1. Bushland/Cultivated Zone

• Height: 800-1,800 meters (2,600-6,000 feet)

• Rainfall: 500-1,800 mm (20-70 inches) per year

• Day Temps: 30-43°C (90-110°F)

• Night Temps: 15-27°C (60-80°F)

This is where your Lemosho trek begins, down low near the mountain’s base. It’s warm and sunny, with grassy plains, bushes, and patches of farmland. The soil here is rich from old volcanic ash, so local Chagga people grow coffee, bananas, and other crops. You’ll see small villages, streams for watering fields, and maybe some birds or monkeys—but big wild animals are rare because people live and farm here. Porters and guides often come from these nearby towns, making this zone a busy starting point.

2. Rainforest Zone

• Height: 1,800-2,800 meters (6,000-9,200 feet)

• Rainfall: 1,000-2,000 mm (40-79 inches) per year

• Day Temps: 21-32°C (70-90°F)

• Night Temps: 4-15°C (40-60°F)

Next up on Lemosho is the rainforest—a thick, wet jungle. It rains a lot here, keeping everything damp and green. Days are warm and sticky, but nights cool off fast, especially if it’s pouring. You’ll need rain gear as you hike through tall trees like camphorwood, covered in moss, ferns, and orchids. Look out for colobus monkeys swinging above, blue monkeys chattering, and colorful birds singing. If you’re lucky, you might spot an elephant or buffalo crashing through—Lemosho’s western start gives you a good shot at seeing wildlife early on.

3. Heath/Moorland Zone

• Height: 2,800-4,000 meters (9,200-13,200 feet)

• Rainfall: 530-1,300 mm (21-51 inches) per year

• Day Temps: 10-21°C (50-70°F)

• Night Temps: -1-10°C (30-50°F)

This zone feels wilder and cooler as you climb higher on Lemosho. The air dries out, and the forest thins into shrubs and wildflowers. You’ll see weird, tall plants like giant lobelias (spiky and palm-like) and senecios (big, fuzzy stems)—they’re special to Kilimanjaro. It’s a great spot to get used to the height since oxygen starts dropping here, and some folks feel altitude sickness kicking in. Black-and-white crows might hop around your camp, and eagles soar overhead hunting for food. The views open up, showing off the mountain’s rugged beauty.

4. Alpine Desert Zone

• Height: 4,000-5,000 meters (13,200-16,500 feet)

• Rainfall: 250 mm (10 inches) per year

• Day Temps: -1-4°C (30-40°F)

• Night Temps: -12- -1°C (10-30°F)

Now it’s dry and rocky—an alpine desert! Water’s hard to find, so only tough plants like moss or tussock grass grow in the thin soil. Days can get hot with strong sun (wear sunscreen!), but nights freeze, sometimes leaving frost on your tent. Lemosho takes you through this barren zone slowly, perfect for the “climb high, sleep low” trick to adjust to the altitude. Animals? Almost none—the harsh conditions keep them away. It’s quiet, empty, and feels like another world.

5. Arctic Zone

• Height: 5,000+ meters (16,500+ feet)

• Rainfall: Less than 100 mm (4 inches) per year

• Day Temps: -12- -1°C (10-30°F)

• Night Temps: -23- -6°C (-10-20°F)

At the top of Lemosho, you hit the Arctic zone—icy, windy, and super cold! Snow, glaciers, and rocks cover everything near Uhuru Peak. Days are chilly even with sun, and nights drop way below freezing with fierce winds. There’s no plants or animals—just ice and stone. Oxygen’s half what you’d breathe at sea level, so you’ll feel slow and might get sick from the height. Don’t stay long—snap your summit pic and head down fast to feel better. It’s tough but incredible to see!