide.

After reaching the top, the trail continues through the alpine landscape toward Karanga Camp.

• Starting elevation: about 3,960 m
• Ending elevation: about 4,035 m
• Distance: about 5 km
• Hiking time: 4–5 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Karanga Camp

This is a shorter hiking day, giving you valuable time to rest and prepare for the next stage.

After breakfast, you leave Karanga and continue toward Barafu Camp.

The landscape becomes increasingly rocky and dry as you approach the summit zone. There is little vegetation at this altitude.

Barafu is the main base camp for the summit attempt. Once you arrive, your guide checks your condition and explains the summit schedule.

• Starting elevation: about 4,035 m
• Ending elevation: about 4,640 m
• Distance: about 4 km
• Hiking time: 4–5 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Barafu Camp

You normally have an early dinner and go to sleep as soon as possible. The summit climb starts during the night.

This is the summit day of the 8 Days Lemosho Route.

You normally wake around midnight and begin walking toward Stella Point on the crater rim. The climb is slow because of the steep terrain, cold temperatures and high altitude.

After reaching Stella Point at approximately 5,739 m, you continue around the crater rim toward Uhuru Peak.

At 5,895 metres, Uhuru Peak is the highest point in Africa.

After spending some time at the summit, you begin the descent. You return toward Barafu before continuing down to Millennium Camp.

• Starting elevation: Barafu Camp — about 4,640 m
• Summit: Uhuru Peak — 5,895 m
• Distance: approximately 12–15 km
• Hiking time: approximately 12–15 hours
• Accommodation: Mountain tent at Millennium Camp

This is a very long day. Your guide controls the pace and monitors the group throughout the ascent and descent.

After breakfast, you begin the final descent through the rainforest toward Mweka Gate.

The lower you descend, the warmer and greener the environment becomes. After several days at high altitude, returning to the forest is a noticeable change.

At Mweka Gate, you complete the mountain exit procedures and receive your summit certificate if you reached the required summit point.

• Starting elevation: about 3,820 m
• Ending elevation: about 1,640 m
• Distance: about 10 km
• Hiking time: 3–4 hours

Your transport then meets you at Mweka Gate for the journey back to your arranged destination.