7 Days Lemosho Route Climb - African Baobab Adventure

Quick Facts

The 7-day Lemosho itinerary offers a fantastic balance of stunning scenery, excellent acclimatization, and a high summit success rate. While an 8-day trip provides maximum acclimatization, this 7-day version is a highly effective and popular choice for fit trekkers, boasting a success rate of over 90%.

Duration

7 Days / 6 Nights

Starting Point

Londorossi Gate

Ending Point

Mweka Gate

Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

Approx. 70 km / 43 miles

Best For

Scenery & Acclimatization

Accommodation

Mountain Camping

Best Time

Jan–Mar & Jun–Oct

Why Choose the 7-Day Lemosho Route?

One of the Most Scenic Routes

The Lemosho Route offers incredible landscape variety, from rainforest and heath zones to alpine desert and glacier views near the summit.

Quieter Start

Because it begins on the western side of Kilimanjaro, the early days are usually less crowded than routes like Machame or Marangu.

Better Acclimatization Profile

The route allows climbers to gradually gain altitude and includes the important “climb high, sleep low” approach around Lava Tower and Barranco Camp.

Crosses the Beautiful Shira Plateau

One of the highlights is crossing the wide, open Shira Plateau with amazing views of Kibo Peak.

Great Balance of Scenery & Success

The 7-day Lemosho Route gives climbers a strong combination of beautiful landscapes, good acclimatization, and a realistic summit attempt.

Exciting Barranco Wall Experience

Climbers get to experience the famous Barranco Wall, one of the most memorable and adventurous sections of the climb.

Ideal for Fit First-Timers

This route is a great choice for travelers who want a scenic route with enough time to adjust to altitude, while still completing the climb in 7 days.

Compare with other route

7 Days Lemosho Route Climb Trail Map

Western Approach

Itinerary

The 7-Day Lemosho Route is one of the most beautiful and rewarding ways to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Known for its beautiful landscapes, quieter trails, and excellent acclimatization profile, this route offers a truly memorable journey to the Roof of Africa. Your adventure begins on the western side of Kilimanjaro, leading you through lush rainforest and across the famous Shira Plateau before joining the southern circuit for the final ascent.

Arrival in Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be welcomed by our team and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Later, your mountain guide will meet you for a detailed trek briefing and equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary gear for the climb. After the briefing, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your hotel as you prepare for the adventure ahead.

Day 1: Lemosho Gates (2100 m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2650m)

Elevation: 2,100m to 2,650m

Distance: 7 km / 4 miles

Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Rainforest

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

After breakfast at your hotel, you will drive to Londorossi Gate for registration. The trail starts in the lush rainforest, where you may spot wildlife like colobus monkeys. After a steady walk, you will arrive at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp for dinner and overnight rest.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Elevation: 2,650m to 3,900m

Distance: 17 km / 10 miles

Time: 7-9 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Today is a long and rewarding day as you leave the rainforest and enter the heath and moorland zone. You will cross the Shira Ridge and traverse the expansive Shira Plateau, enjoying your first clear views of Kibo Peak. This day combines two stages to reach Shira 2 Camp directly.

Day 3: Shira II Camp to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 3,900m to 3,900m (via 4,600m)

Distance: 10 km / 6 miles

Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

A crucial acclimatization day. You will trek into the alpine desert toward the impressive Lava Tower at 4,600m. After a break, you descend to Barranco Camp, situated beneath the dramatic Barranco Wall. This "climb high, sleep low" approach is excellent for altitude adaptation.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation: 3,900m to 4,000m

Distance: 5 km / 3 miles

Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

The day begins with a fun and challenging scramble up the Barranco Wall. After reaching the top, you will traverse a series of scenic ridges and valleys before arriving at Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day to help your body recover and acclimatize further.

