The Lemosho Route
The gold standard for Kilimanjaro success. 8 days. 98% summit rate.
The gold standard for Kilimanjaro success. 8 days. 98% summit rate.
Duration
Distance
Success Rate
Summit
The Lemosho Route isn't just a path to the summit—it's the smartest way to climb Kilimanjaro. Starting from the remote western side of the mountain, this 8-day journey gives your body the time it needs to adjust to altitude while treating you to some of the most dramatic scenery on the mountain.
This is the route we recommend to 80% of our climbers. Why? The numbers don't lie: 98% of our Lemosho climbers reach Uhuru Peak. Compare that to the rushed 6-day routes that see 50-60% success rates, and the choice becomes obvious.
Superior Acclimatization: The extra day isn't padding—it's strategic. You'll ascend to Lava Tower (4,600m), then descend to sleep at Barranco Camp (3,960m). This "climb high, sleep low" approach is altitude training gold. Your body adapts, your headache fades, and your summit chances soar.
Remote & Pristine: The first two days start where few climbers venture. You'll hike through ancient rainforest and moorland without the crowds that clog Machame or Marangu. By day three, routes converge, but you've already had your private mountain experience.
Scenic Variety: Rainforest gives way to heath, then alpine desert, then glaciers. The Lemosho approach traverses the Shira Plateau—a massive volcanic caldera with 360° views. You won't find this on shorter routes.
Better Summit Night: Because you're better acclimatized, summit night (midnight to 7am, the hardest push) feels less brutal. You'll still suffer—everyone does—but your body will have the oxygen reserves to push through.
Physical: Moderate. Daily hikes range from 4-7 hours. No technical climbing—just walking with trekking poles. If you can hike uphill for 6 hours with a light daypack, you can do this.
Mental: Summit night is the test. You'll climb 1,200 vertical meters in freezing darkness. It's slow, cold, and relentless. But here's the thing: because Lemosho gives you that extra acclimatization day, your mind stays sharper. Altitude brain fog is real—Lemosho minimizes it.
Lemosho is excellent year-round, but shine during:
Avoid April-May (heavy rains) unless you love mud and don't mind cloud-covered summit photos.
After registration at Londorossi Gate and a 1-hour drive to the trailhead, you'll enter the lush montane rainforest. The trail is gentle—think of it as your warm-up day. Keep an eye out for black-and-white colobus monkeys swinging through the canopy. Camp is nestled in the forest, where the temperature drops fast after sunset. Layers are your friend.
Altitude Tip: You might feel nothing today. Good. This is the calm before your body starts processing thinner air.
The rainforest thins as you climb through the heather and moorland zone. Wildflowers dot the landscape—giant lobelias and groundsels that look prehistoric. You'll emerge onto the Shira Plateau, a massive volcanic caldera stretching 13km wide. Views open up. Kibo Peak appears in the distance, massive and real. This is when most people realize: I'm actually climbing Kilimanjaro.
Altitude Tip: Some climbers feel a mild headache tonight. Drink 3-4 liters of water. Seriously. Dehydration mimics altitude sickness.
A shorter, acclimatization-focused day. You'll cross the Shira Plateau with panoramic views of Kibo and the Western Breach. The trail is relatively flat—your lungs get a break while your body adjusts to 3,800m. Guides will check your pulse ox (oxygen saturation). Anything above 85% is solid at this altitude.
Altitude Tip: Appetite might drop. Force yourself to eat. Your body is burning 5,000+ calories a day. Carbs are king.
The most important day of your climb. You'll ascend to Lava Tower (4,600m) for lunch—higher than any peak in the continental US. Many climbers feel rough here: headache, fatigue, mild nausea. That's normal. Then you descend 640m to Barranco Camp for the night. This "climb high, sleep low" strategy is altitude acclimatization at its best. Your body cranks out red blood cells while you sleep.
Barranco Camp sits in a valley beneath the imposing Barranco Wall. Don't worry—it looks worse than it is.
Altitude Tip: If you feel terrible at Lava Tower but improve by evening, you're acclimatizing perfectly. If you feel worse at camp, tell your guide immediately.
Morning brings the Barranco Wall—a 257m scramble that looks intimidating but is actually fun. It's a rock scramble, not a climb (no ropes needed). Take your time, enjoy the exposure, and soak in the views. After conquering the wall, you'll traverse ridges and valleys before descending into Karanga Valley and climbing out the other side to camp.
Karanga is another short day by design. Your body continues adapting. The summit feels close now—Kibo looms above.
Altitude Tip: Energy levels often rebound today. Enjoy it. Tomorrow starts the final push.
The landscape turns lunar. Alpine desert stretches in every direction—no vegetation, just rock and scree. You'll arrive at Barafu ("ice" in Swahili) Camp by early afternoon. This is base camp. Your guides will brief you on summit night procedures, check your gear, and send you to your tent for rest.
Sleep is nearly impossible. You're at 4,640m, it's cold, and your mind races. That's okay—don't stress about sleep. Just rest horizontally and hydrate.
Summit Prep: Eat a big early dinner (around 5pm). Set out your summit gear—headlamp, warm layers, snacks, water bottles in insulated sleeves. You'll wake at 11pm for summit push.
Midnight: You wake, dress in every layer you own, and start climbing by headlamp. It's slow—"pole pole" (slowly slowly). The switchbacks are relentless. One foot in front of the other. The cold bites. Your headlamp reveals nothing but the boots in front of you. Mental game time.
5:30-6:30am: You reach Stella Point (5,739m) on the crater rim just as sunrise breaks. The sky erupts in orange and gold. The glaciers glow. You've made it to the crater rim—but you're not done.
7:00-8:00am: The final push along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m)—the Roof of Africa. You'll cry. Everyone does. Take your photos, hug your guide, sign the summit book. You did it.
Then comes the descent—long, brutal on your knees, but you're floating on summit euphoria. You'll stop briefly at Barafu to pack up, then continue down to Mweka Camp (3,080m) in the rainforest. By the time you crawl into your tent, you'll have been moving for 14+ hours.
Real Talk: Summit day is suffering. But it's finite suffering. And every Kilipeak guide knows when to push and when to turn back. Trust them.
Your victory lap. The trail descends through lush rainforest—your legs will wobble, but your heart is full. You'll reach Mweka Gate by mid-morning to sign out and receive your official summit certificate. Gold certificate if you made Uhuru, green if you reached Stella Point. Both are victories.
Then: a hot shower, a cold beer, and the best meal of your life. You're a Kilimanjaro summiter now.
Machame: 6-7 days, 62km, ~75% success rate. Nicknamed "Whiskey Route" for being tougher than Marangu. Crowds from day one.
Why Lemosho wins: That extra acclimatization day (7→8 days) boosts success by 20%. Remote start means fewer crowds. Same final approach, better preparation.
Marangu: 5-6 days, 64km, ~65% success rate. Only route with hut accommodation (no camping). Crowds and lower success due to rapid ascent.
Why Lemosho wins: Much better acclimatization profile. Marangu ascends and descends the same path—boring scenery. Lemosho offers variety and solitude.
Northern Circuit: 9 days, 88km, 95% success rate. Circumnavigates the mountain. Best acclimatization, highest cost ($4,400+).
Why some choose Lemosho: 98% vs. 95% success is negligible. Lemosho saves $1,250 and 1 day. Unless you want the absolute longest, most remote experience, Lemosho delivers the same summit for less.
Talk to someone who's been up the mountain. Get answers in under 4 hours.
Get In Touch