Climbing Kilimanjaro had been on my list for 2025, and after a lot of research I decided on the Lemosho Route. From the very first day through the rainforest, I was completely captivated. We moved from the deep green of the rainforest into a world of rock, dust and wind, each day bringing us closer to the summit.
If you’re thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro yourself, this post will take you along the Lemosho Route. I’ll give you an overview of the daily stages, the main highlights to look forward to, and a few personal tips to help make your own journey to the Roof of Africa truly unforgettable.
For transparency: In this post about climbing Kilimanjaro, I use advertising links, also known as “affiliate links.” These links direct you to products or services that I personally recommend. If you make a booking through one of these links, I may receive a small commission. This support helps me greatly to continue providing my blog articles, photos, and videos free of charge. There are no additional costs for you.
This blog post was created in collaboration with Ahsante Tours, the tour operator with whom I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and whom I can wholeheartedly recommend.
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Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route
The 8-day Lemosho Route is one of the most scenic ways to reach Uhuru Peak. Covering around 70 kilometres, it offers the perfect balance of adventure, breathtaking views and enough time for proper acclimatisation – something that makes all the difference on summit night.
Why choose the 8-day Lemosho Route?
- Varied landscapes: The beauty of the Lemosho Route lies in its contrasts: from rainforest to moorland, from high-altitude desert to the icy summit zone. Every stage feels like a new landscape waiting to be discovered.
- Better acclimatisation: The steady, gradual ascent gives your body plenty of time to adjust to the altitude, which is why the 8-day Lemosho Route has one of the highest success rates for reaching the summit.
- Peace and quiet: Compared to the more popular routes, the first few days on Lemosho are usually far less crowded, making the whole experience calmer and more immersive.
Arrival in Tanzania
The moment you step off the plane at Kilimanjaro Airport, it hits you: the adventure is about to begin. Ahsante Tours is already waiting for me, and together with my guide, Derick, and our driver, we head to the hotel for the first night. The whole team feels warm and genuine and friendly without being over the top. In the hotel garden, a few geese wander around with their chicks, and I spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, trying to take it all in.
Later, Derick gives me a short briefing. We check my gear, go over the route and clear up any last questions. Over dinner (included with Ahsante), it finally sinks in: tomorrow it really starts. I pack my daypack, which I’ll carry myself, my duffel bag, which the porters will take, and a small tote with the few things that will stay behind at the hotel. Unsurprisingly, I go to bed far too late, the excitement of climbing Kilimanjaro is impossible to calm.
Anyone preparing to climb Kilimanjaro will already notice here how much the right team matters. Even though I’m travelling solo, I never once feel alone. Ahsante takes care of every step, and it feels more like setting off on an adventure with friends than joining a guided tour.
Day 1 of climbing Kilimanjaro: Into the rainforest
At a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 3 hours
📍 Route: Lemosho Gate (2,100 m) to Big Tree Camp (2,650 m)
📏 Distance: about 9 km
🌄 Elevation gain: +550 m
🌿 Landscape: Rainforest, montane forest
The morning starts with a two-hour drive to Lemosho Gate. When I see the team for the first time, I’m genuinely amazed. Apart from me, there’s only one other trekker, but joining us are two guides, eight porters, a waiter (yes, really) and a chef. It’s incredible to think that so many people work together just for two climbers. It feels humbling and like such a privilege.
At the gate, we get snacks, water and a packed lunch. After signing in, the climb begins. The first stretch is fairly gentle, and to be honest, not that exciting yet. The pace feels slow, and I catch myself wondering if we should go faster but of course, the guides know best, so I trust their rhythm.
Soon, we step into the rainforest. The air turns warm and damp, the forest hums with life. Monkeys swing through the trees and birds call out above us. The trail winds gently uphill, with short, steeper sections in between. My guides, Jimmy and Derrick, keep reminding me to drink water.
After just a few hours, we reach Big Tree Camp, where everything is already set up: tents, kitchen area, camp toilet and even a shower tent. I drop my things, sit down with a cup of tea and take a deep breath. The adventure of climbing Kilimanjaro has truly begun.
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Day 2 of climbing Kilimanjaro: From rainforest to moorland
At a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 5 hours
📍 Route: Big Tree Camp (2,650 m) to Shira Camp 1 (3,610 m)
📏 Distance: about 7 km
🌄 Elevation gain: +960 m
🌿 Landscape: Rainforest to moorland transition
It’s an early start today. And I’ll admit, the first night in a tent wasn’t the best sleep, but breakfast makes up for it: porridge, fruit, pancakes, toast and eggs, all freshly made.
Today, we leave the dense forest behind and step into the strange beauty of the moorland. The climb is noticeably steeper, with nearly a thousand metres of elevation gain over just seven kilometres, but the slow and steady pace makes it manageable. The highlight of the day comes suddenly: the first glimpse of Kilimanjaro itself. Seeing the snow-capped peak in the distance gives me chills. It’s almost unreal to think that in just a few days, we’ll be standing at the very top.
After about six hours, we arrive at Shira Camp 1, perched at 3,610 m. The setting is peaceful, with an incredible view of the mountain. I even try the camp shower (surprisingly decent) and spend the rest of the afternoon just taking it all in.
Day 3: Shira Camp 2 and acclimatisation
Day 3 at a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 4 hours
📍 Route: Shira Camp 1 (3,610 m) → Shira Camp 2 (3,850 m)
📏 Distance: approx. 10 km
🌄 Elevation gain: +240 m
🚶♀️ Extra: Acclimatisation hike in the afternoon (+200 m, around 30 min up, 20 min down)
🌿 Landscape: Sparse moorland, wide open plateaus, crisp mountain air
The third day starts off calmly but with an important purpose: helping our bodies adjust further to the altitude. We cover roughly 10 km, gradually climbing about 240 m through increasingly barren terrain. Stones and small rock formations appear, the air feels clearer, and the vastness is breathtaking. I soak in the stillness and the changing colours. A gentle rhythm is starting to settle in: walk, rest, drink water, repeat.
By early afternoon we reach Shira Camp 2 at 3,850 m. It’s windier than the previous camp, but the view makes up for it instantly. Before dinner, we head out for a short acclimatisation hike: about 200 m of ascent in half an hour, then 20 minutes back down. The goal is simple: to help the body slowly adjust to the altitude. On the Lemosho Route, the golden rule is ‘climb high, sleep low‘.
Day 4: The first battle with altitude at Lava Tower
Day 4 at a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 8 hours
📍 Route: Shira Camp 2 (3,850 m) → Lava Tower (4,600 m) → Barranco Camp (3,900 m)
📏 Distance: approx. 10 km
🌄 Elevation gain/loss: +750 m / –700 m
🥘 Highlight: Hot lunch at Lava Tower
🌿 Landscape: Rocky highlands, otherworldly giant groundsels, Barranco Valley
Day four is long and demanding, about 10 km and eight hours on the trail. The steady climb to Lava Tower at 4,600 m takes us through dramatic terrain: bare rock, sweeping views, and the odd, almost prehistoric-looking giant groundsel trees.
We stop at Lava Tower for a hot lunch, but the altitude hits hard for the first time. My heart pounds with every step, a dull headache sets in, and I feel slightly feverish. Progress is slow. I’m relieved when the trail finally starts to descend again. The “climb high, sleep low” approach is tough, but it’s what makes the Lemosho Route so effective for acclimatisation.
After a long day we reach Barranco Camp at 3,900 m. Despite the exhaustion, the atmosphere is incredible. Our guides keep spirits high with songs, jokes, and fun stories. Nestled between steep rock walls at the base of Kilimanjaro, Barranco Camp is one of the most beautiful spots on the route. After such a demanding day, the view feels like a true reward.
Day 5: Climbing the Barranco Wall
Day 5 at a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 5–6 hours
📍 Route: Barranco Camp (3,900 m) → Barranco Wall (4,200 m) → Karanga Camp (4,000 m)
📏 Distance: approx. 6 km
🌄 Elevation gain/loss: +300 m / –200 m
🧗 Highlight: Scrambling up the Barranco Wall
The fifth day begins with one of the most striking sections of the climb: the famous Barranco Wall. From below, it looks almost vertical, but as we start to climb, it becomes surprisingly enjoyable and quickly turns into one of my favourite parts of the trek. Both hands and feet are in constant use. Sometimes I pull myself up on the rocks, sometimes I edge carefully along narrow ledges. It’s all perfectly manageable, and you don’t need any climbing experience.