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 4,000m to 4,640m

Distance: 4 km / 2 miles

Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

A relatively short hike takes you to Barafu (Base) Camp. You will arrive in the early afternoon, giving you plenty of time to rest, eat, and prepare your gear for the midnight summit attempt. An early dinner and sleep are essential.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 4,640m to 5,895m, then down to 3,100m

Distance: 17 km / 10 miles

Time: 11-14 hours

Habitat: Arctic

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Your summit attempt begins around midnight. The steep climb over scree leads to Stella Point (5,756 m / 18,885 ft) on the crater rim, where you'll witness a spectacular sunrise. From there, it's about an hour more to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft). After celebrating, you'll descend back to Barafu for a short rest and then continue down to Mweka Camp.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation: 3,100m to 1,630m

Distance: 10 km / 6 miles

Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Rainforest

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

A final, pleasant descent through the lush Mweka rainforest brings you to Mweka Gate. Here, you will receive your official summit certificate and celebrate with your crew before being transferred back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved hot shower.

Departure Day

After a final breakfast and celebrating with your team, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. This is also the perfect opportunity to extend your adventure with a thrilling wildlife safari or a relaxing Zanzibar beach holiday.

Included in your package

2 Nights Hotel in Moshi: Bed & Breakfast
Private transport to / from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your hotel in Moshi
Qualified guides with mountain crew
National Park fees
18% VAT on tour fees and services
All camping accommodations
Mountain tents
Transport
Rescue fees
All needs on the mountain (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Guides and porters' accommodations and their entry fees on the mountain
Pulse oximeter
First aid kit
Emergence oxygen
Sleeping mats and sleeping bags
Treated water through the trek
Fair wages to guides and porters as approved by Kilimanjaro National Park authority

Not Included

Flights
Visa
Tips to mountain crew
Private toilet ($120 per group)
Laundry services

Pricing & Group Sizes

Our per-person pricing decreases as your group size increases. Travel with friends or join a scheduled climb to save!

Solo

1 Person

$2,500

/ person

Small Group

2 - 4 People

$2,400

/ person

Mid Group

5 - 9 People

$2,300

/ person

Large Group

10+ People

$2,200

/ person

Ready for your adventure?

Contact our experts to check availability, customize your dates, and start your climb.

Book This Route

Feature	7 Days Lemosho Route Climb	Other Routes
Scenery	One of the most scenic Kilimanjaro routes, passing through rainforest, Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Barranco Wall, and alpine desert.	Machame is also very scenic; Marangu is more direct; Rongai is drier and quieter; Northern Circuit offers the widest mountain views.
Crowd Level	Quieter in the early days because it starts from the western side of Kilimanjaro.	Machame and Marangu are usually busier; Rongai and Northern Circuit are often quieter options.
Acclimatization	Good acclimatization profile with gradual altitude gain and “climb high, sleep low” sections like Lava Tower to Barranco.	Northern Circuit usually offers the best acclimatization because it is longer; Marangu has a faster ascent and can be harder for acclimatization.
Summit Success	Strong summit success potential, especially compared with shorter routes.	Longer routes like 8-Day Lemosho and Northern Circuit generally offer better success chances; shorter Marangu itineraries can be more challenging.
Difficulty	Moderate to challenging. No technical climbing, but summit night and Barranco Wall require fitness and determination.	Machame is similar in difficulty; Marangu is physically demanding due to faster ascent; Umbwe is steeper and more challenging.
Route Start	Starts from the western side via Londorossi / Lemosho Gate.	Machame starts from the southwest; Marangu from the southeast; Rongai from the north; Northern Circuit also begins from the west.
Descent Route	Descends through Mweka Gate.	Machame and Umbwe also descend via Mweka; Marangu descends the same route it ascends.
Accommodation	Camping route only.	Marangu is the only major route with hut accommodation; most other routes use camping.
Best For	Climbers who want a scenic, quieter, well-balanced route with good acclimatization.	Marangu suits climbers wanting huts; Machame suits those wanting a popular scenic route; Rongai suits those wanting a quieter northern approach; Northern Circuit suits those wanting the longest and most gradual route.
Overall Experience	Premium scenic route with a peaceful start, strong acclimatization, and excellent variety of landscapes.	Other routes may be shorter, cheaper, quieter, or longer depending on the climber’s priority.