Kilimanjaro
Lemosho Route
the long way round, and the quiet one
Eight days from the western side of Kilimanjaro, across the Shira Plateau and up to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), with time on your side.
more days, fewer people
What the Lemosho Route is like
Lemosho starts on the western side of Kilimanjaro, far from the busier southern gates. Your first days are through rainforest and moorland on quieter trails, before you come out onto the broad Shira Plateau, with the summit ahead of you across the open ground.
From the plateau it joins the southern circuit that Machame also follows: up towards the Lava Tower, down to Barranco Camp, over the Barranco Wall, then on through Karanga to Barafu. So you get the same famous middle of the mountain, reached more slowly.
That slowness is the point. Eight days gives your body more time to adjust to the altitude than a shorter climb, and the walking days on the plateau are gentler. It costs more than a shorter climb, because there are more days of crew, food and park fees to pay for.
camp by camp, metre by metre
The climb, day by day
8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek: Lemosho Route
- Day 1Lemosho Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
Drive from Arusha to the Lemosho Gate (around 2,100 m) and trek through rainforest to the first camp. Overnight at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp (around 2,650 m).
- Day 2Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
Climb through the last of the forest into moorland and onto the Shira Plateau. Overnight at Shira Plateau Camp (Shira 1, around 3,505 m).
- Day 3Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp
A gentler walk across the Shira Plateau with acclimatisation in mind to the Shira 2 camp. Overnight at Shira Camp (around 3,850 m).
- Day 4Shira 2 to Barranco Camp (via Lava Tower)
Ascend towards the Lava Tower (around 4,600 m), then descend to Barranco Camp beneath the Great Barranco Wall. Overnight at Barranco Camp (around 3,960 m).
- Day 5Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Climb the Barranco Wall and traverse to the Karanga Valley camp. Overnight at Karanga Valley Camp (around 4,035 m).
- Day 6Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Continue up to Barafu Camp, the base for the summit attempt, and rest before the midnight start. Overnight at Barafu Camp (around 4,645 m).
- Day 7Summit Day: Uhuru Peak & Descent to Mweka Camp
Set out around midnight and ascend to the crater rim, then to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m); descend to Barafu and on to Mweka Camp. Overnight at Mweka Camp (around 3,080 m).
- Day 8Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate & Departure
Complete the descent through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, then transfer back to Arusha.
Altitudes are approximate. Reaching the summit depends on your acclimatisation, your fitness and the conditions on the day.
Is this the right route for you?
Choose it if
- You want more time to acclimatise than a shorter climb gives you
- You would like quieter trails for the first days
- You can give the climb a full eight days
- You want to join a group on a set date
Look elsewhere if
- You have a day or two less to spare Look at Machame
- You would rather sleep in a hut than a tent Look at Marangu
Next group climbs on this route
Join others on a set date, or tell us your own dates and we will plan a private climb.
- 20 Jan 2027 to 27 Jan 2027 Ask about this date
- 26 Jan 2027 to 2 Feb 2027 Ask about this date
- 11 Feb 2027 to 18 Feb 2027 Ask about this date
- 23 Feb 2027 to 2 Mar 2027 Ask about this date
- 4 Mar 2027 to 11 Mar 2027 Ask about this date
- 10 Jul 2027 to 17 Jul 2027 Ask about this date
- 16 Jul 2027 to 23 Jul 2027 Ask about this date
- 1 Aug 2027 to 8 Aug 2027 Ask about this date
- 10 Aug 2027 to 17 Aug 2027 Ask about this date
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Questions climbers ask
Our climb takes eight days: seven up to the summit and the first part of the descent, then a final morning down to Mweka Gate, followed by the transfer back to Arusha.
Lemosho starts further west and crosses the Shira Plateau before joining the same southern circuit Machame follows, from the Lava Tower to Barafu. It is a longer, quieter start, with an extra day to adjust to the altitude.
No route to 5,895 m is easy, but the pace here is more gradual than on a shorter climb. You still camp throughout and climb the Barranco Wall. Reaching the summit depends on your acclimatisation, your fitness and the conditions on the day.
It starts at Lemosho Gate, at around 2,100 m, after a drive from Arusha, and finishes at Mweka Gate.
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