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Trek Up Kilimanjaro
A high view over the moorland, the trail threading through it
Our recommended route

Lemosho Route

The best-balanced route on the mountain: a long, gradual western approach with the acclimatisation profile most first-time climbers should want.

7–8 days
On the mountain
70 km
Total distance
5,895 m
Highest point
Camping
Sleeping
Lemosho Route altitude profile, in brief. Full data is given in the table below.
Lemosho Route altitude profile, in brief
Day Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Overnight
1 Londorossi Gate 2,100 0 No
1 Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,650 6 Yes
2 Shira 1 Camp 3,610 14 Yes
3 Shira 2 Camp 3,850 21 Yes
4 Barranco Camp 3,900 31 Yes
5 Karanga Camp 3,995 36 Yes
6 Barafu Camp 4,673 40 Yes
7 Uhuru Peak 5,895 48.5 No
7 Mweka Camp 3,100 57 Yes
8 Mweka Gate 1,640 67 No
Sleeping altitudes, night by night

In short

Lemosho begins on the quiet western side, crosses the Shira Plateau over two days and joins the southern circuit near Barranco. Its length is the point — the extra days are what let your body catch up with the altitude.

What it does well

  • The longest approach of the mainstream routes, which gives the body the most time to adapt.
  • Two nights on the Shira Plateau at around 3,500-3,900 m before the route climbs higher.
  • The western trailhead is far quieter than Machame Gate for the first two days.
  • Passes Lava Tower at roughly 4,600 m and descends to sleep lower, a genuine climb-high-sleep-low day.
  • Crosses every one of the mountain's climate zones.

What to weigh up

  • The longer itinerary costs more, because park fees are charged per day on the mountain.
  • From Barranco onward it shares the trail with Machame, so the last days are busier than the first.
  • A long drive to the trailhead on day one.

Route facts

7–8 days
Recommended length
70 km
Total distance
5,895 m
Highest point
West
Approach side
Mweka
Descent route
Camping
Sleeping
Challenging
Difficulty
Jan · Feb · Mar · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Best months

The altitude profile

Circles mark sleeping altitudes. Those are what your body adapts to — the high points you walk over during the day matter far less.

Lemosho Route elevation profile Route Sleeping altitude
Lemosho Route elevation profile. Full data is given in the table below. 2,000 m 3,000 m 4,000 m 5,000 m 6,000 m Mti Mkubwa 2,650 Shira 1 Cam 3,610 Shira 2 Cam 3,850 Barranco Ca 3,900 Karanga Cam 3,995 Barafu Camp 4,673 Uhuru Peak 5,895 Mweka Camp 3,100
Lemosho Route elevation profile
Day Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Overnight
1 Londorossi Gate 2,100 0 No
1 Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,650 6 Yes
2 Shira 1 Camp 3,610 14 Yes
3 Shira 2 Camp 3,850 21 Yes
4 Barranco Camp 3,900 31 Yes
5 Karanga Camp 3,995 36 Yes
6 Barafu Camp 4,673 40 Yes
7 Uhuru Peak 5,895 48.5 No
7 Mweka Camp 3,100 57 Yes
8 Mweka Gate 1,640 67 No

The route, camp by camp

As walked on our 8 Days Lemosho Route itinerary, with the altitudes it gives.

N Mawenzi Londorossi Gate2,100 m Mti Mkubwa2,650 m Shira 1 Camp3,610 m Shira 2 Camp3,850 m Lava Tower Barranco Camp3,900 m Karanga Camp3,995 m Barafu Camp4,673 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m
Ascent Descent Overnight camp Schematic map, not to scale: positions are approximate and not for navigation. Altitudes are from our itineraries. Terrain: SRTM (NASA), via Terrain Tiles on AWS.
  1. 01 Londorossi Gate gate 2,100 m
  2. 02 Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp camp 2,650 m
  3. 03 Shira 1 Camp camp 3,610 m
  4. 04 Shira 2 Camp camp 3,850 m
  5. 05 Lava Tower landmark —
  6. 06 Barranco Camp camp 3,900 m
  7. 07 Karanga Camp camp 3,995 m
  8. 08 Barafu Camp camp 4,673 m
  9. 09 Uhuru Peak summit 5,895 m
  10. 10 Mweka Camp · descent camp 3,100 m
  11. 11 Mweka Gate · descent gate 1,640 m

Who this route suits

A good fit for

  • First-time high-altitude trekkers
  • Climbers prioritising acclimatisation
  • Photographers
  • Private groups

Probably not for

  • Anyone with fewer than eight days available
  • Climbers who want hut accommodation

Itineraries on this route

Before you decide

At a glance

Acclimatisation 5/5
Trail traffic 3/5
Difficulty 3/5
Scenery 5/5
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