6 days Kilimanjaro by the Marangu Route
The only route with huts rather than tents, and the shortest on the mountain. We build in the acclimatisation day, because without it the summit rate drops.
Climbing
Kilimanjaro by the Lemosho Route
The long way up the western side, with two nights on the Shira Plateau before the Barranco Wall. The extra days are what get people to the top.
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At a glance
- Destinations
- Kilimanjaro National Park
- Best for
- Climbing
- Travel style
- Camping trek · On foot, with road transfers
- Activity level
- Demanding — long days on foot at altitude
- Best time to travel
- January to February and June to October are usually the drier climbing windows for Lemosho. Rain is still possible in the forest, and the summit is cold in every month; allow time for acclimatisation whatever your dates.
- Start and end
- Starts and ends in Arusha
Why this journey
- Nine days on the mountain, with the ascent profile that gives the best summit odds
- Two nights on the Shira Plateau, one of the few flat expanses on Kilimanjaro
- The Barranco Wall — a scramble rather than a climb, and the day people remember
- Forest walking on the first day, with the chance of buffalo and colobus
- A briefing and gear check with your mountain guide the evening before you start
Day by day
Lemosho approaches Kilimanjaro from the west, through forest that still holds wildlife, and joins the southern trail high on the mountain. It is the longest of the three routes we run, and the profile is the reason: more nights above 3,000 m means more time to acclimatise before the summit night.
Day 1 — Transfer to Moshi Town
Pickup from an agreed point and transfer to accommodation in Boma la Ngombe, Moshi, for check-in, dinner and overnight.
Stay Le Parlour Meals Dinner
Day 2 — Lemosho Gate, up to 2,650 m (3–4 hrs walking)
After breakfast, pickup from the Boma la Ngombe hotel and transfer to Lemosho Gate, with a stop at Siha Village to buy fresh vegetables. Trekking begins at Lemosho Gate.
Stay Miti Mkubwa Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 — Shira Plateau, 3,550 m (5–6 hrs)
We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with expansive views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Camp at Shira One in the centre of the plateau.
Stay Shira One Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 — Shira Hut, 3,840 m (3–5 hrs)
Walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral before arriving at Shira Hut campsite, with views of the glaciated Kibo dome and the Shira Plateau rim. The view from here of Mt. Meru floating on the clouds is worth the climb.
Stay Shira Two Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 — Great Barranco Valley, 3,900 m (6–8 hrs)
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. Lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550 m), then descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley, sheltered by towering cliffs.
Stay Barranco Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 — Karanga campsite, 4,000 m (4–5 hrs)
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the southeastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields. Terrain changes to scree with pockets of vegetation. Karanga is the last water point on the way to the summit.
Stay Karanga Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 — Barafu campsite, 4,600 m (3–4 hrs)
We follow an easy path on compacted scree with expansive views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m) for lunch. A short acclimatisation walk to 4,800 m follows; the rest of the day is rest and preparation for the final ascent.
Stay Barafu Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 — Summit and down to Mweka forest camp, 3,100 m (13–15 hrs)
Ascent by torchlight from about 1 a.m., aiming to reach the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags, and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m), in about five or six hours. Strong climbers continue to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m). Rapid descent to Barafu, then on to Mweka forest camp.
Stay Mweka Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 — Mweka forest camp to Mweka Gate, 1,650 m (3–4 hrs)
A sustained and scenic descent through a lovely forest with lush undergrowth takes us to Mweka National Park gate. Names are registered and summit certificates issued — green for Stella Point, gold for Uhuru Peak. A 3 km descent into Mweka village precedes the transfer back to Arusha.
Stay Karama Lodge and Spa Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Stay and travel
Mountain tents on the Lemosho route, with camp meals prepared by the crew. Hotel or lodge nights off the mountain are as listed in the programme.
The mountain route is on foot with a mountain guide and crew. Road transfers connect the agreed pick-up, trailhead and drop-off points.
Camps fill, and roads change with the rains. Where something has to change we substitute at the same level and tell you before you travel, not after.
Included and excluded
What is included
- Every activity named in the day-by-day
- Accommodation as listed, or a similar alternative if a camp is full
- Meals as noted against each day
- Transfers between the agreed pick-up and drop-off points
- Park, reserve and conservation area fees
- An English-speaking Tanzanian driver-guide
- A 4×4 with a roof hatch, or the vehicle the route calls for
- Drinking water through the day
- Government taxes
- Mountain crew, including porters
- Sleeping bag
- Summit certificate
Not included
- International flights, airport taxes and visa fees
- Travel, medical and baggage insurance
- Personal spending — drinks, laundry, telephone
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Anything not listed as included
- Personal climbing gear
- Bath towels
Practical information
- Fitness and altitude
- No technical climbing, but long days on your feet and real altitude. Come with hill-walking fitness and take the acclimatisation days seriously.
- Mountain equipment
- Layers, a four-season sleeping bag and broken-in boots. Anything you would rather not buy can be hired in Moshi — tell us and we will arrange it.
- Visas, insurance and tipping
- A visa is arranged before travel or on arrival. Travel and medical insurance is a condition of booking. Tipping is customary and we will suggest a range rather than set one.
Related journeys
Every route here can be changed
Tell us what you would keep, what you would drop and how long you have. We will send back a version that is yours.