8-Day Kilimanjaro Climb Lemosho Route: Uhuru Peak Summit

The Lemosho Route trades crowds for rainforest, moorland and eight days to reach the summit.

This 8-day Kilimanjaro trek from Moshi follows the Lemosho Route, a less-traveled path up Africa's highest mountain with built-in acclimatization time. You hike through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert over seven days of trekking, then summit Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters on day seven before descending to the gate. A guide, porters and cook support the climb. Two nights' accommodation before and after the trek are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Lemosho Gate to Big Tree Camp

• Begin trek at Lemosho Gate
• Hike through rainforest
• Overnight at Big Tree Camp

Day 2: Big Tree Camp to Shira 1 Camp

• Climb out of forest
• Hike through moorland
• Overnight at Shira 1 Camp

Day 3: Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp

• Hike across Shira Plateau
• Acclimatize with panoramic views
• Overnight at Shira 2 Camp

Day 4: Shira 2 to Barranco Camp

• Ascend to Lava Tower
• Descend to Barranco Valley
• Overnight at Barranco Camp

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

• Climb Barranco Wall scramble
• Hike alpine terrain
• Overnight at Karanga Camp

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

• Short steep trek to Barafu Camp
• Early dinner and rest

Day 7: Summit Day to Mweka Camp

• Start summit trek at midnight
• Pass Stella Point
• Reach Uhuru Peak
• Descend to Mweka Camp

Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

• Descend through rainforest
• Collect summit certificates
• Transfer to Moshi or Arusha

The experience

The trek starts at Lemosho Gate on day one, where you enter dense rainforest and climb gently for three to four hours to Big Tree Camp. The next two days cross the Shira Plateau through open moorland, gaining altitude steadily while the views of Kibo Peak expand. This early pace (five to six hours on day two, then a shorter day three) gives your body time to adjust before the steeper sections ahead.

Day four is the acclimatization day that defines the Lemosho Route: you climb to Lava Tower at 4,630 meters for altitude adaptation, then descend into Barranco Valley to sleep lower. Days five and six push through alpine desert terrain: the Barranco Wall scramble on day five, then a steep but short trek to Barafu Camp on day six, where you rest before the midnight summit push. Day seven is the summit day: you leave Barafu at midnight, pass Stella Point, and reach Uhuru Peak as dawn breaks, then descend all the way to Mweka Camp in the rainforest. The final day is a three- to four-hour walk through forest to Mweka Gate, where you collect your summit certificate and transfer back to Moshi.

A professional guide leads the trek in your choice of English, Spanish, French or German, and porters carry the heavy gear. The operator provides sleeping tents, table and chairs at each camp, and a cook prepares meals. Hotel accommodation for two nights before the trek and two nights after gives you time to rest in Moshi before and after the mountain.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and drop-off in Moshi.
• two nights' hotel accommodation before the trek and two nights after.
• all transfers from hotel to Lemosho Gate and from Mweka Gate back to Moshi.
• sleeping tents, table and chairs at each mountain camp.
• meals prepared by a camp cook.
• a professional guide fluent in English, Spanish, French or German.
• porter support to carry gear.
• and a summit certificate stamped and signed by the national park and your guide.

Information

Lasts 8d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 1,460 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and German, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate7 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and GermanOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

AgesAdult (12 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Kilimanjaro Winners Safaris

Is this one for you?Pick the 8-day route if you want two nights below 4,000m to let your body adjust gradually. Choose 7 days if you're accustomed to altitude and prefer condensing the lower-elevation section.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What's the Lemosho Route and why is it different from other Kilimanjaro paths?

The Lemosho Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and is less crowded than the popular Marangu and Machame routes. It starts in rainforest at a lower elevation and crosses the Shira Plateau, offering more gradual acclimatization and a wider variety of ecosystems (rainforest, moorland, semi-desert and alpine terrain) all within the same trek.

How many hours of hiking happen each day?

Day one is three to four hours; day two is five to six hours; day three is four to five hours; day four is six to seven hours; day five is four to five hours; day six is three to four hours; and day seven, the summit day, is ten to fourteen hours of continuous hiking and climbing from midnight to reach Uhuru Peak and descend to Mweka Camp. Day eight is three to four hours down to the gate.

What happens on the summit day?

You leave Barafu Camp at midnight and climb through the dark, passing Stella Point at 5,739 meters, then reaching Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters as sunrise arrives. After celebrating and taking photos at Africa's highest point, you descend the same day all the way to Mweka Camp in the rainforest, a total of ten to fourteen hours of hiking.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

On the mountain, you sleep in sleeping tents at each camp with table and chairs provided. Before the trek, you stay two nights at a hotel in Moshi. After the trek, another two nights at Panama Garden Resort Tanzania, giving you time to recover before traveling onward.

Do I need special trekking gear, and what's included?

The operator provides tents, table and chairs at camp. You bring your own trekking boots, warm layers, rain gear, sleeping bag and personal items. The operator's inclusions do not cover personal trekking equipment. Porters carry the shared gear and your personal bag, so you hike with only a day pack.

Is this trek suitable for someone who has never climbed a mountain before?

The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The Lemosho Route's eight-day schedule and lower daily mileage make it one of the more achievable Kilimanjaro routes, and the built-in acclimatization days help your body adjust to altitude. Children are welcome from age five, though the physical demands are significant for younger trekkers.