7-Day Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climb 2026–2027

What Is the 7-Day Lemosho Route?

The 7-day Lemosho Route is a camping climb that starts in the remote western forest of Kilimanjaro, crosses the Shira Plateau and traverses the mountain's southern slopes to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), descending via Mweka. It joins the Machame Route near Lava Tower, and includes the Lava Tower acclimatisation day and a night at Karanga Camp. Prices start from $2,090 per person.

Lemosho is one of the most scenic routes on the mountain, and the first two days are much quieter than on Machame, because fewer climbers start in the west. The route climbs gradually, so it suits climbers who want good acclimatisation and fewer people around them.

If you can add a day, the 8-day Lemosho spends an extra night on the Shira Plateau for an even more gradual ascent. This page covers each day with altitudes, acclimatisation, summit night, inclusions and preparation.

Climb at a Glance

Route Highlights

• A quiet start in the western rainforest, with few other climbers
• Crossing the wide Shira Plateau, with views of Kibo and the Western Breach
• Acclimatisation via Lava Tower (about 4,600 m) before sleeping at Barranco
• The Barranco Wall scramble and a night at Karanga Camp
• A full traverse of the mountain, with different routes up and down

The 7-day Lemosho gains height gradually over five days, from the western forest across the Shira Plateau and around the southern slopes, then descends via Mweka. The table summarises each day.

Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp (about 2,800 m)

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Day 1 is mostly travel, followed by a short forest walk. We collect you from your hotel in Moshi or Arusha for the drive to Londorossi Gate on the western side of the mountain, where your guide completes the park registration. You then drive on to the Lemosho trailhead.

The trail winds through quiet rainforest for three to four hours to Mti Mkubwa ('big tree') Camp. The forest is home to colobus and blue monkeys, and it can be muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles help. Your tents are set up when you arrive.

• Overnight: Mti Mkubwa Camp (tents)
• Meals: Lunch and dinner, plus drinking water
• Terrain: Rainforest, gentle climb

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa to Shira 2 Camp (about 3,850 m)

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Day 2 leaves the forest for the heath and moorland and climbs onto the Shira Plateau, one of the highest plateaus in the world. The views open up across the plateau to Kibo and the Western Breach.

It is a long day of six to eight hours, crossing the plateau to Shira 2 Camp on moorland meadows. The camp is exposed, and nights can drop below freezing, so keep your warm layers handy.

• Overnight: Shira 2 Camp (tents)
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus drinking water
• Terrain: Heath, moorland and open plateau

Day 3: Shira 2 to Lava Tower (4,600 m) and Down to Barranco Camp

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Day 3 is an important acclimatisation day. You climb east to Lava Tower, a volcanic plug at about 4,600 m, where the Lemosho Route joins the Machame Route. Lunch here gives your body time at altitude.

You then descend into the Barranco Valley, past giant groundsels, with views of the Western Breach and Breach Wall, to sleep at Barranco Camp at about 3,950 m. Climbing high and sleeping low like this helps your body adapt. Tell your guide about any headache or nausea.

• Overnight: Barranco Camp (tents)
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus drinking water
• Terrain: Alpine desert, then a descent into the valley

Day 4: Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp (about 4,000 m)

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Day 4 starts with the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical scramble where you use your hands in a few places and your guides help on the trickier steps. From the top, the trail crosses ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp.

It is a shorter day of four to five hours, which gives you the afternoon to rest and acclimatise before the move to high camp. Karanga is the last water source on the route, so the porters collect water here for the rest of the ascent.

• Overnight: Karanga Camp (tents)
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus drinking water
• Terrain: Rock scramble, ridges and valleys

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (about 4,650 m)

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Day 5 is a short climb to Barafu Camp, the base camp for the summit. You arrive around midday, with time to rest, eat and prepare your summit gear.

Barafu sits on a rocky, windy ridge, so learn the camp layout before dark and keep your headlamp handy. You have an early dinner and go to bed by about 7 pm to sleep a few hours before summit night.

• Overnight: Barafu Camp (tents), with a short rest before summit night
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus drinking water
• Terrain: Rocky ridges

Day 6: Summit Night to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), Then Down to Mweka Camp

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Day 6 begins around midnight. You climb by headlamp for about six hours up steep scree to Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim, often reaching it around sunrise, and then walk along the rim for about another hour to Uhuru Peak.

After photos at the summit, you descend to Barafu for a rest and a meal, then continue down to Mweka Camp at about 3,100 m. It is the longest day of the climb, with 12–15 hours of walking.

• Overnight: Mweka Camp (tents)
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus drinking water
• Terrain: Steep scree, crater rim, long descent

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate and Back to Your Hotel

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Day 7 is a three-to-four-hour descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate (about 1,640 m), where you sign out, receive your summit certificate and say goodbye to the crew.

A vehicle drives you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha. Your hotel night after the climb is included in the price.

• Overnight: Your hotel in the Kilimanjaro area (included)
• Meals: Breakfast and lunch
• Terrain: Rainforest descent

The Lemosho Route gains height gradually. The first day climbs only a few hundred metres through the forest, and you reach the Shira Plateau before facing higher altitudes. On Day 3 you climb to Lava Tower at about 4,600 m and sleep at Barranco, about 650 m lower: the 'climb high, sleep low' principle.

The night at Karanga splits the approach to Barafu into two shorter days, so you reach high camp around midday with time to rest before summit night. Altitude sickness depends on how fast you gain height, not on fitness, so a gradual profile like this improves your chances.

If you want an even slower ascent, the 8-day Lemosho splits Day 2 with a night at Shira 1 Camp. Our guide to improving your summit chances explains the other factors.

Summit night starts from Barafu Camp around midnight. You climb by headlamp up a long, steep scree slope to Stella Point on the crater rim, usually reaching it around sunrise. Uhuru Peak is about another hour along the rim.

It is very cold, often well below freezing with wind chill, so you wear all your layers. Keep a slow, steady pace and take only short breaks. Your guide turns climbers back if they show serious signs of altitude sickness, because safety always comes before the summit.

• Keep water in an insulated bottle so it does not freeze
• Keep phone and camera batteries warm inside your jacket
• Eat small snacks often, even if you are not hungry
• Reaching Stella Point earns a certificate even if you do not continue to Uhuru Peak

The Lemosho Route can be climbed year-round, but the driest windows, January to mid-March and June to October, give the best conditions. The western forest can be cloudy and muddy in the rainy months.