The Lemosho Route is a relatively new variation of the traditional Shira Plateau route. This is the third most popular route on the mountain. You can book for 6-7 days, even up to 10 days. This route starts with a rough drive from West Kilimanjaro to the Londorosi Gate; Remote and spectacular with dramatic gorges and views of West Kilimanjaro, climbers join the Machame Route for the summit.
OPTION I
DAY 1 – Londorosi Gate – Mti Mkubwa 2500 m
Habitat: Montana Forest
Hiking Time: 3 hrs
You will be picked up at your hotel after getting breakfast, and drive from Moshi to Bomangombe. Fom here we will turn to the Londorosi Gate for registration and measure all luggage to the scaling standard of the national park and obtain a permit. We than begin our 3hr journey over to the starting point and up to Mti Mkubwa Camp at approx 2650 m. The terrain is that of Montana forest, where we can view some colobus monkeys hanging in bush for 3hrs. We overnight at Mti Mkubwa.
DAY 2 – Mti Mkubwa 2500 m – Shira 1 3480 m
Habitat: Montana Forest/Heather & Moorland
Hiking Time 4-5 hrs
After breakfast, we continue our ascension across the dense rainforest, where climbing is gradual and becomes steeper before reaching a wide moorland zone where you will get proper news of the Shira Plateau and its accompanying ridge and peaks. It is here that you finally get views of Kibo. From here, we go down the moorland then up to Shira 1 whereby you’ll find your chefs, porters and camping crew already preparing for lunch and dinner for your overnight stay.
DAY 3 – Shira 1 3480 m – Shira Hut 3840 m
Habitat: Moorland
Hiking Time: 5-6 hrs
Breakfast is served first thing in the morning. This is a good day for acclimatization for those who have more climbing time on their schedule (8 days up to 10days of climbing). Next we proceed gently east across the Shira Plateau and Shira Cathedral towards Shira Hut on the moorland. It is an excellent place in this route to visit this first eruption in the mountain. Afterwards we go back up to Shira Hut for the overnight camp.
DAY 4 – Shira Hut 3840 m – Barranco Camp 3950 m
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs
After getting a breakfast, we continue on the trail to join up to the junction point where you can meet visitors from the Machame Route. We continue up the steep path to the lava tower to an altitude of 4600 m. At this point of the day due to altitude, some climbers start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch we descend again by almost 680 m to the Barranco Camping area. This is the opportunity to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in the Great Barranco Wall valley, which should provide you with a most memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner. The remainder of the day is meant for acclimatization.
DAY 5 – Barranco Camp 3950 m – Barafu Camp 4600 m
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall, we make our way up to just below the Heim Glacier. From here you will appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is via the views. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley which the last water stop on the route over intervening ridges and valleys before it join up with the Mweka Route, the preferred route down the summit. Barafu is the Swahili word means “ice” and you ascend up to ridge to 4600 m high. It is at Barafu Camp that you will spend the night exposed to the over present gates in tents pitched on a narrow and stony ridge.
PLEASE NOTE
For some hikers who want to reach the summit for 7 days they prefer an overnight at Karanga Camping. But most guides or tour organizers misname this by saying overnight at Karanga Valley while in reality you overnight at the Top of Karanga Valley.
DAY 6 – Barafu Camp 4600 m – Uhuru Peak 5895 m – Mweka Camp 3100 m
Habitat: Scree & Ice-capped Summit
Hiking Time: 9-10 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak & 6-7 hrs to descend to Mweka
We leave around midnight, between 2300-2330hrs to ascend through heavy scree to Stella Point (5568 m) on the crater rim. Here we stop for a short rest and, weather permitting, youll experience the most magnificent sunrise you are very likely to see. Then you start your summit attempt, ascending for about 2hrs to Uhuru Peak (5895 m), the highest point in Africa. Enjoy stunning views of the ice wall, then descend back down to rest before heading down to Mweka Camp (3100 m) to overnight in the upper rain forest.
DAY 7 – Mweka Camp 3100 m – Mweka Gates
Habitat: Forest
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 3 hrs
After an early and well deserved breakfast is a short 3hrs scenic hike bake to the Mweka Park gates. Those who reached Stella Point and Uhuru Peak are awarded with Certificate of Completion. Then, you are transferred back to your hotel for a long overdue hot shower with time to relax.
