Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route – 7 Days (Self-Launched)

Sort out your last supplies in Moshi the night before (cash for tips, water purification tablets, snacks). On trek morning your guide's minibus or shared 4x4 collects you from your Moshi hostel around 7am — the drive to Londorossi Gate takes 3–4 hours on rough dirt roads, so eat breakfast early. Pay park fees and register at the gate, then walk 3–4 hours (6 km) through montane rainforest to Forest Camp at ~2,780 m. Your crew sets up camp; you just walk. Drink 3+ litres, go slow, and start a diary of how you feel — this is your altitude baseline.

🚌Guide-arranged minibus/4x4 from Moshi to Londorossi Gate (~3–4 hrs, included in trek package; shared dala-dala to Londorossi isn't practical)

🛏Tented camp at Forest Camp (hut-style wooden cabins available on some departures)

• →Kilimanjaro National Park registration at Londorossi Gate
• →Rainforest trek to Forest Camp (6 km, 3–4 hrs)
• →Evening acclimatisation briefing

A steady climb out of the forest into heath and moorland, crossing streams with views of Kibo opening up ahead. About 5–6 hours, 8 km, reaching 3,500 m. Porters overtake you — that's normal. Keep your pace 'pole pole' (slowly) and let your guide do a pulse/oxygen check at camp if they offer one (ask for this when you book). Nights get cold now, so layer up in the evening.

🚌On foot — 5–6 hrs trekking

🛏Tented camp at Shira Camp 1

• →Trek through heath/moorland (8 km)
• →Views of Shira Ridge and Kibo Peak
• →Optional oxygen/pulse check with guide

Cross the wide, empty Shira Plateau to Shira 2 Camp, then continue up to Moir Hut at ~4,200 m — a long day of 5–7 hours and 14 km. This is the key acclimatisation push. From Moir Hut, take the optional 1-hour ridge walk toward Lent Hills if you feel good; climbing high and sleeping lower helps. Eat even if you're not hungry.

🚌On foot — 5–7 hrs trekking

🛏Moir Hut / adjacent tented camp

• →Shira Plateau traverse
• →Optional acclimatisation walk toward Lent Hills

The classic climb-high-sleep-low day. Trek 4–6 hours (7 km) through alpine desert to Lava Tower (4,630 m), have lunch there, then descend to Barranco Camp at ~3,950 m. If altitude headache sets in, tell your guide immediately. Arrive to views of the Barranco Wall and valley — scout tomorrow's scramble from camp.

🚌On foot — 4–6 hrs trekking

🛏Tented camp at Barranco Camp

• →Lava Tower day hike (4,630 m)
• →Descent into Barranco Valley

Start early for the Barranco Wall — a fun 1.5-hour scramble with handholds where a guide spots you on the steeper bits (no ropes needed, but nerves help). Then roll through Karanga Valley (last water point, 4,035 m) and up to Barafu Camp at 4,673 m. Roughly 7–8 hours total. Eat a big early dinner, pack your summit bag, and sleep by 7pm.

🚌On foot — 7–8 hrs trekking

🛏Tented camp at Barafu Camp

• →Barranco Wall scramble
• →Karanga Valley crossing
• →Summit briefing and kit check

Wake at 11pm–midnight, tea and biscuits, then climb 7–8 hours in the dark to Stella Point on the crater rim (5,739 m) for sunrise, and on to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Africa's highest point. It's -10 to -20°C at night; wear everything. Descend 4–6 hours to Barafu for lunch, then 3–4 hours more down to Mweka Camp (~3,100 m). Expect to be destroyed and elated. Tip your crew at Mweka the next morning — budget £150–200 total.

🚌On foot — summit ascent 7–8 hrs, descent 7–9 hrs

🛏Tented camp at Mweka Camp

• →Sunrise at Stella Point
• →Uhuru Peak summit (5,895 m)
• →Descent to Mweka Camp

A gentle 3–4 hours (10 km) down through montane rainforest to Mweka Gate, sign out of the park and collect your summit certificate. Your operator's vehicle runs you back to Moshi (~45 mins). Check into a cheap hostel or guesthouse, shower, and eat a proper meal. Add a rest day before any safari or Zanzibar leg — your legs will thank you.

🚌On foot to Mweka Gate, then operator vehicle/shared transfer to Moshi (~45 mins, included)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Moshi (e.g. dorms/private rooms around £10–18)

• →Mweka Gate sign-out
• →Summit certificate
• →Moshi town evening