Lemosho Route And Success Rates: A Beginner’s Guide & Cost
The classic Lemosho Route has become very popular in the past few years. And rightly so—it has some of the best views, the best acclimatisation profile, and the highest success rates at the top of any route. The Lemosho Route starts on the western side of Kilimanjaro and can be done in three different ways: it takes 6, 7, or 8 days to climb the mountain. Cathedral Peak, one of the highest spots on Lemosho at 3872 m, is one of the park’s best features. You can take a walk to Cathedral Peak to get used to the altitude and see the best views of Kilimanjaro. Dendrosenecio kilimanjari, which are huge plants that look like aliens, are another famous thing about Lemosho. Angela Vorobieva, who is 86 years old, set a Guinness World Record as the oldest person to ever climb Kilimanjaro when she did so with Kabira Safaris & Tours Africa. She did so on the Lemosho Route.
Lemosho Route – Expert Advice
It’s our team’s and our clients’ favourite road, the Lemosho one. It’s different in more than one way. First, the Lemosho 7-day itinerary starts at 3414 metres, which means you will spend more time at that height and only have to walk short distances on the first two days. This makes it easier to get used to the altitude and gives climbers the best chance of reaching the top of Kilimanjaro. The 6-day version is only good for experienced trekkers or people who have already gotten used to the altitude, but the 7-day version is good for everyone, even newbies.
6 Days Lemosho Route Itinerary Cost
6 Days Lemosho Route Price per person ($ USD) | ||||
1 pax | 2 -4 pax | 5-9 pax | 10-16 pax | 16 pax |
1,850 | 1,800 | 1,750 | 1,700 | 1,650 |
7 Days Lemosho Route Itinerary Cost
7 Days Lemosho Route Price per person ($ USD) | ||||
1 pax | 2 -4 pax | 5-9 pax | 10-16 pax | 16 pax |
1,935 | 1,885 | 1,835 | 1,785 | 1,735 |
8 Days Lemosho Route Itinerary Cost
8 Days Lemosho Route Price per person ($ USD) | ||||
1 pax | 2 -4 pax | 5-9 pax | 10-16 pax | 16 pax |
2,035 | 1,985 | 1,935 | 1,885 | 1,835 |
Climbing Cost Includes
- All transfers: Hotel before and after the hike
- Camping equipment
- Meals on the hike
- Professional guides and porters
- Oxygen tanks
- GPS Trackers
- Medical check-ups, fully-loaded medical kits, and in-company doctor
- Fully-loaded medical kits
- All park fees and taxes
- Dedicated support team
- Innovative and user-friendly travel planning portal
- Safe room and storage room
- Leave No Trace adventure
- Impactful change for the local communities
Climbing Cost Excludes
- International flights
- Tips to the climbing crew
- Visa fee
- Personal gear rentals
- Single supplement
- Travel insurance
- Portable toilet
- Lunch and dinner in the hotel
Lemosho Route Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
When you get to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you’ll be met by an agent from kabira Safaris, who will take you to your hotel as part of the package deal. There will be nice rooms, hot water, friendly staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access at the hotel, so you can have a peaceful stay. There will be a meeting with our bosses in the evening, and they will also make sure you are ready to start the climb.
As part of private tour packages, your group will share a ride to and from the airport. For more than one person transfer, there will be extra fees. To avoid extra fees, make sure that the times your group arrives and leaves are the same.
Day 2: High-Altitude Drop off Destination And Trekking to Shira 2 Camp
There will be a guide and a mountain support crew at the hotel. Then you will drive for about three to four hours to Londorossi Gate, which is the western entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park. After quickly getting climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group goes up in off-road vehicles to reach their drop-off point at 3,610 m/11,841 f. This is the first place where you can see the Shira Plateau in all its beauty.
From where you were dropped off to your first high-altitude camp, Shira 2, the trail has a modest elevation gain and isn’t too hard on the body. In this way, you will be able to start the acclimatisation process in the right way. Our trained mountain crew will have already set up the tents, prepped everything they need, and started making dinner by the time you get to camp.
