Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route

Name: Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.8 (112 reviews)

112 reviews

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Take the most scenic route up Africa’s tallest mountain, the adventure enhanced by our expert guides, porters and cooks

Scale Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route, considered the most beautiful of the seven established trails up Tanzania’s mightiest mountain. It’s no easy task, but this trip has been designed to maximise your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak at the very top – we have one of the best summit success rates of any operator here. Our eight days on the slopes is longer than most (allowing more time to acclimatise), while larger-than-normal tents, full porterage throughout and chef-prepped meals make the journey as comfortable as possible.

Why trek with us?

One of the highest summit success rates of any operator on Kilimanjaro
One guide to every two trekkers on summit day – essential for maximising your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak
Acclimitisation day built into trip to improve success rates
Larger-than-normal tents make the trek that little more comfortable
Exodus is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, which aims to improve the working conditions of porters
We’ll donate £25 to the Mountain Lioness Project for each person who books this trip
As part of our support for the Mountain Lioness Project, most departures are led by a female guide, plus 80% of our assistant guides and 50% of our crew and porters are female

We also offer an alternative itinerary that climbs Kilimanjaro following the Rongai Route

Key Information

Trip Code: TYR
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Tanzania
Carbon Footprint: 12kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 2 Classic nights (hotels), 7 Simple nights (full-service camping)
All breakfasts, eight lunches and nine dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities (including Kilimanjaro Park fee)
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Kitbag to keep

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance, arrange any visas and vaccinations and personal equipment (can be hired in advance).

8 days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Approximately 4.4mi (7.1km) walking per day
Eight days of walking, full porterage throughout

Terrain:

High altitude; including steep, rocky terrain
Altitude maximum: 19,340ft (5,895m); average: 13,125ft (4,000m)

Day 2: 7 km / 4.3 miles
Day 3: 8 km / 5 miles
Day 4: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Day 5: 8 km / 5 miles
Day 6: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Day 7: 3 km / 1.9 miles
Day 8: 11 km / 6.8 miles
Day 9: 13 km / 8.1 miles

Highlights

Summit the largest freestanding mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro

Maximise your chance of summiting Uhuru Peak with our 1:2 guide ratio on summit day

Join forces with our expert porters, benefitting from their invaluable experience and enthusiasm

Take a peaceful moment in the wild beauty of the Shira Plateau

Camp above the clouds, with all chores taken care of by our team

Toast your trekking adventures in our much-loved coffee plantation hotel

Itinerary

First Destination: Arusha
Next Destination: Arusha

Accommodation:Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Arusha
Next Destination: Arusha

The adventure begins at our much-loved hotel in Arusha, the gateway for your Kilimanjaro trek. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time for a dip in the pool or to relax in the lovely gardens.

Around 6pm, say jambo (that’s hello in Swahili) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Meet your Kilimanjaro Chief Guide who will give a briefing on all aspects of the trip, including the distribution of any hired equipment you have booked. Please also bring your passport, insurance details and flight details.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Tanzanian welcome by arranging a group dinner together.

Want to extend your stay? Speak to your sales representative to book extra nights.

Accommodation:Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

We transfer (67mi/108km) to Lemosho entrance gate (6,890ft/2,100m) in the morning, passing between Kilimanjaro and the horseshoe-shaped volcanic crater of Mount Meru. In the short distance before reaching the Lemosho trail head gate, we drive through farmland and plantations. The last 3mi (5km) of the road to the park gate are poor quality, particularly after rain, and the drive there should be considered part of the adventure.

After completing the necessary registration formalities, we often have lunch in the designated tourist shelter before starting our walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through lush forest and an area with a variety of wildlife, including buffalos. We camp at Lemosho Forest camp (8,695ft/2,650m).

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning begins, as all do on the trail, with hot tea brought to your tent – a very welcome wake-up. Today’s hike starts in lush montane forest before ascending into a moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with views across the plains, opening out as we reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially if the afternoon mists cloak the landscape. We camp in the centre of the plateau at Shira One (11,645ft/3,550m).

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a day to help acclimatisation and explore the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations of the plateau. We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. The views from our camp near Shira Hut (12,600ft/3,840m) of Mount Meru floating on the clouds are unforgettable. The afternoon is free to relax, enjoying those views and getting to know each other even better.

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have a morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, walking on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (14,930ft/4,550m), we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (12,795ft/3,900m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below, including the Barranco Wall, which we tackle tomorrow.

