Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Lemosho (8 Day Route)

8

Kilimanjaro's Lemosho route is a great choice for low traffic, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO Airport) and transfer to Moshi Town

We pick you up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi town.

Your guide will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. If you are missing anything, equipment rentals are available.

Spend the night in Panama Garden Resort.

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We pick you up at your hotel at around 8:00 AM and transfer you to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro.

After registration, we start a 3-4 hour steady climb through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree Camp, where we spend the night.

(Trekking distance: 7km / 4.3 miles).

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Today we cover a lot of ground with 9-11 hours of hiking across a plateau.

We cross grassy moorland scattered with volcanic rocks as we head towards our destination at Shira Camp 1. There are some steep sections, and we gain a reasonable amount of altitude. This is a steady ascent and gives us a chance to acclimatise.

(Trekking distance: 16.5km / 10.3 miles).

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Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo.

Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. We enjoy stunning panoramic views during the 5-6hr trek.

In the afternoon, we take an acclimatisation walk, then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.

(Trekking distance: 8km / 5 miles).

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The day begins with an ascent into the climatic zone of the upland desert and the lava ridges. We trek beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach.

Our highest point for the day is the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4,640m). This is an amazing place to enjoy lunch.

In the afternoon, we descend a steep slope to our camp, which is located at the base of the Great Barranco Valley. This location is sheltered by towering cliffs with extensive views of the plains below. Time on the trail is 6-7 hours.

(Trekking distance: 10km / 6.2 miles).

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Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco ravine. We then exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a steep climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring.

Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head toward the Karanga Valley. From here, we have another ascent to our night’s camp at Karanga.

For those feeling strong, we go for a mid-afternoon acclimatisation trek up to around 4,200m before descending back to camp for the night. Time on the trail today is 5-6 hours.

(Trekking distance: 5.5km / 3.4 miles).

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Today we're trekking for 3-4 hours. After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu Camp. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes, free of any vegetation. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude.

On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting to prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm at camp.

We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep, as we get up between 11:00 PM and midnight to start our summit.

(Trekking distance: 3km / 1.9 miles).

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Around midnight, we start our bid for the summit.

We climb scree slopes for 4-5 hours, gaining significant height over a short distance. We hope to reach the crater rim at Stella Point (5,739m) as the first rays of the sun hit. Spectacular ice cliffs surround us with views of the jagged Mawenzi Peak and beyond.

In another hour, we should reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5,895m).

After celebrating this achievement, we return to Stella Point and then descend on scree slopes back to Barafu Camp for breakfast.

Finally, we head down to Millennium Camp for a well-earned rest. It's a long day with 12-15 hours trekking.

(Trekking distance: 13.4km / 8.3 miles).

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A gentle trek (6-7 hours) takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate.

Here we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up back home with pride!

We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a hot shower (and a cold beer or two) before our big celebration.

(Trekking distance: 12.1km / 7.5 miles).

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This is a free day to wind down after the trek before your flight home.

Depending on flight times, you may want to explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.

If you have a spare hour, we would love for you to plant a tree as part of our environmental conservation efforts in the Kilimanjaro region.

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What's Included

Included
  • Professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters.
  • Accommodation: You stay in a hotel before and after the trek. During the trek, you sleep in tents.
  • All tour permits and camp fees.
  • -29°C Extreme Limit sleeping bags and mats.
  • Airport transfers (three available pick-up times depending on your flight).
  • All food during the 8-day trek (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
  • Dinner at the hotel on the first and last nights, as well as breakfast on departure day.
  • Filtered water throughout the trek.
  • Tree donation in support of local environmental conservation projects.
Not Included
  • International and local flights.
  • Lunch on the first and last day.
  • Tips and gratuities.
  • Personal travel/rescue insurance.
  • Visa fees.
  • Single supplement: US$90 per person (optional).
  • Portable toilet: US$150 per group (optional).

Rated 5.0

8 verified reviews

Patty
Patty

(Mar 2023)

Our Kilimanjaro trek was the trip of a lifetime, thanks to our amazing Ahsante Team. Moussa, Nicho, Nelson, Thomas, and so many more took such good care of us from beginning to end. Asante sana!!