At the top, one of the most breathtaking views of the Lemosho Route opens up: a sea of clouds below, Mount Meru in the distance, and the immense slopes of Kilimanjaro rising ahead.
From there, the trail dips gently before reaching Karanga Camp at 4,000 m. It’s open, windy, and buzzing with anticipation. Just one more night’s sleep before summit night begins.
Day 6: Climb to Barafu camp and the building anticipation for the summit
Day 6 at a glance:
⏱️ Duration: 4–5 hours
📍 Route: Karanga Camp (4,000 m) → Barafu Camp (4,673 m)
📏 Distance: approx. 4 km
🌄 Elevation gain: +673 m
🌋 Landscape: Rocky, barren lunar terrain
Day six is short but full of anticipation. The trail climbs steadily to Barafu Camp at 4,673 m, winding through a stark, rocky landscape that feels a bit like being on the moon. The air is thinner now, and the summit suddenly feels both close enough to touch and impossibly far away. Thanks to the earlier acclimatisation, especially the day at Lava Tower, I still feel surprisingly good.
At camp we’re greeted with a hot lunch before settling in to rest. Sleep would be ideal, but the mix of nerves and excitement makes it nearly impossible. I call home while there’s still decent signal, repack my backpack a few times and try to calm my mind with a podcast.
Around 9:30 p.m. we have an early dinner and a final briefing for the big night. The advice is simple: move slowly in your own rhythm, keep breaks short, and don’t worry about faster groups. Drink plenty, but only in small sips to avoid cooling down too much. After a quick oxygen check, I switch on my headlamp, shoulder my pack and take a deep breath. This is it, summit night is about to begin.
Climbing Kilimanjaro at night
Summit night (Day 6 and 7) at a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 12 hours of climbing, 2 more hours in the afternoon
📍 Route: Barafu Camp (4,673 m) → Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) → Millennium Camp (3,900 m)
📏 Distance: around 17 km in total
🌄 Elevation: +1,222 m / –1,995 m
❄️ Landscape: Ice fields, scree slopes, summit plateau, arctic zone
It is 11:20 at night and completely dark, the only light coming from the headlamps bobbing along the narrow trail. Beside me are our guides Derick and Jimmy, and two porters who join us for the climb. The rest of the team stays behind at Barafu Camp. The first steps through the cold night feel unreal. My legs are heavy, and I am suddenly so tired I can barely keep my eyes open. The pace is painfully slow, and all I can focus on is staying awake.
Every now and then the silence breaks as our guides sing and play music to lift our spirits. I avoid looking up because the summit still feels endlessly far away. Hour after hour we climb through the darkness until Derrick and I eventually separate from our hiking partner and Jimmy, as our speeds are too different.
Stella Point at 5,700 metres is the first big milestone. About 400 metres before reaching it, the altitude really hits me. My heart is pounding, my head aches, and every step feels like a huge effort. The summit seems completely out of reach. When we finally arrive, a cup of hot ginger tea gives me just enough energy for the final stretch to Uhuru Peak.
Around eight in the morning, after roughly eight and a half hours of climbing, we stand at 5,895 metres, the highest point in Africa. Exhaustion mixes instantly with joy, awe and deep gratitude. The view, the cold, the silence, it is all overwhelming. In that moment, every bit of effort, every step, every long day makes sense.
We only stay for a few minutes, take a quick photo, and start the descent. My head is pounding now, and all I want is to get back to camp and sleep.
We move quickly and reach Barafu Camp three hours later. After a short rest and lunch, we continue down for another two hours to Millennium Camp. Every so often I look back, hardly able to believe that only a few hours ago I was standing on top of mighty Kilimanjaro.
Day 8: Farewell to Kilimanjaro
Day 8 at a glance:
⏱️ Duration: around 6 to 7 hours
📍 Route: Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
📏 Distance: around 10 km
🌄 Elevation: descent of about 2,260 m
🌿 Landscape: rainforest with a misty, almost magical atmosphere
The final day begins gently but turns out to be more demanding than expected. We descend around ten kilometres through thick, enchanting rainforest, which takes about six hours. Sunlight filters through the trees, mist drifts between the trunks and it feels like the perfect ending to this eight-day journey.