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A short, steep scramble up the famed Barranco Wall provides us with a different challenge and leads us to an undulating trail on the southeastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the southern icefields. The terrain changes to volcanic scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and a powerful sense of mountain wilderness.

Our next camp is at Karanga (13,125ft/4,000m), a short distance away. The valley floor has the last water point on the approach to Barafu and we camp on the higher sides of the valley with views towards the glaciers of the southern icefields.

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trail follows a path on compacted scree with wide views ahead including the Barafu Ridge, where our camp lies. The trail climbs to reach the Barafu campsite (15,090ft/4,600m) for lunch, after which there is a short acclimatisation walk to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (15,750ft/4,800m). The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent and includes a very early night.

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We start our ascent around midnight so we can reach the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace takes us to Stella Point (18,815ft/5,735m) in about five or six hours. We rest there for a short time to enjoy sunrise over Mawenzi.

Those who are still feeling strong can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft/5,895m) – congratulations, you’ve made it! Standing at the highest point in Africa, taking your photo at the Uhuru Peak sign and knowing you have climbed one of the Seven Summits is a moment that will stay with you forever!

The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast; after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (12,470ft/3,800m) at Millennium Camp.

Accommodation:Full-service camping
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a sustained descent on a well-constructed path through lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the national park gate at Mweka (5,415ft/1,650m) where we meet our vehicle and drive through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. The shower, beer and swimming pool are tantalisingly close! We return by bus (62mi/100km) to Arusha.

Accommodation:Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend this morning resting in the hotel garden by the pool or exploring Arusha for souvenirs if you have time before your flight home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to recuperate after climbing Kili, speak to your sales representative to book a relaxing break on idyllic Zanzibar or an unforgettable safari adventure encompassing three different national parks.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Call us: 020 3733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge and Kilimanjaro camps

On this adventure, we spend seven nights camping in three-person tents and two nights in a hotel.

Arusha: Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge (nights 1 and 9)

Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Route

Before and after our time on Kilimanjaro, we stay at the Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge. In a peaceful setting just outside Arusha, this property has 40 spacious thatched cottages dotted throughout a beautiful garden overlooked by Mount Meru. There’s also an excellent restaurant serving African and international dishes, a bar and a swimming pool. It is also possible to book a massage for when you return from the trek.

Kilimanjaro: Full-service camping (nights 2-8)

Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Route

Although conditions are basic on the mountain, the camping we experience is one of the best available on the Lemosho Route. We sleep in Vango Halo Pro 300 tents regardless of whether you have made a twin-share or single supplement booking. These are spacious three-person tents that are ideal for the conditions on Kilimanjaro. Our camp life is about as comfortable as it gets on Kili, with a communal mess tent, where we gather as a group and eat breakfast and dinner, and a private toilet tent. We also ensure there is a bowl of hot washing water for you in the morning and again after the walk at an agreed time in the afternoon. The only exception is the highest camp where there is no water source.

Worth knowing

The campsites on Kilimanjaro are designated by the national park and are mainly stone/dirt. They are not all level and can be crowded in peak season.
Handwashing water, treated with Dettol, is available along with soap before all meals, and everyone is strongly advised to make use of it.
The toilet tent has toilet paper within it, but we recommend that you bring your own toilet paper and wet wipes.
All camping equipment is provided except for sleeping bags, sleeping mats and pillows.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Zanzibar Hotels

With its white-sand beaches, warm turquoise waters and a rich blend of African, Arab and Indian influences, Zanzibar is a place where relaxation meets culture in the most magical way. Make your adventure feel even more extraordinary with additional time to discover Zanzibar. Here are a few of our favourite hotels to inspire your stay:

Hotel Riu Palace, Zanzibar: Located on the powder-soft sands of Nungwi Beach, this luxurious beachfront resort offers elegant suites, infinity pools and an excellent all-inclusive programme. With vibrant coral reefs just offshore and spectacular sunsets, it’s ideal for travellers seeking a refined yet relaxed beach escape.

Sea Cliff Resort and Spa, Zanzibar: Perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, this tranquil resort blends Swahili-inspired architecture with gardens and panoramic ocean views. Its spacious rooms, two infinity pools, and indulgent spa make it perfect for unwinding.

LUX* Marijani, Zanzibar: This elegant beachfront retreat blends contemporary design with that signature LUX* sense of barefoot luxury. With crystal-clear lagoon waters, exceptional dining and warm, personalised service, it offers a stylish ending to your adventure.

This is just a glimpse of what’s possible. Speak to your sales representative, who can guide you through the options and arrange everything for you.

Safari Add-on Tour - after Lemosho Route

This add-on tour is the perfect introduction to the wildlife of Africa, taking in three unique national parks over three days. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area provides acts like a giant enclosure, providing refuge and habitat for a vast number of animals. Tarangire National Park has the largest number of elephants in the northern part of Tanzania and is dotted with baobab trees. Finally, Lake Manyara National Park is small but supports a high density of mammals including tree-climbing lions.

Have a look at the detailed itinerary, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Tanzania

Safari Add-on Tour - after Lemosho Route

Wildlife Holidays

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Lucia Kivoi

Expert Leader: Tanzania

Introducing Lucia The woman who helped to spearhead our Mountain Lioness scholarship programme on Mount Kilimanjaro.

The trip is rated Activity Level 6 (Challenging & Tough). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

The summit attempt is graded Activity Level 7 (Tough) because of the high altitude and the level of physical effort needed. The rest of the trek is graded Activity Level 5 (Challenging), more because of the high altitude and extended wilderness camping than the difficulty of walking; hence the overall grading of this trek as Activity Level 6 (Challenging/Tough).

Walking conditions: This is a challenging trek, reaching an altitude of 19,340ft (5,895m). Even if you consider yourself fit, you might still find the climb very hard, depending on how well your body acclimatises to high altitude. There is no scientific way to determine how easily you will acclimatise; the acclimatisation process can also differ from climb to climb. Most of the trails on the Kilimanjaro trek are well defined and good quality but some forest sections are slippery and moorland paths can be very wet in poor weather conditions. The final ascent to Uhuru Peak is almost exclusively on scree and loose rock without permanent footpaths but no technical skills are required. During the trip, we spend time at both high and low altitude, experiencing both extremely cold and quite hot conditions. You should be prepared for an early start every day on Kilimanjaro.

Altitude: This trip spends time above 9,842ft (3,000m); please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness.

Maximum altitude: 19,341ft (5,895m)
Maximum sleeping altitude: 15,420ft (4,700m)

Equipment: It is essential you are well prepared for this adventure. Please review our Kilimanjaro Kit List to make sure you have all the items you need. The Essential Equipment section on the Trip Notes also provides more information on what you need to bring.

Under 18s: We believe this trek is manageable for a strong 16- or 17-year-old with previous experience of sustained trekking and possibly altitude. Under 18s should be accompanied by an adult on the trek and must pay an additional fee in advance (ask your sales representative for prices) for an accompanying guide. This guide provides support throughout and is available should they need to come off the mountain at any point in the trek.

Tanzania Flight Safety: The EU has recently introduced restrictions on all Tanzanian-registered flight operators. These restrictions are related to operational compliance by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority, rather than to individual airlines themselves. On this itinerary, the only routes affected are the Zanzibar Extension travelling between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, or the optional hot air balloon flight. While domestic flying in Tanzania requires careful consideration, we want to reassure you that Exodus only works with Tanzanian carriers that are either accredited by internationally recognised safety auditing bodies (IOSA & ISSA) or have been approved by our independent aviation safety auditors. Independent audits include annual on-the-ground visits to carriers based in Tanzania. If any concerns arise about the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will immediately remove it from our operations and only reinstate it once our air-safety experts are satisfied that it meets the required standards.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: There is a welcome briefing around 6pm at the start hotel. Hotel check‐in is normally from around midday.
Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport depending on traffic. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Tanzania

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Tanzania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Please note, it is possible to get the visa online (from US$50), but this can take between 10 days and three weeks. For more information and to apply for the visa, please visit www.visa.immigration.go.tz. If you are flying into Kilimanjaro Airport, we recommend arranging the visa in advance as the visa-on-arrival process has become more complicated and can now take longer.

All meals during the climb are included. Please allow about US$30-US$50 for the two lunches (days 1 and 10) not included.

On trek, the emphasis is on a varied and well-balanced diet with a greater amount of fresh fruit and soup to maximise the daily intake of fluids.

Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. The availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent in Tanzania and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home.

