8 Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route

Start your journey with a scenic 3.5- to 4-hour drive from your hotel in Arusha to Londorossi Gate, on the west side of Kilimanjaro. Along the way, you will pass lush farmland and mountain villages – a peaceful and atmospheric start to your trek.

Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
The trek starts at Londorossi Gate (2,250 m) with park registration, followed by a leisurely 3-4-hour hike through lush montane rainforest. The day ends at Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 m), also called “Big Tree Camp”, where you will spend your first night amid rich forest vegetation.

From Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 m), the trail climbs steeply through the rainforest and enters the moorland zone, after which the landscape opens onto the Shira Plateau. After about 5-6 hours of hiking, you will reach Shira Camp 1 (3,500 m), with sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and the distant peaks of Mount Meru.

This relatively easy 3 to 4-hour hike takes you across the vast Shira plateau. Along the way, there is plenty of time for acclimatisation and stunning views of the Kibo peak. The trail rises gradually and ends at Shira Camp 2 (3,850 m), with panoramic mountain scenery and open skies.

This is an important acclimatisation day that begins with a 5-7-hour hike from Shira Camp 2 (3,850 m) to Lava Tower (4,630 m), followed by a descent to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). The route passes through impressive alpine terrain and helps your body get used to the altitude, with breathtaking views of the Western Breach along the way.

The day starts with a climb over the impressive Barranco Wall – a physical challenge with breathtaking views. You then follow a route over ridges and valleys until you reach Karanga Camp (4,035 m) after 4-5 hours. This stage is part of the Southern Circuit Route and further contributes to good acclimatisation.

This 3-4-hour trek from Karanga Camp (4,035 m) to Barafu Camp (4,673 m) is a steady climb through alpine desert landscape. You will arrive early enough to rest, hydrate well and prepare for the overnight summit attempt to Uhuru Peak.

The summit night begins around midnight with a challenging 6- to 8-hour climb from Barafu Camp (4,673 m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). After a brief celebration at the summit, descend to Barafu Camp for a well-deserved rest, and continue the descent to Mweka Camp (3,100 m). Expect a long day of 12 to 14 hours of hiking – intense, but with unforgettable rewards.

Your last day on the mountain is a 3-4-hour descent from Mweka Camp (3,100 m) to Mweka Gate (1,640 m), through lush montane rainforest. At the gate, you sign out, receive your summit certificate and officially conclude your Kilimanjaro adventure.

Transfer back to Arusha Hotel
After checking out at Mweka Gate, enjoy a comfortable 2.5- to 3-hour drive back to your hotel in Arusha, past scenic landscapes. A relaxing conclusion to your Kilimanjaro journey.