Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climb

The Lemosho route is the connoisseur's choice on Kilimanjaro. It begins on the remote western side of the mountain, reached by a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate and a rougher track to the trailhead, and it spends its first two days walking through some of the quietest forest on the mountain. Because the approach is longer and less direct than Machame, it usually takes seven or eight days, and that extra time is the route's greatest strength. Slow gains in altitude are the main reason people reach the summit, and Lemosho builds that in. The first day is an easy forest walk to a camp among old trees. Wildlife is possible here: blue monkeys and colobus are common, and guides sometimes point out signs of buffalo or even elephant in the lower reaches, although sightings are never guaranteed and you should not expect safari-style viewing. The second day climbs out of the forest onto the Shira Plateau, a wide volcanic shelf with heather, giant groundsels and big views across to Kibo and, on clear days, Mount Meru floating above the clouds. From Shira the route follows the same high-altitude pattern as Machame. You move east, climb to the Lava Tower area for acclimatization, drop to Barranco, pass the Barranco Wall and continue to Karanga and Barafu for the summit push. The last two-thirds of the trek are shared with Machame, so you will meet more walkers there, but the first half remains peaceful.

Practical points are slightly different from the south-side routes. The drive to the gate takes several hours from Moshi, so you will be told to be ready early, and some groups overnight in a nearby lodge before the climb to avoid a very early start. The trailhead track can be muddy or rutted after rain, so your operator needs a suitable 4x4 vehicle. Porters carry supplies for more days than on Machame, which is one reason Lemosho is typically more expensive.

Weather follows the same pattern as the rest of the mountain: drier from January to early March and June to October, wetter in April, May and November. On the western side, afternoon cloud can fill the forest, but the Shira Plateau is often bright in the morning. Summit night begins around midnight from Barafu and is the same cold, slow, steady climb as on every other route, with sunrise usually reached at Stella Point or Uhuru Peak.

Choose an operator that fits your pace. Ask for a clear itinerary, the number of crew per client, how they check oxygen levels each evening and what they do if a climber feels unwell. If you are comparing prices, check that park fees, camping fees, rescue fees and airport transfers are either clearly included or clearly listed separately. For a milder warm-up before this trek, the Marangu Gate day hike in our Arusha pages is a good test of your boots and legs.