8 Day Lemosho Route Mount Kilimanjaro Climb

After breakfast, your Bush Paws Safaris mountain team will collect you from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi and drive towards Londorossi Gate on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro.

After completing the necessary park registration and entry procedures, continue towards the Lemosho trailhead.

Your trek begins in the beautiful montane rainforest. The trail passes through dense vegetation, towering trees and a peaceful wilderness environment before reaching Mti Mkubwa Camp, also known as Big Tree Camp.

This relatively short first trekking day gives you the opportunity to settle into the mountain environment before the longer stages ahead.

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• Elevation: Approximately 2,100–2,800 m

• Distance: Approximately 6–8 km

• Hiking Time: Approximately 3–4 hours

• Habitat: Rainforest

• Activities: Transfer to Lemosho Gate, park registration, mountain trek

• Highlights: Lemosho rainforest, mountain scenery, first day on Kilimanjaro

• Overnight: Mti Mkubwa Camp

• Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, leave the rainforest behind and continue climbing towards the Shira Plateau.

The landscape gradually changes from dense forest to heath and moorland, opening up to wider views of the mountain. As you gain altitude, the vegetation becomes shorter and the scenery more dramatic.

Continue towards Shira 1 Camp, where you will spend the night beneath the vast Kilimanjaro sky.

From the Shira area, you may enjoy spectacular views towards Kibo, the main summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

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• Elevation: Approximately 2,800 m to 3,500–3,600 m

• Distance: Approximately 8–9 km

• Hiking Time: Approximately 5–6 hours

• Habitat: Heath and Moorland

• Activities: Mountain trekking, acclimatization

• Highlights: Shira Plateau, panoramic mountain views, changing vegetation zones

• Overnight: Shira 1 Camp

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you continue across the spectacular Shira Plateau, one of the most scenic sections of the Lemosho Route.

The day's trek provides an important opportunity to continue acclimatizing while enjoying the open high-altitude landscape. Walk across the plateau towards Shira 2 before continuing towards the Moir area.

The surrounding volcanic landscape provides beautiful views of Kibo and the surrounding mountain terrain.

Your guide will maintain a comfortable pace, allowing you to conserve energy while your body continues adapting to the increasing altitude.

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• Elevation: Approximately 3,500 m to 4,200 m

• Distance: Approximately 12–14 km, depending on the camp arrangement

• Hiking Time: Approximately 5–7 hours

• Habitat: Moorland / High-altitude desert

• Activities: Trekking, acclimatization walk, Shira Plateau exploration

• Highlights: Shira Plateau, Kibo views, high-altitude scenery

• Overnight: Moir Hut / Moir Camp area

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is one of the most important acclimatization days of the climb.

After breakfast, continue eastward towards Lava Tower, reaching a high point of approximately 4,600 metres before descending towards Barranco Camp.

The route passes through an increasingly stark alpine landscape as vegetation becomes sparse. Lava Tower provides a dramatic volcanic backdrop and an important high-altitude acclimatization experience.

After spending time at altitude, descend towards Barranco Camp, situated at approximately 3,900 metres.

This "climb high, sleep lower" profile is an important feature of the Lemosho itinerary and helps prepare you for the higher stages of the mountain.

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• Elevation: Approximately 4,600 m at Lava Tower, descending to about 3,900 m

• Distance: Approximately 7–14 km depending on route variation

• Hiking Time: Approximately 5–7 hours

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Activities: Trekking, Lava Tower acclimatization, descent to Barranco

• Highlights: Lava Tower, dramatic volcanic landscapes, Barranco Valley

• Overnight: Barranco Camp

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, begin one of the most memorable sections of the Lemosho Route: the ascent of the Barranco Wall.

With the guidance of your mountain crew, carefully climb the wall before continuing along a series of ridges and valleys towards Karanga Camp.

Although the trail includes steep sections, your guides will set a steady pace and provide assistance where needed.

This is a relatively short trekking day, allowing time for rest and acclimatization before the climb to Barafu.

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• Elevation: Approximately 3,900 m to 4,000 m

• Distance: Approximately 5 km

• Hiking Time: Approximately 4–5 hours

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Activities: Barranco Wall climb, mountain trekking, acclimatization

• Highlights: Barranco Wall, mountain ridges, views of Kibo

• Overnight: Karanga Camp

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, continue your ascent towards Barafu Camp, the base camp for your summit attempt.

The trail becomes increasingly rocky and the vegetation is minimal as you enter the high alpine desert zone.

Upon reaching Barafu Camp, your guides will help you prepare for the summit attempt. After dinner, rest as much as possible because the summit climb begins during the night.

Take time to organize your summit equipment, warm clothing, headlamp, water and other essentials before getting some sleep.

 

• Elevation: Approximately 4,000 m to 4,600–4,700 m

• Distance: Approximately 4–5 km

• Hiking Time: Approximately 3–5 hours

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Activities: Trekking, summit preparation, rest and acclimatization

• Highlights: Barafu Camp, views of Kibo and Mawenzi, summit preparation

• Overnight: Barafu Camp

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of your Kilimanjaro climb.

You will wake around midnight and begin the ascent towards Stella Point on the crater rim. The climb is slow and steady as you make your way through the darkness.

After reaching Stella Point, continue along the crater rim towards Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest elevation in Africa at 5,895 metres.

Weather permitting, you may witness an unforgettable sunrise from the summit area.

Celebrate your achievement at Uhuru Peak, take photographs and enjoy the extraordinary views before beginning the descent.

Descend towards Barafu Camp for a short rest and meal before continuing down to Mweka Camp.

This is a long and physically demanding day, so your mountain guide will manage the pace carefully and monitor the group throughout the climb.

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• Elevation: Approximately 4,600 m → 5,895 m → 3,100 m

• Distance: Approximately 17–19 km total

• Hiking Time: Approximately 12–16 hours total

• Habitat: Arctic / Alpine Desert

• Activities: Summit attempt, Uhuru Peak, descent to Mweka

• Highlights: Stella Point, sunrise, Uhuru Peak, summit achievement, panoramic mountain views

• Overnight: Mweka Camp

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, begin your final descent through the beautiful mountain forest towards Mweka Gate.

The trail becomes greener as you lose altitude and return to the rainforest zone.

At Mweka Gate, complete the exit procedures and receive your Kilimanjaro climbing certificate according to the summit achievement recorded by the park.

Your vehicle will then meet you and transfer you back to Arusha or Moshi, where you can enjoy a well-earned shower, rest and celebration after completing your Kilimanjaro adventure.

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• Elevation: Approximately 3,100 m to 1,600 m

• Distance: Approximately 10 km

• Hiking Time: Approximately 3–4 hours

• Habitat: Rainforest

• Activities: Final descent, Mweka Gate exit, certificate collection, transfer to hotel

• Highlights: Kilimanjaro certificate, rainforest, farewell to the mountain

• End of Climb: Arusha or Moshi

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch