TOUR

Lemosho Route

Duration

8 DAYS

This route starts on the western side of the mountain then crosses the southern side of the mountain, merging with the Machame and Umbwe Routes. It is a very scenic route, and offers very good acclimatization. Some older websites list this as a little used route, but this is quite outdated since it is a very popular route now. Like the Northern Circuit Route, it is a long route. We offer both an 8 days and a 7 days itinerary. For most people, we suggest the 8 days version. This route has a high success rate.

01 Day by Day

Arrival Day – Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi

Distance

50 km (driving)

Elevation

1,000m - 1,200m

Trekking Time

1 hour (driving)

Zone Type

Town

Your Kilimanjaro adventure begins the moment you land. A Best Tanzania Safari driver will be waiting just outside the arrivals area, holding a sign with your name — no stress, no searching. Even if your flight is delayed or immigration takes longer than expected, they’ll be there. Once settled into your hotel in Moshi, you’ll meet your guide for an equipment check and a pre-climb briefing. This is your chance to ask every question on your mind, go over the route, and make sure everything is dialled in before the mountain begins. Gear rentals are available locally and are of excellent quality if you need anything. Tonight, rest well. Tomorrow, the adventure starts.

Day 1 – Moshi to Londorossi Gate to Big Tree Campsite

Distance

9 km

Elevation

1,200m - 2,850m

Trekking Time

3-4 hours

Zone Type

Montane Forest

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and head to Londorossi Gate to complete park registration formalities. From there, you board the vehicle again for the drive to Lemosho Glade — your true starting point on the mountain. The trek begins immediately in one of Kilimanjaro’s most stunning environments: a dense, pristine montane forest filled with ancient trees and draped in moss. Keep your eyes open — black and white colobus monkeys are often spotted swinging through the canopy overhead. It’s a relatively short and gentle first day on the trail, a perfect introduction to what lies ahead. Dinner and overnight at Big Tree Campsite.

Day 2 – Big Tree Campsite to Shira One Campsite

Distance

13 km

Elevation

2,850m - 3,500m

Trekking Time

8 hours

Zone Type

Moorland and Heather

Today you leave the forest behind and step into the vast open moorland — and the altitude starts to make itself known. You’ll gain over 650 metres as you trek across a beautiful valley toward the rim of Shira’s ancient caldera (3,600m). Shira is one of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic peaks. After erupting millions of years ago, its summit collapsed inward, forming a broad crater later filled by lava flows from Kibo. What remains is a dramatic high-altitude plateau — an otherworldly desert of open sky and volcanic rock stretching in every direction. This is an important acclimatization day. Take it steady, breathe deeply, and take in the extraordinary landscape. Dinner and overnight at Shira One Campsite at 3,500m.

Day 3 – Shira One Campsite to Shira Two Campsite

Distance

7 km

Elevation

3,500m - 3,800m

Trekking Time

5-6 hours

Zone Type

Moorland and Rocky

A shorter day, but a meaningful one. You’ll trek east across the Shira Plateau, with Kibo’s snow-capped summit appearing larger with every step. The route takes you to Cathedral Peak (3,850m) for a deliberate acclimatization push — climb high, sleep low — before descending back to Shira Two Campsite. The plateau is wide, open, and strangely quiet, with sweeping views in every direction. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Kenya. By the time you reach camp, the summit will feel very real and very close. Dinner and overnight at Shira Two Campsite at 3,800m.

Day 4 – Shira Two Campsite to Barranco Campsite

Distance

13 km

Elevation

3,800m - 4,600m - 3,950m

Trekking Time

7-8 hours

Zone Type

Moorland

An early start and a long day — one of the great acclimatization days on the Lemosho Route. You’ll trek east toward the striking Lava Tower Rock at 4,600m, one of the most dramatic formations on the mountain. It’s a tough push, but reaching this altitude during the day while sleeping lower is exactly what your body needs to adapt. After time at the tower, you’ll descend through increasingly surreal alpine desert scenery to Barranco Campsite at 3,950m. The drop in elevation is a reward in itself — the air feels thicker, the camp warmer, and your body is quietly building the fitness it needs for summit night. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Campsite.

Day 5 – Barranco Campsite to Karanga Campsite

Distance

5.5 km

Elevation

3,950m - 3,963m

Trekking Time

5 hours

Zone Type

Moorland

Today delivers one of the most iconic moments on the entire climb: the Barranco Wall. The day begins with a descent into the dramatic ravine of the Great Barranco, then immediately turns upward for a steep, exhilarating scramble up the wall itself. It’s not technical climbing, but it is hands-on, exposed, and thrilling — with jaw-dropping views behind you as you gain height. Over the wall, you’ll trek beneath the towering Heim and Kersten Glaciers and make your way into the Karanga Valley, finishing with a steep but satisfying climb to Karanga Camp at 3,963m. For those feeling strong, there’s an optional acclimatization hike to around 4,200m in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Campsite.

