The 6 day Lemosho route requires 19-24 hours of demanding walking, at extremely high elevation, with only 4-6 hours of sleep. The Lemosho method has a high percentage of success, often about 90% for the 8-day option and 85% for the 7-day version. The average summit success percentage for the less common 6 day option is around 75%. It is approximately a 3 hour hike up to Barafu Camp and a further hour hike to Kosovo Camp from Karanga Camp.

Day 1: Lemosho Glades (3500 m) — Shira 1 Camp (3900 m)

• Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp
  •Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
  •Distance: 6 km
  •Hiking Time:3-4 hours
  •Habitat: Rain Forest

Worried about finding your guide and mountain support crew upon reaching Moshi? Well, fret not. You can enjoy a good night’s sleep on reaching your hotel. The next morning, your guide and mountain support crew will have arrived to meet you and familiarize you with the processes ahead.

Soon after you’ve been apprised of the route and considerations you need to remember, you’ll be treated to a 3-4 hour long drive from Moshi to the Londorossi Gate (2,200 m), which is the western entrance to the park. On reaching, the climbing permit formalities will begin. You’ll also need to register with the search and rescue services, as a precautionary measure to deal with unforeseen circumstances while you climb Kilimanjaro on Lemosho!

You’ll be a part of the group which will continue with the ascent towards the drop-off point by off-road vehicles. On the way, you can treat your eyes to some of the most breathtakingly beautiful sights of the Shira Plateau.

Luckily, the route to the first high-altitude camp from your drop-off point is not too arduous, and provides you with a slight advantage in terms of altitude. This bolsters your acclimatization process which helps you brace yourself for the forthcoming challenges in your trek.

Day 2: Shira 2 Camp (3900 m) — Lava Tower (4630 m) — Barranco Camp (3960 m)

• Forest Camp to Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2
  •Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 12,500ft
  •Distance: 18 km
  •Hiking Time 8-10 hours
  •Habitat: Moorland

At Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) you can begin your day with a hearty breakfast and head towards Lava Tower (4,630 m). Within this Kilimanjaro trek the Lemosho Route has a few ascents and descents which may be mildly discomforting. The end of the camp approaches at over 4600 meters where you’ll need to acclimatize to the altitude.

It is recommended to spend at least 1-2 hours there for successful acclimatization. You can enjoy a hearty lunch at this spot which also paves avenues for some sights. The descent towards the Barranco Camp begins at 3960 m, from where the well-known Barranco Wall can be seen. The impressive sight elicits appreciative gasps from onlookers, in terms of size and steepness.

Day 3: Barranco Camp (3960 m) — Karanga Camp (4035 m)

• Shira Camp 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
  •Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
  •Distance: 10 km
  •Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
  •Habitat: Semi Desert

After a strenuous hike on your 2nd day, you’ll encounter a relatively light hike on the 3rd day. Before you start your ascent for the Barranco Wall, you can relish a healthy breakfast. It is best to start early, so you can sidestep the crowded groups and easily move towards hiking the gorge wall.

The hike until the gorge wall is relatively easy and often takes no more than an hour. It is advisable to take rest and enjoy the sights of the Kibo Volcano which is often seen as a famous spot for photography. The next bit of your hike is towards the Karanga Camp which features a unique combination of highs and lows again. If you’re worried about the bumpy ride ahead, fret not. Our friendly guides are experts at uncovering an effective pace for the Kilimanjaro Lemosho hike towards the Barafu Camp.

You can heave a sigh of relief as you approach the Barafu Camp which provides you with a 300-meter gain in altitude. Descending back to the Camp is hence relatively easy!

Day 4: Karanga Camp (4035 m) — Barafu Camp (4640 m)

• Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
  •Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 15,000ft
  •Distance: 9km
  •Hiking Time: 8-10 hours
  •Habitat: Alpine Desert

Another exciting day awaits you which you can begin with a filling breakfast. You’ll now head towards the Barafu Camp (4,640 m) which is the starting point for a night climbing up Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).

Worried about setting up your camp ahead of time? Luckily, you can get the desired help from our team. They will take care of setting up the tents with sleeping bags so that you just need to come and relax in your comfortable havens.

Once you’re set for the next part of your hike, you can go on with the remaining acclimatization hike to the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp that will prepare you for the following climb of the mountain. When you head back to the Camp, you can savor a piping hot dinner and spend the next half of your day resting. The Lemosho Route distance on the stretch of the night summiting ahead will take a toll on your energy, so it is best to take some rest before proceeding ahead.

Day 5: Barafu Camp (4640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5895 m) — Barafu Camp (4640 m) — Millenium Camp (3820 m)

• Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
  •Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
  •Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
  •Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
  •Habitat: Arctic

A night of adventure will follow as you begin to summit Kilimanjaro at night. The goal is to reach the Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). The climb is simpler, but the high altitude poses challenges. If you’re experiencing unsteadiness due to the fear of night hiking or exhaustion, fret not. We deploy an expert personal trainer to accompany you for the remaining journey. The personal guide (one for each two climbers) shall monitor your health as to physical and mental well-being.

After you touch the Uhuru Peak you can begin your descent to the nearest glacier, after which you go back down towards the Barafu Camp (4,640 m).

We recommend resting for at least 2 hours so that you revel in the emotions of your successful hike and fight weariness. After resting, you can continue to descend towards the Millennium Camp (3,820 m).

Day 6: Millenium Camp (3820 m) — Mweka Gate (1650 m )

• Mweka Camp to Moshi
  •Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
  •Distance: 10 km
  •Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  •Habitat: Rain Forest

Being situated in a tropical rainforest, the camp gives you an additional advantage of experiencing the scenic beauty. Here, you can relive and absorb the happy satisfaction of a successful trek across the Kilimanjaro hike.

After a warm breakfast, you can move towards the Park Exit near Mweka Gate (1,650 m).

The climb by the Lemosho Route is truly worth experiencing, with a successful trek across Mount Kilimanjaro.