Lemosho Route Overview
The Lemosho Route is widely recognized as the top choice for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, offering climbers a flexible journey with options for a 7- or 8-day ascent. Starting from the western side of the mountain, the route begins with a scenic drive from Moshi town to the Lemosho Gate. It is known for its beautiful and diverse scenery, with less crowding in the earlier stages and a gradual altitude gain that allows climbers to acclimatize effectively. The descent is made via the Mweka Gate, with a slightly different path for the 7-day option
Lemosho Route Map

Summit Success Rate
- Lemosho Route boasts the highest summit success rate among all Mount Kilimanjaro routes.
- 95% of climbers reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.
- The 8-day itinerary is particularly recommended for optimal acclimatization.
- Enhanced acclimatization further increases the chances of a successful summit.
Ahsante Tours’ Experience with Lemosho Route
- Ahsante Tours highly recommends the 8-day Lemosho Route for those with more time.
- Ideal for climbers wishing to maximize their chances of a successful and enjoyable climb.
- The route offers a balanced and rewarding experience.
- Provides the best conditions for acclimatization.
- Ensures a memorable adventure to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.









8 Days Lemosho route Prices
1 Pax
|
2 Pax
|
3 Pax
|
---|---|---|
$ 3,499
(£ 2,810) |
$ 3,258 ( £ 2,617) |
$ 3,035 ( £ 2,437) |
4 - 6 Pax
|
7 - 9 Pax
|
10 - 12 Pax
|
---|---|---|
$ 2,897
( £ 2,327) |
$ 2,799 ( £ 2,248) |
$ 2,600 ( £ 2,088) |
Climbing Cost Includes
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fee
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Accommodation in tents complete with sleeping mats.
- Sleeping Bags (-15oC Limit) *If clients have warmer sleeping bags they are advised to bring their own.
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation in Moshi town on Half Board Basis
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Tree donation in support of our environmental conservation projects
- 2-way airport transfers - 1 on arrival and 1 on departure
- Supplemental Oxygen & Pulse Oximeter
Climbing Cost Excludes
- Visa
- Tips to mountain crew – See Tipping Guidelines for more details
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- Tanzanian mountain doctor
- Single Supplement Request - $100
- Travel Insurance (Recommended – Travel insurance with medical cover of 6,000m and above)
- Spending a night in the crater - $200 per person
- Western breach approach without a night at the crater camp - $100 per person
- Tanzanian mountain doctor - $200 per group per day
- Portable chemical toilet - $150 per toilet (including tent & porter)
8 Days Lemosho Route Itinerary
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by an Ahsante Tours representative and transferred 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Meals: Dinner Only
Accommodation: Weruweru River Lodge.

You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.
Distance: 7km / 4.3mi
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Big Tree Camp

Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as we head towards our destination which is Shira 2.. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude as we head towards Shira 1 and parts of the route are fairly steep. As you proceed towards Shira 2 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 steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views.
Distance: 16.5km / 10.3mi
Duration: 9 – 11 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

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 steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.
Distance: 8km / 5mi
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Duration: 6 – 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.
Distance: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Karanga Camp

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Distance: 3km / 1.9mi
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Barafu Camp

We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Distance: 13.4km / 8.3mi
Duration: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Millennium Camp

A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before our big celebration.
Distance: 12.1km / 7.5mi
Duration: 6 – 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Weruweru River Lodge.

The day is left free to rest and relax after a long, challenging week of trekking. You can choose to extend for Zanzibar Beach Experiences or Wildlife Safari in Near National Park Like Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, or if your schedule is not allowing you for safari Extension, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport to fly home.