PLEASE NOTE:
You should really pay attention to these rules from now on because today is your first day at this height:
- Hold off on drinking booze and caffeine;
- Over 4 litres of drinking water every day (little by little, often);
- If you want to avoid getting altitude sickness in the first place, you might want to take a high-altitude rescue medicine. Many mountain hikers take these kinds of pills in the morning, before they start their climb, to ease the pain of altitude sickness. Along with your travel plans, our managers will give you more detailed information. Before the trip, you should talk to your doctor about any allergies or health worries you might have.
As you get used to the high altitude, you may feel uncomfortable at night because your body gets less oxygen than during the day because you breathe less deeply at night. Taking into account the altitude, you may start to feel sick and get a headache. Watch your body and let your guide know if you start to feel any signs of altitude sickness.
Day 3: Trekking From Shira 2 Camp to The Lawa Tower And Descent to Barranco Camp
The hike to Lava Tower, which is the most important part of the trip, will begin after breakfast. There are a lot of ups and downs on this part of the trail, which ends at a camp at over 4,600 m (15,091 f). Some parts of the hike might be hard, and it’s normal to feel a little uneasy. But you need to spend at least one to two hours here getting used to the higher elevation, so this is where you’ll eat lunch.
After that, you’ll go down to Barranco Camp. The famous Barranco Wall can be seen here. It is amazing how big it is and how steep it is. You will be climbing it the next day, but don’t worry—it has a very easy hike trail and is not at all scary.
Day 4: Trekking From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
To start this day, you’ll get up early and eat a big breakfast before going up Barranco Wall. If you want to avoid getting slowed down by other groups, you should leave the camp as early as possible. It is not hard to walk up the gorge wall, and it only takes an hour. Before or after the climb, you can rest and take pictures in front of Kibo.
Following that, you will begin a tougher walk to Karanga Camp. The trail has many ascents and descents, but don’t worry—our guides are trained to find the best pace for the group. When you get to the camp, you’ll be given a warm meal. After a couple of hours, you will have to go on an acclimatisation hike that goes towards Barafu Camp and goes up 300 metres (984 feet). Then you will have to go back down to the camp.
PLEASE NOTE:
To speed up the process of getting used to the altitude, the acclimatisation hike is a short, easy hike with a small elevation gain. The acclimatisation hikes are very important that you do them. They make it more likely that you will be able to reach the top of Kilimanjaro and protect you from getting altitude sickness.
Day 5: Trekking From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
You will start your walk to Barafu Summit Camp in the morning, after a full breakfast. This camp is where you’ll begin your last night’s climb to the top of Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,336 f), which is your ultimate goal. Our team will set up camp ahead of time, so your blankets and sleeping bags will already be ready when you get to Barafu Summit Camp. This way, you can just unwind and rest. Before the night peak, it is better to rest and sleep for the rest of the day.
Day 5: Ascent to Uhuru Peak And Descent to Millennium Camp
At night, you will leave Barafu Camp and begin the last part of the climb to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,336 f). The climb isn’t too hard from a technical point of view, but at this high elevation, even normal physical exercise can feel hard. So, for the whole climb, each pair of hikers will be paired with a personal guide who will keep a closer eye on their physical and mental health. Once you’ve reached the top of Uhuru Peak, you can choose to go down to the nearest glacier. After taking a two-hour break, you will go back to Barafu Camp and continue your way down to Millennium Camp.
PLEASE NOTE:
Don’t forget that 90% of accidents, like broken arms and legs, happen on the way down. You should be very careful with your feet because you could hurt your toes.
Day 7: Descent From Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
The Millennium Camp is in a tropical jungle. When you wake up, you’ll be glad that the height has gone down and happy that you made it to the top. Right after a hot breakfast, you’ll go to the Mweka Gate. This is where you leave the park. After you come down, the whole group will meet to congratulate you and give you a chance to write in the guestbook about your thoughts on the climb. Last but not least, we will give you your commemorative awards in our office and take you back to your hotel.
Day 8: Departure
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
PLEASE NOTE:
The hotel’s check-out time is 11 AM. If you need to check out late because of a flight in the evening, you can pay extra to stay longer at the hotel.
