Kilimanjaro · Lemosho Route

8 Days Lemosho Route At Crater

Duration: 8 Days
Route: Lemosho Route
Price: From $2,200

Tour Overview

The 8 Days Lemosho Route with Crater Camp is the fullest and most demanding version of the Lemosho trail on Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s for serious trekkers who want the most acclimatization, a strong chance of reaching the summit, and a rare night at Crater Camp (5,730m), just below Uhuru Peak (5,895m).

You start on the remote western side of the mountain and follow quiet trails through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert before joining the southern circuit. Along the way you stop to acclimatize at Lava Tower, Barranco, Karanga and Barafu Camps, and then climb up to the crater floor.

Crater Camp is a bare, strange-looking place, with glaciers all around and volcanic features like the Ash Pit. Sleeping there gives you time to explore this high ground properly, and in the early morning it’s a short climb to the summit.

This route is a good fit for:

Experienced high-altitude trekkers
Climbers looking for a rare and serious challenge
Anyone interested in the glaciers and Kilimanjaro’s volcanic features

6 Days Lemosho Route – Map — Route map · open full size

Itinerary

Pre day Arriving in Tanzania

All trekkers need to organize their own flight to Kilimanjaro international Airport [JRO]. From JRO you will be met by our staff and transferred to Moshi in the peaceful surrounds of our comfortable pre and post trek accommodation from where there are great views of the mountain. You can relax by the pool before your briefing with the Guides, who will provide the essential information for your trek to the roof of Africa.

The Hotel we are using is between these

Parkview Inn Hotel

Panama Garden Resort

Weruweru River Lodge
Day 1 Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2,100m/6,890ft) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,750m/9,023ft)

Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi
Approx. time taken: 4 hours

This day we begin our first day of 8 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro climb. The Lemosho route is ideal for climbers seeking a more private hiking experience. Although the trail joins with the more popular Machame route on day three, the first two days on the mountain are relatively quiet with few other trekking groups on the trail. On the first day, arrive at Londorossi Gate at about 11am. Spend about an hour at the gate while Kilimanjaro Budget Safaris registers your climb and the porters and guides make final preparations. Please note that the arrival time at the gate may vary depending on road conditions.

After registering at the gate, drive to the trailhead. Leave the gate at around 12pm for MtiMkubwa Camp. Pass through the rain forests of Kilimanjaro viewing trees and birds along the way. Eat a picnic on the trail before continuing to MtiMkubwa Camp. Arrive at the campsite in the late afternoon and relax for the rest of the day.

Meals
Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
MtiMkubwa Camp
Day 2 Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,750m/9,023ft) to Shira 1 Camp (3,720m/12,200ft)

Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours

Leave the forest on day two for Kilimanjaro’s moorland. When the trail flattens out, you will have your first views of Kibo peak. After lunch, you will climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo’s lava flows filled up the Shira crater. Stop at Shira 1 Camp, where you will relax for the rest of the day. Faster hikers may continue to Shira 2 Camp (3,830m/12,560ft).

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
Shira 1 Camp
Day 3 Shira I Camp (3,720m/12,200ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft)

Total Elevation Gain: 810 meters, 2,660 feet

This is a very long day of hiking and it is imperative that you leave the camp by 7am. Hikers may also choose to camp at Shira II and skip Karanga Valley on day four. This will shorten day three significantly.

Although this up-and-down day ends with an elevation gain of only 120 meters, by early afternoon you will have climbed 810 meters to a height of 4,530 meters before beginning your descent to Barranco Camp. Although the hike is tiring, it is crucial for acclimatization.

After breakfast continue east on the Shira Plateau, reaching the junction for the Machame, Lemosho and Shira trails. Join the more crowded Machame route before stopping for lunch. Shortly after lunch you will reach the highest point of the day before descending quickly to Barranco Camp. Faster hikers can take a detour via Lava Tower, a 300-foot lava formation jutting out of the mountainside.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
Barranco Camp
Day 4 Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) to Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft)

Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet

Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with an hour and a half scramble up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you may have to use your hands to pull your body up. After reaching the top, make a short descent into the greener Karanga Valley. We generally camp on the ridge above the valley to allow for greater acclimatization.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
Karanga Camp
Day 5 Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)

Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet

After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During day four, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, there are stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks along the way. Try to sleep as soon as you finish dinner as you will awake before midnight for your summit hike.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
Barafu Camp
Day 6 Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Crater Camp (5,715m/18,750ft)

--Elevation Gain: 1,115 meters, 3,650 feet

Due to the steep ascent at high altitude, this is the most challenging day of the ascent. Leave Barafu Camp early in the morning to begin your hike to the top of Kibo Crater. It is important to remember to snack during the ascent to keep your energy up. You will likely lose your appetite during this day and begin to feel new effects of altitude sickness.