The menu has a high liquid and carbohydrate content, the two important elements for successful climbing. At higher altitudes, stimulants (such as coffee) and less digestible foods (such as meat) are not recommended. Our evening meal at the highest camp on Kilimanjaro is a meatless stew as our experience shows this to be the ideal preparation for the summit day. At mealtimes, a selection of hot drinks is available. Soup is served twice daily.

Daily meals

Bed tea: Tea or coffee served in your tent.
Breakfast: Seasonal fresh fruit (mango/banana/watermelon), porridge, cooked eggs, sausage, bacon and toast.
Energy snacks, such as biscuits, bananas and chocolate bars, are provided for the daily walk
Lunch: Either a packed lunch on longer days or, more usually, a hot lunch served in camp by a small team who have raced ahead of the clients. A hot lunch typically consists of soup, bread or pancakes, cheese, tuna, jam, peanut butter, pasta salad and cake.
Afternoon tea: Served in late afternoon. It is an opportunity to drink lots of hot drinks and snack on peanuts or popcorn.
Dinner: The main meal of the day and always consists of three courses: soup and bread, followed by the main dish, which could be rice, potatoes or pasta with fish, meat or vegetables, and is followed by a dessert often of fruit.
Summit snacks: While we provide enough food for the climb, we recommend you bring some of your favourite snacks and keep them for the summit day. The summit day is a long, tough climb and having your favourite snacks can provide a very welcome boost.

Water

While the water we provide on Kilimanjaro is suitable for drinking you may wish to be extra safe and treat it with your own water-purification tablets.

Although Tanzania lies in the tropics, the temperature depends more on altitude than on season. Northern Tanzania has temperatures around 16C-23C (61F-73F) in August, rising to 18C-28C (64F-82F) in February. The long rains, during which we do not operate trips, occur from late March to May, and there are intermittent short rains in November and December, though the latter have no great effect on mountain climbs.

Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year, but it is usually very wet in the rainforest in April and May. January and February are the warmest months. Above the cloud line, the days are warm and pleasant, with temperatures in sunlight often above 20C (68F), but the nights can get very cold. It is possible for temperatures to get as low as -20C (-4F) at Barafu campsite, our highest overnight stop. The daily weather pattern on the mountain tends to be clear mornings with an afternoon cloud build-up that often clears before sunset. In the (European) summer, the weather is usually cloudy at lower altitudes and often sunny above 11,480ft (3,500m). Please note, mountain weather conditions are never totally predictable and we may meet wet and snowy conditions at any time.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Simon Bath

Added February 2026

Awesome crowd, awesome support staff

Group of 12, supported by 45 porters and guides. Awesome week, clear skies everyday, fantastic porters, well organised, not one fault.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Sunrise summit

Advice for Potential Travellers

Baby wipes & hand gel.

Martin Goodman

Everyday was different the rain forest , Shira Plateau, Lava Tower etc. The most fun day was the great Barranco wall which looks steep but completely doable. On summit night I was excited, apprehensive and just wanted to get to the top however I knew it would be a very long day reaching Uhuru Peak .As soon as day break comes you get this burst of extra energy! Reaching Uhuru Peak was just the best moment!

Thoughts on Group Leader

I can not praise our guides enough . Head guide - Julian (J.T.) was so professional, so kind and patient setting a sensible pace to allow us to acclimatise. Absolutely first class chap. Assistant guides- David and Hance equally as professional . I felt safe at all times on our journey. They all gave quiet and kind words of encouragement all the way. They never stop smiling and making things seem easy! I shall never forget them . Not forgetting our superb cook Trophin providing the food which would give us the energy we needed each day . Excellent porridge ! The wonderful porters and assistant guides Rikado Trophin and Arnold Thomas. Julius I thank you for also always being there! All the way to the top!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The most important thing is to follow the pace the guides set they are so experienced and everyone will tell you poly poly and that’s exactly what to do to give yourself more of a chance of acclimatising and reaching the summit . Don’t forget your nail brush ! I did ! Keep your head down especially on summit day this was the advice I was given ‘don’t look up’!! Just keep plodding . Have fun , you will love it and carry those memories forever.

Suggestions

Thank you Exodus and the African Walking Company

Read all reviews

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Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Take the most scenic route up Africa’s tallest mountain, the adventure enhanced by our expert guides, porters and cooks

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

8 days of Walking & Trekking

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge and Kilimanjaro camps

Extend Your Trip

Zanzibar Hotels

Safari Add-on Tour - after Lemosho Route

Safari Add-on Tour - after Lemosho Route

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Tanzania