8 days - Lemosho route to Uhuru Peak
An eight-day Kilimanjaro climb by the Lemosho route, from rainforest through moorland and alpine desert to a night summit push to Uhuru Peak and a descent to Mweka Gate.
The journey
Clear skies and dry trails, though nights at altitude are very cold. January opens the first of the two main climbing windows.
Lemosho route from Moshi to Uhuru Peak and back down to Mweka Gate.
Upon your arrival to JRO airport, clear immigration process & customs. Our drivers will be waiting for you to transfer to the lodge in Moshi. After check in, you'll meet with our guides for a briefing and safety instructions. Thereafter make yourself comfortable & get some good rest before Kilimanjaro climbing.
Ascent in the rainforest zone
Walking time: 3 hours for 7 kilometres with an altitude difference of 680m
On the first day of your Kilimanjaro climb you will be picked up after breakfast from the hotel and transferred to Londorossi Gate. During your journey you will pass the town of Boma N’gombe and the village of Sanya Juu. The road will be quite bumpy up to the gate. There the usual paperwork is done and after a picnic you start the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. You need about 3 hours of walking to reach your today’s goal. The trail leads you mostly through rain forest, past large tree roots and lush nature. By late afternoon, you reach the camp and get your dinner.
Ascent in heath - moorland
Walking time: 7-8 hours for 14 kilometres with an altitude difference of 1120m
After breakfast in the morning you leave the base camp. Already after 30 minutes, the nature transformed into a heath and moorland. If the weather is good you will have wonderful views over Mount Meru. The route takes you like the day before up- and downhill, along a narrow path, past Erica trees slowly over 3000 metres. From this point there is still an altitude of 600 metres left to reach the Shira Plateau.
The nature here is dominated by Erica plants, Philippia bushes and rocks. Allow yourself a little rest and enjoy the most beautiful view. Once you have reached the Shira Ridge, the slope gets less and you will reach the Shira Camp 1 for lunch. After lunch get ready for the last 400 metres of the day. You have now arrived in the lava landscape, a silent witness of the once active volcano of Mount Kilimanjaro. The landscape is changing again for the alpine desert where the wind whistles around your head. About an hour before you reach your goal for the day you get to very interesting field formations and last Erica plants. From now on, you can only pass by the famous giant herbs and a short time later discover your camp on the horizon. After 8 hours of walking you will be rewarded with a magnificent sunset over Mount Meru. Also you will be served a delicious dinner.
Ascend in Moorland / alpine desert
Walking time: about 6-7 hours for 10 kilometres with an altitude difference of 700m up and 600m down
Use this day for acclimatisation. During the ascend and descent past the LavaTower you do a total of about 1300 metres, but you will only sleep 100 metres higher than the previous day.
After breakfast you start your 3rd stage. First trek south of the Shira / Lemosho route. The path runs through a black lava desert past millions of heavy rocks. Some of them remind us of cairns. The route is well passable. On Lavatower at an altitude of 4430 metres you have reached your altitude goal for today. It is very quiet up here, so you can hear your own heartbeat and the wind in your ears. During the lunch break you can glimpse the snowline above the Lavatower and the temperatures are very close to freezing point. After lunch break move on to Barranco Valley. The path runs along the mountain range over the Kibo Circuit.
Slowly the stonedesert disappears and along the way you find again the typical giants cross herbs, as well as heath and moorland. After about 7 hours you reach your destination.
From the Barranco Camp you can see the Great Barranco Wall, the Western Breach of Kibo, the window and the south glacier. In the evening sun occurs a wonderful play of colours.
Ascend in the Alpine desert
Walking time: 3-4 hours for 6 kilometres with an altitude difference of 290m
After breakfast the first big challenge is waiting for you. You have to climb over the Great Barranco Wall. Therefore it is a good idea to start early to avoid a traffic jam at the wall. You will need about 1 to 1,5 hours to climb the Great Barranco Wall. Behind the wall a barren and rocky plateau is waiting for you. Enjoy the spectacular views of Kibo and the three southern glaciers. The path then continues on gravel and sand through the rocky moors. Again and again you will pass streams, pastures and giant stone cross herbs. After 2-3hours you reach the Karanga Camp at an altitude of 4250 metres. As you climb up hill after hill, you have a good outlook at the upcoming route. At the camp enjoy your lunch. Use the rest of the day to rest.