Day 6 – Karanga Campsite to Barafu Campsite

Distance

3 km

Elevation

3,963m - 4,620m

Trekking Time

3 hours

Zone Type

Moorland

A shorter day in distance, but one that demands your full focus. The trail climbs steadily across desolate scree slopes — vegetation completely gone, the air noticeably thin. Barafu Camp at 4,620m sits exposed on a rocky ridge, a raw and windswept place that feels about as close to the top of the world as you can get without being there yet. Arrive at camp, eat a good meal, and rest. The afternoon is for sleeping, hydrating, and mentally preparing. Dinner comes early. Lights out early. Because at 11pm or midnight, it all begins. Tonight, you go for the summit.

Day 7 – Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Millenium Campsite

Distance

13.5 km

Elevation

4,620m - 5,895m - 3,790m

Trekking Time

10-12 hours

Zone Type

Desert and Ice

This is the day you’ve been building toward since you first set foot on the mountain. You’ll wake in darkness, eat a light breakfast, and begin the ascent under a sky full of stars. The goal is to reach Uhuru Peak at sunrise — and when it happens, with the shadow of Kilimanjaro stretching across the African plains below and the glaciers glowing gold in the morning light, it is a moment you will never forget. The trail winds steeply upward through scree and possibly snow. You’ll reach Stella Point on the crater rim (5,861m) in the early hours, and from there, one final hour along the roof of Africa brings you to Uhuru Peak — 5,895m — the highest point on the continent. Take your photos, breathe it in, and celebrate. Then begins the long descent: back through Barafu for lunch and a gear pack-up, then all the way down to Millenium Campsite at 3,790m. You’ve earned every step.

Day 8 – Millenium Campsite to Mweka Gate

Distance

12 km

Elevation

3,100m - 1,700m

Trekking Time

6 hours

Zone Type

Montane Forest

The final descent. A gentle, satisfying walk back through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where your adventure officially comes to a close. Park formalities are completed and your summit certificate is presented — something to hang on the wall with genuine pride. Your vehicle is waiting at the gate to bring you back to your hotel in Moshi, where a hot shower has never felt so well deserved. Well done. You climbed Kilimanjaro.

Departure Day – Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport

Distance

50 km (driving)

Elevation

1,200m - 1,000m

Trekking Time

1 hour (driving)

Zone Type

Town

Your Best Tanzania Safari driver will be ready at your hotel to transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport in plenty of time for your flight home — or your next adventure. Zanzibar? A safari in the Serengeti? The rest of Tanzania is waiting.

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02 Know Before You Go

Several routes are available on Kilimanjaro, each offering a different experience. We generally recommend choosing the longest itinerary your time and budget allow, as slower ascents improve acclimatization and summit success rates. The Marangu Route is unique for its dormitory-style huts with solar lighting, while all other routes are camping routes. Climbs are possible year-round, though March to May and November to early December are typically the wettest months. During these periods, the drier northern routes such as Rongai and the Northern Circuit are often good options.

What to Pack

Packing efficiently and bringing proper gear is vital as you will pass through several climate zones..

All items can be rented locally of good quality. There will be an equipment check before your trek starts to insure you are properly prepared.

Bags/Packs

80-90L Waterproof duffle bag
20-30L Day Pack
Day Pack Rain-cover

Clothing

4-5 Pairs of underwear
Top and bottom base layer
3-4 Short sleeve and 1-2 long sleeve trekking shirts
1-2 Pairs of hiking trousers
1 Fleece jacket
1 Insulated winter jacket
1 Insulated trekking trousers
1 Hard-shell jacket
Lightweight rain-gear

Headgear

Sun hat, ideally with a neck cover
Warm knit/fleece cap
Bandanna or neck gaiter
Headlamp (with extra batteries)
Sunglasses – Polarized (Glacier Glasses are ideal)

Hands and Walking

Lightweight inner gloves
Warm outer gloves/mitts
Adjustable trekking poles

Footwear

Mid-weight hiking boots
Sandals/Trainers (for use at the camps)
4-5 Pairs of trekking socks
1 Pair of warm/thick trekking socks
Gaiters

Sleeping Accessories

4-Season Sleeping Bag (temperature rating of 0°C or lower)
Sleeping Bag Liner

General Accessories

Water Bottles (enough to carry 3L) – note if bringing a camelbak instead, it is a good idea to have at least 1 water bottle since at times the camelbak tubes can freeze shut.
Water Purification Tablets- optional since we will treat all water for you
Baby Wipes
Sweat-Resistant Sunblock
Blister Plasters (Band-aids)
Insect Repellent
General medications (Paracetamol, Imodium)
Diamox (optional – see Mountain Safety Article for advice)
Pee bottle (optional)

Electronics

Camera (optional) – Note: Drones are not allowed
Solar Backpack Charger (optional)
Power Bank (optional)
Spare Memory Card (optional)

Misc.