Yosef
Yosef

(Feb 2023)

The absolute best. Look no farther. Best team in the world. Most incredible brayson, Eli, Bugajji, and dada wa kambo Judy na Janet. And of course Mr Cuthbert

Shmuel
Shmuel

(Feb 2023)

Ahsante Tours demonstrated that they truly care about their clients by providing personalized attention to each member of the group. Their guides were not only knowledgeable but also caring and attentive to our needs, ensuring that we had a safe and comfortable climb to the top of Kilimanjaro. In addition to their outstanding service, Ahsante Tours also provided high-quality equipment, nutritious kosher meals, and all the necessary provisions and supplies to make our climb a success. They clearly take their responsibility to ensure your safety and comfort seriously and work hard to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy the experience to the fullest. Ahsante Tours places a high value on communication and customer service. They were always available to answer our questions and address any concerns we had. They also provided helpful tips and advice to make sure we were prepared and comfortable throughout the entire hike. Overall, it's clear that Ahsante Tours is a tour company that truly cares about their clients and goes above and beyond to make sure they have an unforgettable experience. If you're looking for a tour company that delivers exceptional service and a caring, personalized touch, Ahsante Tours is an excellent choice for your Kilimanjaro climb. I highly recommend them!

Aileen
Aileen

(Jan 2023)

The trip of a life time, all made possible by the amazing team. I cannot recommend this company highly enough for anyone considering climbing Kilimanjaro. They ran our trek seamlessly and went above and beyond continuously including the guides, cooking (a cake at 4800m), morning wakey wakey with hot drinks brought to our tents and the never ending singing and dancing to keep up the team spirits. Thank you for absolutely everything Team!

Franck
Franck

(Sep 2022)

I did Kilimanjaro climb (lemosho road/ 8 days) and 5 days safari (tarangire, seringeti, nogorongoro) with Ashante Tours in Sept 2022. Everything was perfectly managed by Ashante Tours from the beginning to the end. The communication with Edwin is professional, perfect, clear, proactive, full of suggestions, and flexible. Kilimanjaro climb was wondeful. Guides (William, Amos), cook, porters, all the team was kind, professional, trustworthy, friendly, helpful. Without this great team, I would not have reached Uhuru peak. I highly recommend Ashante Tours for your moutain climb, safaris trip. Weruweru lodge is a nice place to rest, chill, relax. Big thanks to all the Ashante teams who made my trip so great. Thanks a million!

FAQs

Before you go

See inclusions and exclusions above.

When you go above altitudes of 2,500m (as is the case on Kilimanjaro), there is less oxygen, which poses a risk of altitude sickness. High altitude sickness can happen to anybody, regardless of age or fitness. Symptoms vary between individuals but commonly include headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, and numbness in fingers and toes. These symptoms can come on unexpectedly and get severe quickly. To decrease the chances of experiencing altitude sickness, you need to allow your body time to acclimatise properly. Although impossible to completely prevent, we've designed our itineraries to give guests the best chance to adjust to the altitude changes. This 8-day route is a little longer than other Kilimanjaro treks and includes acclimatisation days to give you the best chance of making it to the summit. Ahsante guides have years of experience in recognising and helping guests deal with altitude sickness. Note that oxygen is not used on Kilimanjaro to help guests reach the summit or to 'treat' altitude sickness. The only cure for altitude sickness is to immediately descend to lower ground. In severe cases, oxygen may be given to provide enough temporary relief to allow the affected guest to descend. In extreme cases, altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro can be fatal. We put your safety first. Our guides have years of experience, and their decision on whether or not to continue is final.

The following is a packing list for Kilimanjaro: Documents: • Passport • Travel insurance details • Boarding passes for flights • Two passport photos • Driver’s license (if needed) • Cards and cash Gear and clothing (please make sure that you have non-cotton clothing for trekking): • Sleeping bag liner (optional) • Trekking boots: all-season, lightweight • Two base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts) • Fleece/soft-shell jacket • Waterproof jacket • Down jacket for warmth • Travel clothes and city wear • Underwear • Base-layer trousers (optional) • Waterproof trousers • Trekking trousers • Trekking shorts (optional) • Two thick wool mountaineering socks • Lightweight and breathable trekking socks • Gloves and wool hat • Small daypack (35l capacity is generally fine) • Duffel or rucksack with straps to go over your back • Dry Liner or Dry Bag • Water bottle/thermos: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles best. • Sunglasses • Suncream • General toiletries, contact lenses, glasses (if needed) • Towel • Electronics (head torch, travel adaptor, phone & charger) • Lip Balm • Travel wash • Hand sanitiser, wet wipes • Trekking poles (optional) If you don't want to purchase your own kit or need to travel light, you can hire most of the equipment from our guides in-country. Get in touch for the list and rental prices. Please note that all plastic bags, regardless of their thickness, are prohibited from being brought into Tanzania. This excludes packaging for medical supplies.

