Lemosho Route
The most beautiful way up: a quiet western start and the wide Shira Plateau.
- Duration
- 7–8 days
- Summit
- 5,895 m (19,341 ft)
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Difficulty
- Challenging
The Lemosho Route begins on the remote western side of Kilimanjaro, at Londorossi Gate, with a walk through quiet rainforest where you may see colobus monkeys. It then crosses the whole Shira Plateau, one of the most open and scenic parts of the mountain, before joining the Machame trail at the Lava Tower.
Because it starts higher and takes eight days, Lemosho gives your body time to adjust and has one of the best summit success rates of any route. The first days are quiet, and the views of the Kibo cone across the plateau are some of the finest on the mountain.
Why choose this route
- Some of the best scenery on Kilimanjaro, across the Shira Plateau
- Eight days give an excellent chance of reaching the summit
- A quiet start, far from the busier southern routes
Good to know
- From the Lava Tower it shares the trail and camps with the Machame Route
- The drive to Londorossi Gate takes longer than to the southern gates
- Camping only, with tents carried and set up by our porters
Map of the Lemosho Route
The trail as it is mapped on the ground, with every gate, camp and high point we pass. Select a place in the list to find it on the map.
Altitude profile
How high you climb, and where you sleep. Dips in the line are "walk high, sleep low" days that help your body adjust.
Altitude at each gate, camp and high point, in walking order. Distances between points are not to scale.
Lemosho Route itinerary
The day-by-day plan we follow on our Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route — 8-Day Wilderness Expedition.
After a briefing at your hotel, drive about four hours to Londorossi Gate (2,250 m) on the western side of Kilimanjaro to register with the national park. Continue by vehicle to the Lemosho trailhead and meet your mountain crew.
The trail winds gently through undisturbed rainforest with huge trees, hanging moss and the calls of turacos. Black-and-white colobus monkeys are often seen in the canopy.
Arrive at Mti Mkubwa, “Big Tree” Camp, set among tall forest trees.
Distance about 6 km, walking time 3–4 hours.
Overnight: Mti Mkubwa Camp (Full Board)
Leave the forest and climb into the giant heather zone, crossing small streams on the way. The trail steepens over the Shira Ridge before descending gently onto the Shira Plateau.
As you reach Shira 1 Camp, Kibo appears ahead across the plateau for the first time — an unforgettable view at sunset.
Distance about 8 km, walking time 5–6 hours.
Overnight: Shira 1 Camp (Full Board)
A gentle day crossing the Shira Plateau, one of the most beautiful walks on Kilimanjaro. Giant groundsels and everlasting flowers grow among the volcanic rocks, and the views stretch across the high caldera to the summit.
The short distance gives your body time to adapt. In the afternoon, your guide may lead an optional acclimatisation walk towards the Shira Cathedral.
Distance about 7 km, walking time 4–5 hours.
Overnight: Shira 2 Camp (Full Board)
This important acclimatisation day takes you up through alpine desert to Lava Tower, a 90-metre volcanic plug at 4,630 m, where you rest and have lunch.
Then descend into the Barranco Valley among giant groundsels to Barranco Camp, which lies below the great Barranco Wall. Climbing high and sleeping lower helps your body to adjust.
Distance about 10 km, walking time 6–8 hours.
Overnight: Barranco Camp (Full Board)
Climb the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical scramble of about 250 metres with excellent views of the southern ice fields from the top.
Continue across ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp, the last water point before the summit. The short day is designed to give you extra rest.
Distance about 5 km, walking time 4–5 hours.
Overnight: Karanga Camp (Full Board)
A steady climb over rocky ground leads to Barafu Camp, the summit base camp on an exposed ridge.
Rest in the afternoon, drink plenty of water and prepare your warm clothing and headtorch. Your guides check your health and explain the summit plan. Watch the sunset over a sea of clouds before an early dinner and bed.
Distance about 4 km, walking time 4–5 hours.
Overnight: Barafu Camp (Full Board)
Start around midnight and climb slowly up the steep scree by headtorch. Reach Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim at dawn, then walk for about an hour along the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa.
After summit photographs, descend to Barafu Camp for a rest and a meal, then continue down to Mweka Camp in the forest.
A demanding day of 12–15 hours in total.
Overnight: Mweka Camp (3,100 m, Full Board)
Descend through lush rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,640 m), sign out of the park and receive your summit certificate. Celebrate and say farewell to your crew.
Distance about 10 km, walking time 3–4 hours. Transfer to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
End of trek.
Lemosho Route: questions and answers
- Is Lemosho harder than Machame?
- It is longer but not harder. The extra days and the higher start make the climb more gradual, which most people find easier on the body.
- How long is the Lemosho Route?
- We climb it in 8 days: six days up, the summit on day seven, and the last morning down to Mweka Gate.
Other routes up Kilimanjaro
Compare all routesMachame Route
Kilimanjaro's classic: rainforest, the Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall.
Route guide and map → 9 daysNorthern Circuit Route
The longest and quietest route, around the wild northern slopes.
Route guide and map → 6–7 daysRongai Route
The quiet northern approach, from near the Kenyan border.
Route guide and map →