Lemosho Route – Summit Success Rate
Over the years, Kabira Safaris has kept thorough records on each route. The following statistics show how often climbers who took the Lemosho 6, 7, or 8-day plans were able to reach the Crater Rim and Uhuru Peak:
Lemosho 6: Uhuru Peak: 94.1%, Crater Rim: 95.5%
Lemosho 7: Uhuru Peak: 94.9%, Crater Rim: 96.5%
Lemosho 8: Uhuru Peak: 91.7%, Crater Rim: 95.0%
Some may wonder why the longer 8-day plan has a slightly lower success rate. The answer is simple: many experienced high-altitude trekkers choose the 6-day choice and make it to the top, even though it’s harder. Also, the 8-day way starts at 2100m and requires climbers to get to 3610m in 24 hours, which can be hard. This is why the 7-day plan is often suggested for first-timers, as it gives them the best chance of hitting the top. We also count it as two failed tries if one person turns around and their partner follows them down. You may have even better odds of reaching the top than the numbers show.
Unlike many other companies, Kabira Safaris can actually boast such high peak success rates. There are a few main reasons for this. To begin, we have the best pay and working conditions in the Kilimanjaro area, which is why we hire the best guides, mountain crews, and operations experts. The second thing is that we care a lot about our clients’ health. Kabira Safaris has more oxygen devices than all the other companies put together. They use them to help people get used to the altitude and treat the symptoms of altitude sickness. Every day, our guides do two thorough medical checks on you to make sure that you are getting used to the altitude. Finally, Kabira Safaris guides know how to give first aid in the woods, and all of our trips come with full medical kits.
Lemosho Route FAQ
Lemosho 7 days vs Lemosho 8 days
You might be wondering whether the 7-day or 8-day Lemosho schedule is better for your trip. The seven-day plan starts at 3,414 metres, which helps you get used to the altitude faster. This way, you can go up in elevation for longer, but some people might not like how quickly they are going up in elevation. Also, the hikes on the first two days of this plan are pretty easy and don’t go up much in elevation.
The 8-day route, on the other hand, begins at 2,100m and has a tougher first day. But if you start lower, you’ll be able to get used to the altitude more slowly and enjoy hiking through a jungle. All in all, climbers of all levels should definitely try both paths. They are great for getting used to the altitude, have success rates at the top of well over 90%, and are some of the most beautiful routes on Kilimanjaro.
Lemosho 8 days vs Northern Circuit
The Lemosho 8 route has beautiful scenery and, like the Northern Circuit 8 route, a good shape for getting used to the altitude. The Northern Circuit, on the other hand, has views of Kilimanjaro from all four sides but is usually thought to be less beautiful. This is mostly because it rains less on the northern hills, so there is less variety and abundance of plants there. Another thing to think about is that the Northern Circuit is much less busy than the Lemosho route, which is one of the three busiest on Kilimanjaro right now.
Because it’s longer, the Northern Circuit is better for hikers with more stamina who don’t mind going on longer daily walks. On top of that, the Northern Circuit lets you skip the Barranco Wall if you really want to. Both routes can be done without expert knowledge or a lot of training, and they are great for getting used to the altitude. There are more people who reach the top of Lemosho than on Northern Circuit because the Northern Circuit is longer and some hikers get tired on that road.
How many miles in the Lemosho Route
The Lemosho route takes about 8 days and covers about 70 km (43 miles). The 6 and 7-day versions cover about 56 km (35 miles). If we look at how long other Kilimanjaro routes are, this puts Lemosho in the middle.
Where does the Lemosho route start
For the 8-day choice, the journey starts at Londorossi Gate (2250m), while for the 6-7 day options, the journey starts with a vehicle drop-off at 3,414m on the Shira Plateau.
Does Lemosho go via the Barranco Wall
The Lemosho path does go through the Barranco Wall. Still, the way it looks can be scarier than the event itself. Many adults have even been able to get around it without much trouble! Check out our guide to the Barranco Wall to learn more.
How hard is the Lemosho Route compared to other routes
The climb isn’t too hard, but it’s definitely doable for most people who are in good shape. It’s amazing that it comes out as the best choice for beginners because it has the highest success rates.
Lemosho Route Benefits
High success Rate
Don’t worry—if you climb Mount Kilimanjaro with our expert guides, you will succeed.
High-Altitude Drop-Off
We’ll drive you to a point at 3,500 metres above sea level to help you get used to the high air.
Stunning Sceneries
You will be able to see mesmerising views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. You are guaranteed to feel euphoric and take stunning pictures.
Superb Acclimatization
Our climbing schedules are designed to make the acclimatisation process go as smoothly as possible.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route