When we reach Mweka Gate, our team is waiting for us, singing and cheering with huge smiles. We take photos together, and the empanadas handed out as a small reward have never tasted better. It is a moment filled with joy, relief and pride.
Afterwards we drive for about an hour back to the lodge. Sitting quietly in the bus, I replay the past days in my mind, the effort, the landscapes, the summit moments. I know this experience will stay with me for a very long time.
Climbing Kilimanjaro: An Overview of the camps on the Lemosho Route
Along the Lemosho Route, you stay each night in well-organised camps designed to make climbing Kilimanjaro as comfortable as possible. The tents are sturdy, clean and neatly arranged in small groups for each team. Ahsante Tours provides a separate dining tent and kitchen tent. If you book the optional portable toilet and shower, you’ll have two additional small tents: the “shower” is a set of buckets filled with hot water and soap, and the toilet is a proper camping toilet. Each morning, hot water is brought straight to your tent so you can wash your face before breakfast.
Anyone climbing Kilimanjaro quickly realises that the camps are more than just places to sleep, they are spaces to rest, recharge and take in the incredible mountain scenery. Your team sets up everything before you arrive, and your duffel bag is already waiting inside your tent. All you need to focus on is the climb itself.
For me, the biggest challenge in the camps was the cold at night. Even with the warm sleeping bags provided by Ahsante, I sometimes had to wear every single layer I had, even my summit trousers, just to stay warm enough to sleep.
Tip: Bring a small travel pillow. I used my packing cubes as a makeshift pillow and ended up with a sore neck. Definitely not worth it!
Climbing Kilimanjaro and eating well: The food on the Lemosho route
The food on the Lemosho Route feels like a luxury. With Ahsante Tours, breakfast and dinner are served hot every day, and from day two onwards there’s often a warm lunch as well. In the afternoon, the dining tent is set up for tea and snacks such as nuts or popcorn which feels like the perfect energy boost between climbs.
Breakfast usually includes porridge, fresh fruit, pancakes, toast and eggs, so you start the day properly fuelled. Lunch and dinner are varied and well-balanced, with fresh vegetables, meat and carbs like potatoes, rice, chips or chapati.
If you have dietary restrictions or specific preferences, Ahsante Tours will make sure your needs are met. I honestly hadn’t expected much from the food, but each meal felt like a real treat. Considering the altitude and the effort it takes to cook up here, what the team manages to deliver is truly impressive.
Internet on the Lemosho Route
You shouldn’t expect a reliable internet connection while climbing Kilimanjaro. Signal is limited or completely absent for most of the route. The higher you go, the more likely it is to catch a brief connection. Some lucky climbers even managed a short video call from the summit. In a few camps, the signal was strong enough to send photos and WhatsApp messages without problems.
Altitude Sickness on the Lemosho Route
Anyone planning to climb Kilimanjaro should be aware that altitude can be a real challenge. The pace on the Lemosho Route is deliberately slow to allow your body to adjust gradually, but even so, the effects of altitude can sneak up on you.
For me, the first symptoms appeared after the climb to Lava Tower: a pounding heartbeat, headache, slight fever and a blocked nose. It feels as if your body is constantly fighting against the thin air. I drank four to six litres of water a day, took electrolytes regularly and used Diamox as a preventive measure (only after consulting my doctor). Together, these steps made a big difference in easing the symptoms.
My final thoughts on climbing Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho Route
The Lemosho Route is a true adventure, eight days of changing landscapes, physical challenge and unforgettable moments. Step by step, from the rainforest to the roof of Africa, you not only discover the wild beauty of Kilimanjaro but also learn about your own limits and strength.
For anyone who wants to climb Kilimanjaro, the Lemosho Route offers the perfect combination of scenic variety, time for acclimatisation and an outstanding team from Ahsante Tours, who guide you with care, humour and expertise. In the end, it’s not only about reaching the summit, but about everything you experience along the way.
If you’re looking for more hiking adventures, take a look around my blog — there you’ll find, for example, information about hiking in Tenerife with the 5 most beautiful trails.