After ascending Kibo’s wall, hike to Crater Camp, the highest camp on Kilimanjaro. The camp is located inside Kilimanjaro’s Kibo crater, and offers stunning views of the surrounding glaciers.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
Crater Camp
Day 7 Crater Camp (5,715m/18,750ft) to Summit (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)

Elevation Gain: 180 meters, 590 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet

At dawn, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The hike to the summit is slow, taking up to two hours to gain 180 meters. Reach Uhuru around 8am and take photos at the roof of Africa. Descend to Barafu Camp where you’ll eat brunch. At 1pm, continue to Mweka Camp your final camp on Kilimanjaro.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner
Overnight
Mweka Camp
Day 8 Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,500m/4,920ft)

Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet

After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Mweka Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery. Kilimanjaro Budget Safaris vehicles will be waiting at the lower station of Mweka Gate

Drive back to your hotel in Moshi. Hotel

Depart Tanzania

This day left for your next destination. If you have safari, then might be used to beginning your safari or fly to Zanzibar or fly back home. Our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at your time.

Meal
Breakfast
Meals
Breakfast Included

Places on This Trip

Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park

Include

08 Days 07 Nights Lemosho Route
Private transport from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
Private transport to Kilimanjaro International Airport after trek to catch your flight back home
Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
National Park entry fees, camping fees, rescue fees
18% VAT on tour fees & services
4 Season Mountain tents with comfortable Sleeping Mattress
2 nights of your hotel stay before and after trek in Moshi.
Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters [average ratio of support staff to climber is 4:1 in a group]
3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
Hot water for washing
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
Government taxes
Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter
Emergency firstaid kit

Exclude

Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
Travel insurance
Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 100 for the entire trek shared in a group.
Flights
Laundry (Available at hotel)
Personal items and toiletries
Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the
Mountain: http://www.kiliporters.org/tipping_recommendations.php
Guides: $20/day/guide
Cook: $15/day
Porter: $10/day/porter

Prices

Standard Package Price For 08 Days Lemosho Route Staying In Crater

People in Group	1-2	3-5	6-8	9+
Standard Package	$2,690	$2,590	$2,400	$2,200

Prices in US dollars.

Trekking Preparation

Testimonials

What Our Travelers Say About Our Tours

Highly Experienced and Wonderful Crew
The 7 days Lemosho route Kilimanjaro trek exceeded our expectations. The route is so beautiful and we enjoyed tackling the mountain with experienced guides - Bakari and Nickson. They were supportive from start to finish in all the aspects of the trek, starting with the technical strategy on the speed, rests and ensuring that we were healthy through regular checks.
SteveRead on TripAdvisor (Steve’s review)
Absolutely Beautiful Memories For My Family
Traveling with my 6 members of my family of ages between 8 and 73 is always a complex task with many moving parts. We had to arrange for Mama and Poppas dietary restrictions, accommodations, easy access for Mama and off-course places with a pool and kids activities for Lil Poppa and his teenage sister Anna.
Martina_EaghanRead on TripAdvisor (Martina_Eaghan’s review)
Awesome Trekking
My bothers and I shared one of the most incredible experiences in Tanzania as we trekked up Kilimanjaro. Our host Naick of Kilisa Tours & Safaris is the man behind our success.
TobiasRead on TripAdvisor (Tobias’s review)
Fun & Adventure On Our Christmas Vacation
Our safari to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti with Kilisa Tours and Safaris for exceeded all our expectations in every way. We were impressed by the high standards set right from our pickup at the airport, during the trip to the good byes. Nothing was left to chance as every detail had been well planned for.
MauriceRead on TripAdvisor (Maurice’s review)
The Best Experience Absolutely
We could not have asked for a better experience on Kilimanjaro. Everything about this trip with this local operator was top notch. Starting with the booking with Naick who made it smooth and easy with his timely responses and advice. Payment was easy and they took care of all the logistics that all we had to do was present ourselves at the KIA.
LokiRead on TripAdvisor (Loki’s review)
Hike Mt Kilimanjaro
We have visited Tanzania before, but this was our first time trekking Kilimanjaro. We are truly thrilled with our decision to choose Kilisa Tours & Safaris for our adventure, as they provided exceptional support throughout the trek.
Tephia SRead on TripAdvisor (Tephia S’s review)