Ascend in the Alpine desert
Walking time: 3-4 hours for 4 miles with an altitude difference of 390m
After breakfast start ascending to Barafu Camp (4640m). The first still existing moorland slowly disappears and the landscape becomes rocky. Stones and boulders dominate the landscape. The Barafu camp is a challenge for the entire crew. There are only a few flat areas to put the tents. The rest of the day you spend with a snack and the dinner. Then you should go to bed as early as possible to get enough sleep for the upcoming summit climb.
Night ascend to the summit and then descend to Mweka Camp
Time: about 14 - 16 hours for 19 kilometres with an altitude difference of 1255m up and 2815m down.
After a short night wake up at midnight and take a small snack and then start for the final part of your ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. Together with your guide you will step into the freezing cold and silent night. Step by step the path leads steeply up and over boulders to reach the crater rim after 5-6 hours, and thus the Stella Point, at an altitude of 5740m. From here, there are only 150 metres left to reach your gaol. Accompanied with the first rays of the day you pass the Rebmann Glacier and move to the Hans Meyer Point. During sunrise occurs an amazing play of light across the ice formations. Soon you can see the summit sign of Mount Kilimanjaro and then you have actually done it. Congratulations you have reached the highest point of Africa. At an altitude of 5895 metres, you will be rewarded with a fabulous view of the hardships and you can proudly make the typical summit picture.
After a short break, the descent is made along the crater rim back to Stella Point and further down to the Rebmann Glacier. The descent is via the same route as the ascent back to Barafu Camp. There, a hot lunch is waiting for you. After that you will go further down to Mweka Camp. The vegetation is of increasing interest and in the late afternoon you will reach your camp. The rest of the day is to relax and gather strength.
Descent through moorland and rain forest
Walking time: 3-4 hours for 10 kilometres with an altitude difference of 1400m
Your final day of the Kilimanjaro climb begins with a good breakfast. There is one last souvenir photo of the whole team before your way towards Mweka Gate continues. The route is a well-developed forest road and in the second half it is mainly characterised by rain forest. After 10 kilometres you will reach the Mweka Gate. Your driver is already there waiting for you and transfers you back to your hotel. At the end of the tour your guide will present to you a more than earned certificate for your Kilimanjaro climb.
Thereafter you can continue on a safari journey or to Zanzibari white beach for a good relaxation.
The detail
Take on a memorable Kilimanjaro climb via the Lemosho Route, a perfect option for teams seeking a unique and challenging team-building experience.
Kilimanjaro climbing is an excellent choice for team building because it fosters collaboration, trust, and resilience. Trekking to the summit requires teamwork, with each member supporting others through both physical and mental challenges. Moreover, the shared experience of overcoming obstacles, celebrating achievements, and working together in such a unique environment strengthens bonds.
In addition, the gradual ascent of the Lemosho Route allows team members to adjust to the climb at a comfortable pace. This slower pace not only makes the journey more manageable but also encourages everyone to support each other and work together. As a result, trust and cooperation grow, enhancing team dynamics. Ultimately, the experience of climbing in this way helps the group feel more connected and united, which is crucial for team building.
Good to know
Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.
Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.
The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.
The route climbs slowly so you can adjust. Day 4 climbs to the Lava Tower and drops back to sleep lower, a standard way of helping acclimatisation. Tell your guide at once if you feel unwell.
You wake at midnight for a long push to the crater rim at Stella Point, then on to Uhuru Peak for sunrise. Day 7 is about 14 to 16 hours on your feet, including the descent to Mweka Camp.
Day 2 is about three hours through rainforest and day 3 is seven to eight hours to Shira. Days 5 and 6 are short, so you arrive at camp with time to rest.
Break in your boots well before you travel and pack a warm sleeping bag and gloves. Ask us which items can be hired locally if you prefer not to bring your own.
Train with long hill walks and several days in a row before you travel. Your guides set a slow pace, which matters more than speed.
The crew of guides, cooks and porters carry your camp, and tipping them is customary. Ask us for current guidance before you travel and carry the amount in cash.
You finish at Mweka Gate and are driven back to your hotel in Moshi, where your guide presents your certificate. We can add a safari or a beach stay in Zanzibar after the climb.
Plan this journey
Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.
