7 Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route or road is one of the most beautiful access to the Kilimandjaro summit. It is also the road among the easiest and least frequented routes, offering panoramic views of many of the mountain’s slopes.
Climb Kilimanjaro for 7 days in Lemosho Route – This is a silent and unspoilt route, located at the remote part of the snow caped majestic Kilimanjaro.
It is a less frequent route up Kilimanjaro, coloured by beautiful flowers on the way to the Shira Plateau and thick mountain forest forming the home for forest dwellers.
Climbers sometimes use it to ascend the Western Breach Route, or follow it with the Kibo South Circuit to ascend by the easier Barafu Route. The first day of the route is rich in game animals.
What’s more with the Lemosho route ?
This route offers magnificent views of the West Kilimanjaro landscape.
The second part of this route links up with the Machame route and thus also leads through the magnificent Barranco wall.
The Lemosho route can be climbed in seven days. Running from west to east within the national park, the Lemosho Road crosses the Shira volcanic plateau, then joins the Machame route and Lava Tower (4,630m).
This route offers superb views of Mawenzi (5,149m) and the eternal snows of Kibo, allowing for gradual acclimatization.
Lemosho route itinerary
Hiking time: ~ 3 hours
Altitude: 2750 meters above the sea level
Start early after breakfast and brief from our professionals, drive by 4×4 safari jeep to the Londros Park Gate to fill out minor paper work.
Proceed to the Lemosho Gate located silent in the medley of the bush and eat lunch within the rhythm of nature while you gain spirit to start your climb toward Mti Mkubwa Campsite for dinner and overnight.
Your porters, having arrived at the camp site long before you, have set up the tents for you.
Dinner is served is a Mess Tent and thereafter retire to you tents for the first night in the mountain where during the night temperature can drop to 1 degree centigrade.
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Altitude: 3504 m
Depart Mti Mkubwa Camp after breakfastand, walk through the remaining part of the forest witnessing the changing of climatic zone.
Gradually find yourself in the giant heather moorland zone, have your lunch at valley door of the Shira crater.
After, continue heading to the Shira Cathedral to arrive at the Shira 1 campsite.
Hiking time: ~ 4 hours Altitude: 3873 m
A gentle walk through the Shira Plateau on the moorland vegetation with magnificent view of the Western-breach from the eastern with all its stunning glaciers. A good day for acclimatizing, arriving at the Shira campsite for Hot lunch.
Hiking time: ~7 hours
Altitude: 3985 m
As you depart from Shira campsite you will enter the alpine zone – a barren moonscape of semi desert where only some grasses and a few lichens survive.
Eat a hot lunch at the half way point before your start conquering the rocky landscape struggling to reach the Lava Tower for the highest acclimatization 4630mtrs.
The first effects of high altitude will start to materialize before descending down through Giant Lobelia and Senecia plants to Barranko camp for dinner and overnight at altitude of 3985mtrs.
The camp is nestled dramatically beneath the Great Baranco wall below the Western-breach which should provides you with a great sunset.
Hiking time: ~7 hours
Altitude: 4550 m
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated.
Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, with the last water point in the mountain. Turn left up the ridge and in about one hour you arrives at Barafu Camp.
“Barafu” is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the omnipresent gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.
The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well.
To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep for not more than 5 Hours.
Hiking time: ~11 hours
Altitude: 3100 m
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.
The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your live.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m).
The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Dinner, and washing water will be prepared and drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates and beer is available from the camp office.
The End of 7 Days Lemosho Route
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR ITINERARY
- Accommodation as per the itinerary.
- Pickup from the airport (Kilimanjaro International Airport) or bus terminal, and drop off when climb finished
- Professional Mountain guide
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner as per the itinerary.
- All Park entrance fees
- Rescue fees
- Porter’s allowance
- Professional mountain cook
- Transfer to and from the mountain gate
- Conservation fees
- Local government taxes
- Clean water
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR ITINERARY
- Travel and personal health insurance
- All Internal or International flights and taxes
- All optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks
- Visas
- Passport
- Accommodation before and after safari
EXCELLENT Based on 139 reviews Jorge Madrid2022-03-04Verified Amazing safari Super experience, everybody helpful and super nice. It feels like a family going into the wild. The driver knows where are the animals and he can spot them while driving safe. Good team and the places where we slept were wonderful, camping in ngorongoro and Serengeti is definitly something else. Even though it is a 5 Days tour It goes super fast. I recomend It 100% Asante sana! Mya Z2022-03-02Verified Great experience Focus in Africa est une agence sérieuse pour effectuer son safari. Nelson est très professionnel et m'a donné tous les détails pour que le safari se passe au mieux. Prise en charge dès l'arrivée à Arusha, j'ai dormi dans l'hostel de Nelson au Lionsgate avant d'entamer le safari le lendemain. Habib notre guide est très professionnel avec de bons yeux pour observer certains big divers cachés au loin. Notre cuisiner était également au top. Je recommande Focus in Africa