Energy Bars
Energy Drink Supplement
Zip-lock Bags (note: single use plastic bags are not allowed in the country)
Trekking towel
Toiletries, including one roll of toilet paper
Small lock for your duffle bag (optional)

Mountain Sample Diet

It takes a lot of energy to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. Your success may depend on the meals that are prepared for you.

This is one area where budget companies cut corners, but Best Tanzania Safari knows that this is unwise to make reaching the summit even harder just to save a few dollars. Unfortunately, one of the effects of high altitude is loss of appetite and nausea. That means the your meals need to be easy to digest and appealing. Best Tanzania Safari can accommodate nearly any special diet if we are informed in advance of the trek.

What is typically served is:

Breakfasts

pancakes/chapati,
porridge,
fruits,
eggs,
sausages,
bread with jam/honey,
coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

Lunches

sandwiches,
soup,
chicken,
fried bananas,
peanuts,
fruit,
boiled eggs,
chocolate bar,
coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

Dinners

Peanuts/popcorn,
stew/soup,
pasta/potatoes/rice,
vegetables,
beef/chicken,
coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

Tipping Etiquette

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is very much a team effort, and many clients come away with great respect for the mountain crew after seeing the hard work involved in helping trekkers safely reach the summit — and, when needed, assisting climbers back down the mountain safely.

Tipping is always optional and entirely at your discretion. Best Tanzania Safari pays its staff wages at the higher end of local industry standards, but tips still provide meaningful support for guides, cooks, and porters and their families. The suggested amounts below are based on the cost of living in Tanzania and feedback from past climbers.

We also maintain a strict no-pressure tipping policy. Our staff are not permitted to ask for tips directly or share personal hardship stories in hopes of receiving larger tips. If you experience this, or if any aspect of the service does not meet expectations, please let us know.

Tips can be given in any currency accepted by local banks. Please note that we cannot accept tips by credit or debit card, as card payments would be subject to company taxation. Useful trekking equipment that you no longer need is also appreciated.

The final number of porters depends on the total expedition weight, including client gear, camping equipment, food, staff supplies, and optional items such as portable toilets.

Suggested Tip Amounts (Per Group / Per Day)

Head Guide: $25 USD/day

Assistant Guides: $20 USD/day

Cook: $15 USD/day

Porters: $10 USD/day

These amounts are per group, not per person. For example, on an 8-day trek, the suggested tip for the head guide would total $200 USD. In a group of 4 trekkers, each person would contribute $50 USD toward that amount.

03 Other Routes

Machame

The Whiskey Route

Duration

6-7

Difficulty

Moderate

The most popular route and for good reasons. Five vegetation zones in five days, the dramatic Barranco Wall, and a steady acclimatisation profile. Crowded in high season but the scenery earns its reputation.

Lemosho

The Scenic Route

Duration

7-8

Difficulty

Moderate

Our pick if budget allows the extra night. Western-side approach through the rainforest of Londorossi, longer climb-high-sleep-low profile, and you join the Machame route only on day three.

Northern Circuit

The Long Way Round

Duration

8-9

Difficulty

Moderate

The newest and longest route. Loops around the mountain’s quieter northern slopes before the summit push. The single best acclimatisation profile on Kilimanjaro — and the highest summit success rate.

Rongai

The Northern Approach

Duration

6-7

Difficulty

Moderate

The only route from the north, near the Kenyan border. Drier than the southern routes, often a chance of wildlife in the lower forest, and quieter trails through to Kibo Hut.

Marangu

The Coca-Cola Route

Duration

6-7

Difficulty

Easy-Moderate

The shortest and only route with hut accommodation rather than tents. Same path up and down, often cited as the hardest on the body because of the limited acclimatisation time.

Umbwe

The Steep One

Duration

Difficulty

Hard

The most direct, steepest line up the mountain. We only run this route for fit, experienced trekkers who have spent time at altitude before. Quietest trails on Kilimanjaro.