The Lemosho Route is relatively new. It starts on the Western side of
Mount Kilimanjaro at the Londorossi Gate and was introduced as an
alternative to the Shira Route which begins at a higher, more challenging altitude.
The Londorossi Gate is a fair drive from the town of Moshi, and considerably further from Arusha. At the gate you will register with the authorities before being driven a further 12km to the starting point.
The western side of Kilimanjaro is still very wild and you may get lucky and spot large antelope, buffalo and maybe even elephant.
On day three the Lemosho Route joins the Machame Route at Lava Tower and down towards Barranco Valley via the Southern Circuit (see map below). As with the Machame Route, Lemosho trekkers need to transverse the Barranco Wall and then summit from Barafu Camp.
Descent is via the Mweka route.
Quicklinks:
The seven day route typically stops for a night at both Shira Camp 1 and Shira Camp 2. Eight day treks stop again at Karanga Camp for another acclimatization day.
Below is the itinerary for a six day Lemosho Route.
Distance: ~5.5km / 3 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest
Day 2 – Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) to Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters)
Distance: ~16km / 8.5 miles
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
Day 3 – Shira Camp (3,850 meters) to Lava Tower (4,600 meters) and then Barranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Distance: ~11km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
Day 4 – Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters) (and then Barafu Camp – 4,680 meters)
Distance: ~9.5km / 6 miles
Trekking time: 8-10 hours
Zone: High alpine zone
Day 5 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Distance: ~4.5km / 3 miles ascent and then 11km / 7 mile descent
Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours to Mweka
Zone: Glacial zone and the all preceding zones
Day 6 – Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Distance: ~9km / 6 miles
Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Zone: Rainforest
The Londorossi Gate is a fair drive from the town of Moshi, and considerably further from Arusha. At the gate you will register with the authorities before being driven a further 12km to the starting point.
The western side of Kilimanjaro is still very wild and you may get lucky and spot large antelope, buffalo and maybe even elephant.
On day three the Lemosho Route joins the Machame Route at Lava Tower and down towards Barranco Valley via the Southern Circuit (see map below). As with the Machame Route, Lemosho trekkers need to transverse the Barranco Wall and then summit from Barafu Camp.
Descent is via the Mweka route.
Quicklinks:
- Route Map
- Itinerary
- Altitude Profile
- Recommended Tour Operators
- Packing List
- FAQ
Lemosho Route
Most trekkers complete the Lemosho Route in seven days; however some tour operators offer six day treks (not recommended) and eight day hikes on the Lemosho. The latter is great for acclimatisation and of course increases the probability of success.The seven day route typically stops for a night at both Shira Camp 1 and Shira Camp 2. Eight day treks stop again at Karanga Camp for another acclimatization day.
Below is the itinerary for a six day Lemosho Route.
Day-by-day Lemosho Route
Day 1 – Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) – start point 2,360 meters to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters)Distance: ~5.5km / 3 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest
Day 2 – Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) to Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters)
Distance: ~16km / 8.5 miles
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
Day 3 – Shira Camp (3,850 meters) to Lava Tower (4,600 meters) and then Barranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Distance: ~11km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
Day 4 – Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters) (and then Barafu Camp – 4,680 meters)
Distance: ~9.5km / 6 miles
Trekking time: 8-10 hours
Zone: High alpine zone
Day 5 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Distance: ~4.5km / 3 miles ascent and then 11km / 7 mile descent
Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours to Mweka
Zone: Glacial zone and the all preceding zones
Day 6 – Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Distance: ~9km / 6 miles
Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Zone: Rainforest
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