EXCELLENT Based on 161 reviews Tour142776518582025-02-25Verified Extraordinary care following unfortunate fall while cycling I was on a small group cycle tour with AhSante from Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro Crater, a trip that included five days cycling and 2 days of game drives. I was having a wonderful time when I fell on the second day and broke a rib. While disappointing, I could not have been in better hands than with the team at AhSante Tours. They were there at each step of my injury and recovery, from the initial trip to the hospital to relocating me to their base lodge near Moshi. While in Moshi, they made sure I had everything I needed. They accompanied me for a follow-up visit to a hospital in Moshi and were extremely helpful as I navigated the local medical system. All of the cycling team and the group and staff at Weru Weru lodge - Jimmy, Lawrence, Wes, Bashi, Amos and especially Emmanuel - helped transform what could have been a lonely and painful experience into a restful and amiable recovery. In the end, I only got a taste ofTanzania and I hope to return soon for another AhSante Tour - maybe just the safaris next time. Kris7752025-02-14Verified Mount Meru - 3-Day - Solo I've climbed Kilimanjaro with Ahsante Tours before, During my last visit to Tanzania 🇹🇿I've opted in for a 3-Day "Mount Meru" Trek solo. The 3-Day itinerary is nothing for the faint hearted. We've decided on an evening summit which meant 2.100 m of ascent in one day. Unfortunately, the weather was challenging, but my guide Charles, the summit porter Baraka and I made it to the summit and back to "Saddle Hut" safely. During the whole trip I was treated like a little princess. The guide, porters and chef were absolutely amazing. Their support during the trip was outstanding. And, as the icing on the cake on our descent Charles and I were invited by a park ranger to join him.on a private walking safari. I've never been so close to giraffes, pumbas and antelopes in their natural habitat in my life. Overall a great short trip.I would climb Mount Meru again as the landscape is absolutely stunning. However, I would recommend the 4-Day itinerary as you are able to experience the little brother of Kilimanjaro in more detail. Manon M2025-02-03Verified Kilimanjaro 🇹🇿🏔️ We had the chance to go with the Ahsante organization to climb Kilimanjaro They made this week the best experience of our lives!A good mood, an unbeatable motivation and a group cohesion that allowed us to wait for everyone at the roof of AfricaYou will not find better than them to achieve this goal which with them seems so simple to achieve 🤍Thanks to Seba, Sele and their team The best to make our dream come true 🏔️🇹🇿 Sarahj34832025-01-29Verified Ahsante Tours Lemosho Route for Kilimanjaro We recently summited Kilimanjaro having completed the 8 day Lemosho route. Our hike was led by Ahsante Tours who were excellent. We had the most wonderful mountain guide Nelson who was eternally optimistic and motivating and really made the hike special. We were in awe of the work of our porters who worked endlessly and always with a smile on their faces. Maureen M2024-10-19Verified Ahsante Tours Kilimanjaro climb We climbed Kilimanjaro with Ahsante Tours on the Lemoso Route. Our guides, Arden, Veta, Bugah, Danny, and Elias were absolutely amazing. They were commited to helping our group of 11 people, from all over the world, make the summit. I can't praise the guides and porters enough; they have tough jobs and work hard to make our climb as easy as possible. erica d2024-10-02Verified To the top together. A fantastic experience. People were super helpful and sweet nothing was too much for them. Always with a smile. Well played to each other. These people have made our adventure even more beautiful. Thank you guys. tido_world2024-10-02Verified Once in a liftime experience, perfectly organized and executed 5 Friends including myself intended to hike to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route and for that we chose Ahsante Tours to tackle this challange with us.There is not much more to say, than that those 8 days of hiking, tenting and eating, as well as enjoying life, the views, the good company of all the guides, porters and all the others was just perfect from the first to the last minute. And, of course, the cherry on the top of the cake has been all of us 5 happy guys having reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.Thanks again to Ahsante Tours with the guides Innocent, Calvin and Sele as well as all others, who were involved, for making that an experience of a lifetime! Niall F2024-09-28Verified Great experience I recently did the 7 day Machame route up Kili with this company. It was very well organised, the staff were all great and the lead guide, Derick Mfinanga was amazing - always supportive and doing everything to ensure we had a great experience on the mountain - which we did! Charlotte R2024-09-28Verified Once in a life time experience! Ahsante is a very well established and respected trekking company. I first heard about them from a recommendation in my Tanzanian ‘Rough Guides’ book. We completed the 8 day Lemosho Route. Our group consisted of 11 people ranging from ages 26 to 68 and we all made it to the Summit! Our crew was 45 strong- porters, chefs, toilet crew, water crew, camp manager, waiters, assistant guides and lead guide. Arden was our lead guide- he was incredibly knowledgeable and caring, and affectionately gave us all mountain nicknames which really boosted moral. He was a brilliant leader who had a big responsibility to keep his team and us safe on the mountain and I felt very protected and confident in his judgement and experience. He showed kindness helping members of the group through mild symptoms of altitude sickness. He was professional, spoke very good English and was a fantastic team lead who genuinely cared for the people working under his guidance. Our 4 assistant guides were also excellent:Danny is one of the most kind hearted people I have met, he would always greet you with a massive smile and was a very strong walker with years of guiding experience (often helping to carry any kit people were struggling with in their own bags). Bugga G- the biggest joker! Such a bundle of energy which is much needed on the mountain to keep everyone positive and laughing. I won’t forget his singing, his kindness towards people within the group and his ability to set a true ‘pole pole’ pace which helped each and every one of us reach the summit. Vitalis is calm and collected, with AMAZING English, and we shared some great conversations up and down the mountain. He showed great leadership helping a member of our group get to the submit, by slowing the pace for them and safety helping them achieve their dream. Isiah was the youngest guide and it was brilliant to see him growing in confidence throughout the trip and setting the pace at the front of the group on multiple days. He was keen to learn from the experience of the other guides around him and aswell as maintaining his own laid back and calm style. The food was amazing! I do not know how the chefs do it at 4970m but we ate like kings and everything was delicious. Toilet crew also get a special shout out- that is not a pleasant job but we were very grateful! Weru Weru lodge where you stay pre and post trip is the perfect place to relax and I had probably the best BBQ meat ever there! Overall I cannot recommend Ahsante enough. Excellent, professional, experienced, 10/10. I would definitely use them again if I were to return to Tanzania. On a wider note I would love a company the size and experience of Ahsante to join the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project. It is great you are compliant with the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA) and the Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO). You have a wonderful, dedicated team of people working for your company. TiaDW2024-09-24Verified Incredible guides and crew! Just got back from an amazing 6 days on Kili! We all made it to Stella point and 12 of us got to Uhuru peak. All of this was possible because we had an amazing team guiding us up that mountain! Bruno, Sele, Nelson & Albert were our guides and they were incredible! The rest of the staff was also brilliant! Everyone was so friendly and supportive! We wouldn’t have made that top without them!
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FAQs about Lemosho Route
The Lemosho Route is one of the most scenic and less crowded routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. It offers stunning landscapes, including lush rainforest, heath, and moorland, and gives climbers a better chance of acclimatization due to its longer itinerary.
The Lemosho Route typically takes 7 to 8 days to complete, allowing ample time for acclimatization. The route covers approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from start to finish.
The Lemosho Route is considered moderate to challenging. Its longer duration and gradual ascent make it an excellent choice for those seeking to acclimatize properly, though it still requires a reasonable level of fitness and preparation.
Better Acclimatization: The extended itinerary gives trekkers more time to adjust to the altitude.
Beautiful Scenery: You pass through different ecosystems, including rainforests and alpine deserts, offering a wide variety of landscapes.
Fewer Crowds: This route is less crowded compared to others like the Machame and Marangu routes.
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