OPTION II
DAY 1 – Londorosi Gate – Mti Mkubwa 2500 m
Habitat: Montana Forest
Hiking Time: 3 hrs
You will be picked up at your hotel after getting breakfast, and drive from Moshi to Bomangombe. Fom here we will turn to the Londorosi Gate for registration and measure all luggage to the scaling standard of the national park and obtain a permit. We than begin our 3hr journey over to the starting point and up to Mti Mkubwa Camp at approx 2650 m. The terrain is that of Montana forest, where we can view some colobus monkeys hanging in bush for 3hrs. We overnight at Mti Mkubwa.
DAY 2 – Mti Mkubwa 2500 m – Shira 1 3480 m
Habitat: Montana Forest/Heather & Moorland
Hiking Time 4-5 hrs
After breakfast, we continue our ascension across the dense rainforest, where climbing is gradual and becomes steeper before reaching a wide moorland zone where you will get proper news of the Shira Plateau and its accompanying ridge and peaks. It is here that you finally get views of Kibo. From here, we go down the moorland then up to Shira 1 whereby you’ll find your chefs, porters and camping crew already preparing for lunch and dinner for your overnight stay.
DAY 3 – Shira 1 3480 m – Shira Hut 3840 m
Habitat: Moorland
Hiking Time: 5-6 hrs
Breakfast is served first thing in the morning. This is a good day for acclimatization for those who have more climbing time on their schedule (8 days up to 10days of climbing). Next we proceed gently east across the Shira Plateau and Shira Cathedral towards Shira Hut on the moorland. It is an excellent place in this route to visit this first eruption in the mountain. Afterwards we go back up to Shira Hut for the overnight camp.
DAY 4 – Barranco Camp 3950 m – Lava Tower 4720 m
Habitat: Desert
Hiking Time: 3-4 hrs
After finishing breakfast, we start on a steep hill to the desert place up to the lava tower. This can be a very tough day requiring strong climbers. After 3hrs you will arrive at the Lava Tower (4720 m) which is located with a big stone in the left side of the campsite, where your porters and chefs will be ready for you to camp and get lunch. After finishing lunch, we acclimatize to the altitude then head back to the camp for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4 – Shira Hut 3840 m – Lava Tower 4720 m
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Hiking Time: 5 hrs
After getting a breakfast, we continue on the trail to join up to the junction point where you can meet visitors from the Machame Route. We then take the steep route up to the Lava Tower (4720 m) where you will meet with your chefs and porters for lunch and dinner and prepare for an overnight stay.
DAY 5 – Lava Tower 4720 m – Arrow Glacier 4871 m
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Hiking Time: 2-3 hrs
After finishing the breakfast, we start climbing a steep hill again for quite a ways. We then come across two streams of water that we cross before climbing the steep ridge in the southeastern direction to top where you’ll be close to the Arrow Glacier. From here, you pass an old trail running directly from the Lava Tower to the Western Breach whereby you’ll notice an old toilet and camping site where your chefs and porters will be ready for your lunch, dinner and overnight stay. For climbers wishing to stay overnight in the crater rim, please be sure to ask Mount Kilimanjaro Trails for more information.
DAY 6 – Arrow Glacier 4871 m – Uhuru Peak 5895 m – Millennium Camp 3700 m
Habitat: Scree & Ice-capped Summit
Hiking Time: 8-10 hrs
After waking up around 0200 for breakfast and preparation, we leave around 0300 to ascend through heavy scree to summit via the shortest route using the Western Breach. After roughly 4hrs, you will pass the crater area (5729 m) where other climbers overnight. After following our route left for approx 1hr, you will reach Uhuru Peak. Enjoy stunning views of the ice wall, then descend back down to rest before heading down to Millennium Camp (3700 m) to overnight where your chefs and porters who will have arrived via a different route and prepared both your lunch and dinner.
DAY 7 – Millenium Camp 3700 m – Mweka Gates
Habitat: Heather & Moorland / Montana Forest
Hiking Time: 4-5 hrs
After finishing breakfast, this day will be spent descending back to town/your hotel. You will pass the heather & moorland area, including Montana forest. This day you will go to the Mweka Gates via the Mweka Hut, where those who reached Uhuru Peak are awarded a Certificate of Completion, then it will be time to return to the hotel to shower and celebrate.