Kilimanjaro is a steep mountain with a long summit day. You need to be fit enough to hike for eleven hours upslope. To train, we recommend running or playing sports at least 2-3 times a week. It's also great to do a few practice hikes with a 5kg rucksack before you arrive for your trek.

Most non-citizens need a Tanzanian tourist visa. This is easily obtained upon arrival. Tanzanian visas are also available online. Beware when purchasing your visa online, as there are many companies that are not legitimate. Below is a link to the official Tanzanian High Commission UK website. While applying for a visa, you will need the following host company details: Full Name: Ahsante Tours & Safaris Limited Mobile number: +255759690257 Email: info@ahsantetours.com Company name/Registration number: 100817209 Physical address: Plot 29-A, Karanga Drive, Moshi – Kilimanjaro Accommodation (where you will stay): Panama Garden Resort Address: P.O.Box 6907, Lema Road

The currency used in Tanzania is Tanzanian Shillings. Some places will accept USD ($). However, you will be given an unfavourable exchange rate if you pay in dollars.

Yes, if you are travelling solo and would like your own room and tent for the duration of the trip, you can pay for a single supplement. The single supplement is an optional extra with a cost of $90 per traveller. This is payable in-country. Should you not wish to apply the single supplement, we will pair you with another group member to share accommodation during the trek (twin hotel room and shared tent).

On your trip

It is customary in Tanzania to tip guides and porters. The amount that you tip is completely up to you. As a good rule of thumb, generally, participants will tip around US$200 per customer (not per guide). You can give this to the head guide, and they will distribute it amongst the team of guides, porters, and cooks.

You will have chefs with you on the hike who can cater to all dietary requirements. During the trek, you will be provided with three nutritious and filling meals each day to keep your energy levels high. Please provide full details of any dietary requirements and allergies on your Trip Form. You will receive a link to fill this out shortly after booking. You can also update the form on your Skyhook dashboard. Note that lunch (at the hotel) on your first and final day is not included.

You stay in a hotel (Panama Graden Resort or similar) at the beginning and end of the trek. The lodges offer twin shared rooms and basic showering facilities. During the trek, you will be given a 3-man tent and use it as a twin share. Single supplements are available for the duration of the trip for an extra $90. Please send us a message after booking if you want to add this option. If you would like to book any additional nights at the hotel, you can book using the link below.

Every day on the trek, we provide you with filtered water to fill up your bottles. The water is filtered and boiled by a Katadyn filtration system. We recommend you also bring water purification tablets or a filter bottle.

Portable toilets are an optional extra. The cost for this extra service is $150, payable at our offices, in-country. The group can decide whether they would like this extra service and split the cost between group members.

We pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport on the first date of your trip. There are three available pick-up times (10:00 AM, 5:00 PM, or 11:59 PM). On the last day, you can fly at any time. Your guides will arrange transfers that work best for the group.

Other FAQs

Most groups have 12 people, with a maximum of 14.

Kilimanjaro is very close to the equator, so the temperatures are very similar year-round. They can range from around 20°C(68°F) at the base to -10°C (14°F) on the summit. The dry season is June-September, and during these times there is typically just a dusting of snow on the summit. These are also the busiest months. The wet season is Nov-May, where snow depth on the summit can regularly be 20-30cm.

Yes, of course! Safari in Tanzania is an amazing experience - simply message us after booking and we'll make some recommendations for local providers.

The minimum age for this trek is 18 years.

We recommend that you check in with your personal healthcare advisor or travel doctor before your trip to Africa. We have provided a useful link below where you can find information on vaccine requirements.

Your head guide is Holyfield

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Ahsante Tours, based in Moshi.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Holyfield