7 Days Lemosho Route

7 Days | 6 Nights

Trip Days

Destinations

Londorossi Gate, Mti Mkubwa Camp, Shira 2 Camp, Lava Tower, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Uhuru Peak, Mweka Camp & Mweka Gate.

Accommodation

Camp

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Full itinerary

Day By Day Itinerary

Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

Elevation Gain: 535m | Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest | Distance: 2,360m to 2,895m

Your Kilimanjaro adventure begins with a drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate for registration. After completing the formalities, you’ll trek through the lush rainforest, encountering wildlife such as blue monkeys and colobus monkeys along the way. The trail gently ascends to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp, where you will spend your first night in the wilderness.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Elevation Gain: 955m | Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Moorland | Distance: 2,895m to 3,850m

After breakfast, you’ll leave the rainforest behind and enter the heath and moorland zone. You’ll hike past Shira 1 Camp and continue across the scenic Shira Plateau, with views of Kibo Peak and the distant Mount Meru. You’ll reach Shira 2 Camp by late afternoon, where you’ll rest for the night.

Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower

Elevation Gain: 780m (to Lava Tower) | Elevation Loss: 680m (to Barranco Camp)
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert, Moorland
Distance: 3,850m to 3,950m, via 4,630m

Today is a key acclimatization day despite not having a dedicated rest day. You’ll hike from Shira 2 Camp up to Lava Tower at 4,630m. The trail offers rugged beauty as you climb to higher elevations. After a rest at Lava Tower, you’ll descend to Barranco Camp for the night, passing through different alpine landscapes.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation Gain: 45m | Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert Distance: 3,950m to 3,995m

Today, you’ll begin by tackling the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical climb that provides stunning views once at the top. After crossing the Wall, the trail descends into the Karanga Valley before a final short ascent to Karanga Camp. This day is slightly shorter, giving you time to recover from the previous day’s long hike.

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation Gain: 678m | Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert | Distance: 3,995m to 4,673m

After breakfast, you’ll continue your ascent to Barafu Camp, the base camp for your summit attempt. The terrain becomes rockier and more barren as you move through the alpine desert. You’ll arrive at Barafu Camp in the early afternoon, with enough time to rest and prepare for the midnight summit push.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, then Descend to Mweka Camp

Elevation Gain: 1,222m | Elevation Loss: 2,828m
Hiking Time: 10-14 hours (Summit and descent) | Habitat: Arctic Zone, Alpine Desert, Heath Zone
Distance: 4,673m to 5,895m

Summit day begins around midnight with a long, steep climb to Stella Point on the crater rim. From there, it’s a short but challenging ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After reaching the summit, you’ll descend back to Barafu Camp for a quick rest before continuing to Mweka Camp for your final night on the mountain.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation Loss: 1,427m | Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest | Distance: 3,067m to 1,640m

On your final day, you’ll descend through the lush rainforest to Mweka Gate. At the gate, you’ll receive your well-deserved Kilimanjaro climbing certificate. Afterward, you’ll be driven back to Moshi or Arusha to celebrate your achievement.