pour vos safaris. Esra C2022-02-27Verified Amazing safari experience! Onze safari was werkelijk geweldig! Nelson heeft alls voor ons geregeld naar onze wensen. Wij zijn keurig op tijd opgehaald van het vliegveld en zijn eerst gebracht naar het hostel. Een warme welkom en aardige kok die voor ons ook een gids heeft geregeld om het cetrum van Arusha te bezoeken, bezoek de mooie kleurrijke lokale markten en tanzanite museum bijvoorbeeld. Niet te vergeten de gegrilde mais met lime en chilipoeder😋 Wij hebben een 4 daagse safari geboekt, waarbij we eerst naar Tarangire zijn geweest, daarna Serengeti 2 dagen en tot slot Ngorogoro krater, onze gids Mozes was zeer ervaren en vertelde veel over de dieren als natuurgebieden. Hij had ‘eagle eyes’ waardoor we uiteindelijk meer dan de big 5 hebben gezien😊. Onze groep (7 personen) was ook zeer divers waardoor het heel gezellig was. Onze wens was onder andere dat we ipv tenten in lodges wilde blijven. Nelson heeft het perfect geregeld, we voelden ons net in een 4 sterren verblijf midden in de prachtige natuurgebieden! Vooral Seronera en Rhino lodges waren onze favorieten 😍 Onze lunches waren lekker en goed vullend gemaakt door kok van onze safari. Het avondeten in de lodges waren van hotelkwaliteit👌🏼Het was ook fijn dat er altijd (gekoelde) water aanwezig was in onze auto. We willen Nelson en zijn crew nogmaals bedanken voor alles. Maak je dus geen zorgen als je via Focus on Africa boekt, regel alleen je vlucht naar Arusha en Nelson haalt je op en brengt je ook weer naar het vliegveld. Hakuna Matata, zero stress👏🏼 Claire B2022-02-23Verified Unforgettable safzri The safari with Focus in Africa was the highlight of my trip in Tanzania. Everything was perfectly planned and very well organized. I did a 4 days safari, exploring Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro and we made the most of every single day from sunrise to sunset. The driver, Ariel, knows a lot of African wildlife and we saw many animals thanks to his knowledges. All the team, Nelson and his family are very friendly, reliable and serious so that we can have a memorable trip. can only recommend to travel with Focus in Africa. Asante Sana ! Johannes von Simons2022-02-17Verified Great Kili 7 day hike with super team, excellent food and very friendly & helpful guides We did a Kilimanjaro tour with Focus in Africa, and our guide was Emanuel, assistant guide Gadil, and cook Peter. We (Claire and Johannes) really liked everything, from the preparatory talk with Emanuel on the day before the tour, the fact that they also had women porters, the excellent level of service everybody in the team was providing, the outstanding cuisine of Peter (how did he do it?!? Secret miracle cooking device or what? ;-), the flora and fauna explanations of both Emanuel and Gadil during the hiking, the willingness to regularly sit down with us and explain, plan and organize the next steps and days, the help-when-needed-but-also-let-us-explore-our-borders-ourselves... so we were really happy to have booked with Focus in Africa! And we would recommend other tourists to also do seven days, not six. You pay a little more obviously, but it was the perfect mix for us between experiencing the nature, having a demanding-but-not-exhausting physical effort every day, and being proud of ourselves at the end. 6 out of 5 stars ;-) Shubham Goyal2022-01-30Verified Wonderful Experience I went to Tarangire and Ngorongoro with Focus in Africa and had a really wonderful trip. The whole trip was professionally organised with everything and I didn't face any issues. My safari guides were very friendly and helpful and the vehicle was great as well. Their camp site is beautiful and have good food. I would definitely recommend Focus in Africa and would not think twice before booking with them Fa2022-01-28Verified 4 Days Safari Great experience! We went on a 4 day Safari trip, organized by Nelson and Ayubu was our super fun Guide. Peta, also called the food engineer made our breakfast, lunches and Diner. Everything was well planned and the food was just the best. Especially the fresh bread and the different flavors of soup. The tents where also an adventure. I loved this experience! Thank you all for making it possible. sonia2022-01-23Verified Big 5 seen. Big experience lived! All was incredible. Super nice experience. Nelson organised all perfectly. The driver Abby and the chef Pita did their best to make us have the best experience we could. melou28112022-01-21Verified Amazing experience I've made the a 4 days safari with Focus in Africa. The experience was amazing, we saw a lot of animals during the four days. We went to Ngorongonro crater, serengeti and also tarangire. Bryson my guide was very good, we saw a lot of animals thanks to him. We had also a cooker during the trip. It was a very good safari. I've made also the kilimandjaro climbing with focus in africa with the guide Babalu. Babalu was amazing with us. Always taking care of us and asking if we were doing well. We made the marangu road. We had porters and cooker during the trip. Everybody was very very nice with us. I highly recommend FOCUS IN AFRICA. Also the prices are very correct. I compared with a lot of different companies here in Arusha and they were the less expensive ! So for the price and also the experience I highly recommend them. Thank you again sandyrom72022-01-11Verified Cool atmosphere and guide 4 days Safari with Focus in Africa was an interesting adventure for us . Especially cool and big thanks for meeting us from the airport and accommodation in the hostel the day before and day after . Big thanks to our guide George for all this 4 days -he did his best, tried to show as much as possible. But the other side of the trip - food. All meals were included in our safari , so we didn’t take any snacks with us and it was not possible to take smth from the restaurant, we tried it the first day in Arusha( not camp dinner) and got stomach poisoning.. First day we had good , balanced meals , but ijtger 3 days was always rice and meat for lunch and dinner . If the cuisine had been more thoughtful, I’d put all stars