8 Days Lemosho
The 8-day Lemosho Route is hands-down one of the best ways to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and this is a popular opinion among past climbers, mountain guides and porters. Here’s why this eight day version stands out, with simple reasons and some key facts to back it up.
What Makes the 8-Day Lemosho Route Special?
The Lemosho Route itself is already a favorite because it is very scenic as it starts on the western side of Kilimanjaro, winding through beautiful forests, wide-open moorlands, and stunning high-altitude zones then descends on the Eastern side of Kilimanjaro through Mweka Route. The 8-day version takes this awesome journey and makes it even better by adding an extra day. That extra time isn’t just for fun—it’s a game-changer for your body and your chances of reaching the top.
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On this 8 day itinerary you will fully explore the Shira Plateau as you ascend through Lemosho Route, you start at Forest Camp (Mti Mkubwa) and hike through places like Shira 1, Shira 2, and Moir Hut, slowly climbing higher each day. We start our 8 day hike by walking from a place called Forest Camp (also known as Mti Mkubwa Camp) and head toward Shira 1 Camp on the first day. On the second day, we climb up about 610 meters, which is the same as 2,000 feet, making it a steady but manageable uphill walk.
By the third day, we reach Moir Hut, which sits pretty high up at around 4,200 meters (or 13,800 feet). We start this leg from Shira 2 Camp. Being at this height for a bit helps our bodies get comfortable with less oxygen, which is super important because we’re going even higher later on.
Acclimatization: Day four is exciting because it is meant for acclimatization—we hike to an area called Lava Tower, which looks like a giant shark’s tooth sticking out of the ground. It’s a cool sight with magnificent views on the mountain! After reaching Lava Tower, we head back down to Barranco Camp to rest and sleep, this day follows the acclimatization procedure of “climbing high and sleeping low”. The next day, day five, we tackle the famous Barranco Wall. It’s a steep, tricky climb where we have to scramble up using our hands and feet, but it’s a big adventure. The we trek from Karanga Camp, descend Karanga Valley and climb upto Barafu Camp on day 6.
The big moment—summit day—comes on day seven. We start walking in the dark with our head torches, around midnight, aiming for the summit of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. If all goes well, we’ll get there just as the sun comes up or a little after, which is a rewarding experience. After reaching the top of Kilimanjaro, we head back down to a place called Mweka Hut to rest. Finally, on the eighth day, we finish our trip by hiking down to the bottom, where we pick up our certificates proving we made it to the summit. Then it’s back to a hotel in Moshi or Arusha to relax and celebrate!
8 Days Itinerary & Map
This itinerary is perfect for beginners as it will give you enough time to acclimatize on this 5,895 m high mountain in Tanzania. Always remember, the longer the route, the better your chances are for making it to the summit smoothly.
Arrival Day for the 8 Day Lemosho Trek:
When you land in Tanzania, we will be ready to meet nd greet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel/lodge in Moshi or Arusha. Once we reach the hotel, we will give you a pre-trek briefing, go through the gear checklist to ensure you have the right mountain climbing gear and equipment for your Kilimanjaro trek which begins the following day after you take a much needed rest.
Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
We kick off our 8 day trek on Lemosho by driving from Moshi to Lemosho gate, past the Londorossi Gate, which takes around 4 hours. At the gate, we sort out some paperwork and registration formalities, then drive another hour to the Lemosho trailhead. Once we get there, we have lunch and start hiking through a tranquil, beautiful rainforest with tall trees. We set up camp at Mti Mkubwa or Forest Camp for the night.
First day Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 7,800 ft to 9,500 ft
- Distance: 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles)
- Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Camping (Mti Mkubwa Camp)
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1
We cross the rainforest zone and walk into a wide area with tall grasses, heather plants, and rocky patches covered in lichen. The trail takes us up through rolling hills, crossing little streams, until we reach Shira Ridge. Then we drop down a bit to Shira 1 Camp. From here, you can see Kibo (the main peak of Kilimanjaro) just beyond the horizon of the Shira plateau—it’s a gorgeous view!
