10 Days Lemosho Route - 8 Days Hiking Tour

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by the professional team from Way 2 Africa Expeditions and transferred by private vehicle to your accommodation in Arusha, approximately 50 kilometers with a driving time of about 1 hour. Arusha is located at the foothills of Mount Meru and serves as the main base for Kilimanjaro climbers.

This day is dedicated to rest and preparation after your international journey. In the afternoon, you will meet your mountain guide for a detailed climb briefing, equipment check, and final questions about the trek. Any missing gear can be rented locally. You may relax at the lodge, enjoy the garden views, or take a short walk around the peaceful surroundings to ease into the Tanzanian atmosphere.

Major activities include airport transfer, climb briefing, equipment inspection, and rest.

Extra activities available include a short Arusha town visit, local market tour, coffee plantation visit, or cultural village experience depending on arrival time.

Overnight in Arusha
Meals included Dinner

Activities : Trekking

After an early breakfast, you depart Arusha for a scenic drive to Londorossi Gate, located on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro. The drive covers approximately 120 kilometers and takes about 3 to 4 hours, passing through rural villages and farmland before entering the mountain zone. At the gate, registration and permit formalities are completed while the crew prepares supplies.

The trek begins in the lush montane rainforest, one of the richest ecological zones on the mountain. The trail is wide and gently ascending, allowing your body to begin adapting to altitude. The forest is alive with towering trees, moss covered trunks, colorful flowers, and abundant birdlife. You may also spot black and white colobus monkeys swinging through the canopy.

You trek approximately 7 kilometers in 3 to 4 hours, gaining altitude gradually until reaching Mti Mkubwa Camp at 2750 meters. This first camp is surrounded by dense forest, offering a peaceful introduction to mountain life.

Major activities include forest trekking, wildlife observation, and acclimatization walking.

Extra activities available include short acclimatization walks around camp and basic photography sessions.

Overnight at Mti Mkubwa Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

Leaving the rainforest behind, the landscape slowly opens as you ascend toward the Shira Plateau, one of the oldest volcanic areas of Mount Kilimanjaro. This day’s trek covers approximately 8 kilometers and takes 5 to 6 hours, with noticeable changes in vegetation and terrain.

The trail passes through heath and moorland zones, characterized by giant heather, lobelias, and wide open views. The air becomes cooler and drier, and the sense of space dramatically increases. As you gain elevation, the views back toward the plains below are truly impressive, while the peak of Kilimanjaro begins to reveal itself more clearly.

You arrive at Shira 1 Camp at 3505 meters, situated on the expansive Shira Plateau with panoramic views stretching across the mountain. The afternoon is spent resting, hydrating, and enjoying the vast open skies that define this region.

Major activities include plateau trekking, landscape photography, and altitude adaptation.

Extra activities available include guided acclimatization walks and sunset viewing.

Overnight at Shira 1 Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

This day involves a relatively gentle trek across the Shira Plateau, allowing excellent acclimatization while enjoying sweeping mountain views. You cover approximately 7 kilometers in 4 to 5 hours, moving across rocky paths and open moorland terrain.

The plateau offers stunning views of Kibo Peak, ancient lava flows, and distant valleys. The vegetation here is sparse yet unique, dominated by alpine plants adapted to harsh conditions. This section of the route is known for its wide open spaces and dramatic skies, making it one of the most photogenic parts of the climb.

You reach Shira 2 Camp at 3840 meters, where temperatures are cooler and the altitude is more noticeable. The afternoon is ideal for rest and slow movement to help the body adjust.

Major activities include scenic trekking, acclimatization, and landscape observation.

Extra activities available include short hikes to nearby viewpoints and guided talks on mountain ecology.

Overnight at Shira 2 Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

This is a key acclimatization day following the important climb high sleep low strategy. The trek covers approximately 10 kilometers and takes 6 to 7 hours. You ascend gradually to the striking Lava Tower at 4630 meters, a dramatic volcanic formation rising from the alpine desert.

The terrain here is dry and rugged, with minimal vegetation and expansive views across the mountain. Although you reach a higher altitude today, the descent afterward helps your body adapt more effectively. After lunch near Lava Tower, you descend to Barranco Camp at 3960 meters, located in a beautiful valley beneath the imposing Barranco Wall.

Barranco Camp is often considered one of the most scenic camps on Kilimanjaro, surrounded by glaciers, cliffs, and unique plant life.

Major activities include high altitude trekking, acclimatization, and geological exploration.

Extra activities available include photography sessions and short valley walks.

Overnight at Barranco Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

The day begins with the ascent of the famous Barranco Wall, a challenging but non technical scramble that requires the use of hands in some sections. This climb offers spectacular views and is often one of the most memorable moments of the trek.

After reaching the top of the wall, the trail continues across ridges and valleys toward Karanga. The distance covered is approximately 5 kilometers with a trekking time of 4 to 5 hours. The route provides excellent views of glaciers, valleys, and the southern ice fields.

You arrive at Karanga Camp at 4035 meters, where the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the final ascent stages.

Major activities include scrambling, ridge trekking, and acclimatization.

Extra activities available include acclimatization walks and mountain photography.

Overnight at Karanga Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

This is a shorter but steeper trekking day as you move into the high alpine zone. You cover approximately 4 kilometers in 3 to 4 hours, ascending over rocky and barren terrain toward the summit base camp.

Barafu Camp at 4640 meters is the final stop before the summit attempt. The environment is cold and exposed, with strong winds and minimal vegetation. After an early dinner, you rest and prepare for the midnight summit push.

Major activities include altitude adaptation, summit briefing, and rest.

Extra activities available include short acclimatization walks if conditions allow.

Overnight at Barafu Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

You begin the summit attempt shortly after midnight, trekking slowly under the stars toward the crater rim. The climb to Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters covers approximately 5 kilometers and takes 6 to 8 hours. This is the most physically demanding section, but also the most rewarding.

Reaching the summit at sunrise offers unforgettable views across glaciers, clouds, and the vast African landscape below. After celebrating and taking photos, you descend carefully past Stella Point back to Barafu Camp for a short rest before continuing down to Mweka Camp at 3100 meters, covering approximately 12 kilometers in 4 to 6 hours.

Major activities include summit ascent, sunrise viewing, and long descent.

Extra activities available include extended summit photography depending on conditions.

Overnight at Mweka Camp
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

The final descent takes you through the lush rainforest zone to Mweka Gate, covering approximately 10 kilometers in 3 to 4 hours. At the gate, you receive your summit certificates before transferring back to Arusha for a well deserved rest.

Major activities include rainforest trekking and certificate presentation.

Extra activities available include celebratory dinner arrangements in Arusha.

Overnight in Arusha
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

After breakfast, you are transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of an extraordinary Mount Kilimanjaro adventure with Way 2 Africa Expeditions.

Meals included Breakfast

Activities : Trekking