7 days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climb

Your Kilimanjaro climb begins with registration at Londorossi Gate before driving toward the Lemosho trailhead.

From the trailhead, you begin walking through humid montane rainforest toward Mti Mkubwa, also known as Big Tree Camp.

The trek covers approximately 6 km and normally takes around three to four hours. The first day is intentionally shorter, allowing you to settle into your trekking rhythm without using unnecessary energy.

The forest can be wet and muddy, particularly after rain. Keep your waterproof jacket accessible and use trekking poles if the trail becomes slippery.

Colobus monkeys and blue monkeys may sometimes be seen in the forest, although wildlife sightings should never be treated as guaranteed.

You spend your first night at Mti Mkubwa Camp at approximately 2,650 metres.

Day two is one of the longer trekking days of this itinerary. You leave Mti Mkubwa at approximately 2,650 metres and climb to Shira 2 Camp at around 3,850 metres.

The day’s distance is approximately 16 km and normally requires seven to eight hours of walking.

As you gain elevation, the dense rainforest gradually disappears and the landscape opens into heath and moorland.

You eventually reach the Shira Plateau, one of the most distinctive areas of the Lemosho Route.

This itinerary bypasses Shira 1 Camp and continues directly toward Shira 2. That means the increase in sleeping altitude is significant, so walking slowly becomes increasingly important.

Views toward Kibo can be excellent when cloud conditions allow.

Once you arrive at Shira 2, focus on eating, drinking and resting rather than pushing yourself around camp unnecessarily.

Day three is one of the most important acclimatization days of the seven day Lemosho Route.

You leave Shira 2 at approximately 3,850 metres and gradually climb toward Lava Tower at about 4,630 metres.

The air becomes noticeably thinner as you approach Lava Tower. Your normal walking pace at lower altitude will no longer feel appropriate, so listen to your guide and keep your rhythm slow.

After reaching Lava Tower, you normally have time to rest and eat before beginning the descent toward Barranco Camp.

Barranco sits at approximately 3,900 metres.

This climb high and sleep lower pattern is useful because your body experiences an elevation above 4,600 metres before spending the night several hundred metres lower.

Many climbers notice that breathing and appetite improve as they descend toward Barranco.

Day four begins with one of the best known features of Kilimanjaro, the Barranco Wall.

From camp, the wall can look intimidating. In practice, it is a steep scramble rather than technical rock climbing.

There are sections where you use your hands for balance, and your guides will help control spacing and movement through narrower areas.

Once above the wall, you continue across a series of valleys and ridges toward Karanga Camp.

The total distance is approximately 5 km, but the changing terrain means the walk normally takes around four to five hours.

Karanga sits at approximately 3,960 metres.

The overnight stay here is one of the main advantages of the seven day itinerary. Instead of continuing directly to Barafu, you stop and give your body another night at altitude before moving higher.

Expert Recommendation from Tanzania Safari Experience

Do not judge this day by the short distance.

The purpose of staying at Karanga is not simply to make the itinerary easier. It provides additional acclimatization and recovery time before reaching Barafu and beginning the summit attempt.

Day five is deliberately shorter.

You leave Karanga Camp at approximately 3,960 metres and climb toward Barafu Base Camp at around 4,670 metres.

The trek covers approximately 4 km and usually takes around three to four hours.

The landscape becomes increasingly dry and exposed as you approach Barafu.

Although the walking distance is short, do not underestimate the altitude. Even slow uphill walking can feel tiring above 4,000 metres.

Arriving at Barafu early gives you time to eat, organize your summit clothing and equipment and rest.

Dinner is normally served early, with climbers encouraged to try sleeping from around 18:00.

You may only sleep for a few hours before your guide wakes you for the summit attempt.

Prepare your headlamp, gloves, warm layers, water and summit snacks before going to bed.

Summit day is the longest and most demanding stage of the climb.

Most climbers wake at approximately 23:30 and prepare to begin walking around midnight.

You leave Barafu at approximately 4,670 metres and climb slowly through darkness using headlamps.

The trail becomes increasingly difficult as altitude increases. Loose scree, freezing temperatures and reduced oxygen make even simple walking tiring.

Your first major target is Stella Point at approximately 5,756 metres on the crater rim.

Depending on your pace, you may reach this area around sunrise.

From Stella Point, the trail continues around the crater toward Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres.

Reaching Uhuru Peak means you have reached the highest point in Africa.

After photographs and a short stop, you begin descending.

You return toward Barafu for a short rest before continuing much farther down the mountain to Mweka Camp at approximately 3,100 metres.

The complete day covers approximately 17 km and can take around 11 to 14 hours.

Trekking poles are particularly useful during the long descent because tired legs and loose ground can place considerable pressure on your knees.

Your final day begins at Mweka Camp at approximately 3,100 metres.

You descend approximately 10 km through increasingly dense vegetation toward Mweka Gate at around 1,640 metres.

Walking normally takes three to four hours.

The trail can become muddy and slippery after rainfall, so do not pack away your trekking poles too early.

Once you reach Mweka Gate, the final mountain procedures are completed.

Successful summit climbers normally receive their summit certificates, and this is also when the team concludes the mountain expedition.

After leaving the gate, you transfer back to Moshi or Arusha for a shower, proper meal and well deserved rest.

We recommend avoiding a tight international flight connection immediately after the climb because descent times, gate procedures and road conditions can vary.