Second day Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 9,500 ft to 11,500 ft
- Distance: 8 kilometers (about 5 miles)
- Hiking Time: 5-6 Hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Shira 1 Camp
Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2 to Moir Hut
The whole of day 3 is dedicated to exploring the Shira Plateau. It’s a nice, easy walk heading east toward Kibo’s snowy peak. We pass Shira 2 Camp, which sits near a stream in the grassy moorland, and keep going to Moir Hut—a quieter spot at the base of Lent Hills. You can take short walks around the hills here, which is perfect for getting used to the higher altitude. The Shira Plateau is undoubtedly one of the few highest plateaus on the planet! Our campsite for the day is Shira 2 Camp as we head back from Moir Hut. Since Moir Hut is located higher than Shira 2 Camp, it allows us to follow the proper acclimatization procedure of "Climbing high (Moir Hut) and Sleeping low (Shira 2 Camp)
Third day Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 11,500 ft to 13,800 ft
- Distance: 14 kilometers (about 8.7 miles)
- Hiking Time: 5-7 Hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Shira 2 Camp
Day 4: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
We head eastwards from Shira II Camp (Shira 2 Camp), climbing up a ridge with Kibo in sight. The trail veers southeast toward Lava Tower—a cool rock formation that looks like a shark’s tooth. After passing it, we reach a junction near Arrow Glacier (way up at 16,000 feet), then head downhill to Barranco Camp at 13,000 feet. We rest here, eat dinner, and sleep. Even though we end up at the same height we started, this up-and-down day helps our bodies get ready for the big climb later.
Fourth day Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 13,800 ft to 13,000 ft
- Distance: 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles)
- Hiking Time: 4-6 Hours
- Habitat: Semi-Desert
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Barranco Camp
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, we scramble over the Barranco Wall—a steep climb where we scramble over rocks. Once we’re past it, we hike to Karanga Valley Camp. It’s a short day, which is great because it gives us extra time to rest and adjust to the altitude.
Fifth day for Acclimatization on Lemosho Route
- Elevation: 13,000 ft to 13,100 ft
- Distance: 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles)
- Hiking Time: 4-5 Hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Karanga Camp
Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
We leave Karanga after breakfast and reach a spot where the trail joins the Mweka Trail. From there, we climb up to Barafu Camp. This place marks the finishing point for the “South Circuit,” so you get awesome views of the summit from different angles. We set up camp, eat dinner, and rest up for the big summit day. You can see both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks from here—it’s pretty inspiring!
Sixth Day Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 13,100 feet to 15,300 feet
- Distance: 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles)
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Barafu Camp
Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
This is summit day on this 8 day hike so we start super early—between midnight and 2 a.m.—heading toward the summit. We hike northwest between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, trudging through loose rocks (called scree) up to Stella Point on the crater rim (18,600 feet). This part is tough on your body and mind! At Stella Point, we take a quick break and, if the weather’s clear, watch an incredible sunrise. From there, it’s a 1-hour push to Uhuru Peak—the top of Kilimanjaro at 19,345 feet. Faster hikers might catch the sunrise right from the summit. After celebrating at the top, we head straight down to Mweka Hut, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The descent is gravelly, so trekking poles and gaiters (to keep rocks out of your boots) are handy. Mweka Camp sits in the forest, and it might be misty or rainy by afternoon. We have our last mountain dinner and crash for the night—totally wiped but happy!
Summit Day on Day 7 Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 15,300 ft to 19,345 ft, then down to 10,000 ft
- Distance: 5 kilometers up (3.1 miles), 12 kilometers down (7.5 miles)
- Hiking Time: 7-8 hours up, 4-6 hours down
- Habitat: Moorland
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Mweka Camp
Day 8: Mweka Camp to Moshi
Following breakfast, we hike down to Mweka Park Gate, where we get our summit certificates—proof we made it! The trail can be muddy and slippery at lower spots, so poles and gaiters help. Shorts and t-shirts usually work, but keep rain gear and a jacket nearby. From the gate, it’s another hour to Mweka Village, where a car picks us up and drives us back to a hotel in Moshi. Time to relax and celebrate an epic trip!
Descending on day 7 Lemosho Trek Information
- Elevation: 10,000 ft to 5,400 ft
- Distance: 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles)
- Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation Maridadi Hotel or Similar in Moshi/Arusha
Collecting Summit Certificates/ End of the 8 Days Trek/ Departure
Upon receiving your summit certificates on the eighth day of your trek, following your descent from the mountain, we will arrange transportation back to your hotel or the airport for your departure, concluding your 8-day Lemosho Route Trek. Once the trek is complete, you can choose to be dropped off at the airport for your journey home or a flight to the Zanzibar Islands, or we can take you to Arusha to begin a safari in Northern Tanzania.
How much does it cost?
1 Person: $3,115 A group of 2 people: $2,750 per person A group of 3 people: $2,650 per person A group of 4 people: $2,440 per person A group of 5 people: $2,395 per person A group of 6 People: $2,350 per person A group of 7+ people: $2,285 per person
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What is Included
- All Airport Transfers in Private Van
- All transfers to and from the mountain
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Sleeping Pad/Mattress
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Quality, 4-season mountain sleeping tents
- Official Kilimanjaro summit certificate
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
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What is not Included
- Tanzania Visa
- Travel insurance
- Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
- Tips and gratuities
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- 3.5% Surcharge for online payment
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)