10 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Safaris via 8 Days Lemosho Route With Crater Overnight
- Best Time To Go : January – March and July - December
- Holiday Length : 8 Days / 7 Nights
- Holiday type : Trekking
Trekking Overview
8 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro with Crater Overnight
By Sana Wild Experience
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is more than reaching the summit — it’s about how you get there. The 8 Days Lemosho Route is widely considered the most scenic and successful trail on the mountain, offering exceptional acclimatization and breathtaking landscapes from rainforest to alpine desert.
At Sana Wild Experience, we elevate this journey even further with a rare Crater Overnight experience. After summiting Uhuru Peak, you descend into the crater and spend a night at Crater Camp — an unforgettable opportunity that only a small percentage of climbers experience.
The Lemosho Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the quiet western side, crossing the dramatic Shira Plateau before joining the southern circuit. Its gradual ascent profile gives trekkers one of the highest summit success rates on the mountain, especially on our carefully paced 8-day itinerary.
This trek is designed for safety, comfort, and personal achievement — never rushed. With professional local guides, strategic acclimatization, and a focus on responsible trekking, your journey becomes more than a climb. It becomes a story you carry for life.
If you’re looking for the most scenic, safest, and most rewarding way to climb Kilimanjaro — this is it.
Why Choose the 8 Days Lemosho Route?
The Lemosho Route is widely considered the most scenic and one of the most successful routes on Kilimanjaro. As it located on the western part of the mountain, it offers:
• Fewer crowds at the beginning
• Gradual acclimatization for better summit success
• Diverse landscapes from rainforest to alpine desert
• Spectacular panoramic views
Unlike shorter itineraries, the 8-day Lemosho Route allows your body to adjust properly to altitude — increasing your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak safely and comfortably.
What Makes the Crater Overnight Unique?
Most climbers celebrate at Uhuru Peak and descend the same day.
But we go deeper. After summiting, you descend into the crater and spend a magical night at Crater Camp — one of the most exclusive experiences on Kilimanjaro. Sleeping near the glaciers, under a sky full of stars, at over 5,700 meters, is something only a small percentage of trekkers ever do.
It’s quiet. Raw. Unfiltered.
You wake up surrounded by volcanic formations and ancient ice fields — a view few humans ever witness.
Why Climb with Sana Wild Experience?
Choosing the right operator can make or break your Kilimanjaro experience. At Sana Wild Experience, we prioritize:
✅ Safety First
Experienced, certified mountain guides
Daily health monitoring with pulse oximeters
Emergency oxygen and safety protocols
✅ Ethical & Responsible Tourism
We support fair wages and proper treatment for porters, following recommended ethical standards for mountain crews.
✅ Personalized Service
We keep our groups small to ensure attention, comfort, and a supportive team atmosphere.
Summit Success Rate on the Lemosho Route
Our longer acclimatization schedule via Lemosho significantly improves your chances of standing on the Roof of Africa.
This 8-day Kilimanjaro trekking safari is ideal if you:
• Want highest summit success rate possible
• Prefer a scenic and less crowded start
• Dream of a unique crater overnight experience
• Value safety, sustainability, and quality service
You don’t need technical climbing skills — just determination, preparation, and the right team beside you.
When Is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro?
The best months for the Lemosho Route are typically:
January to March
June to October
These months typically provide clearer skies and more consistent weather, creating better conditions for trekking.
Acclimatization & Safety Strategy
Climbing the Lemosho Route with Sana Wild Experience means prioritizing both successful acclimatization and uncompromised safety. Our approach is carefully structured to maximize your summit success while safeguarding your health throughout the entire journey.
The Lemosho Route is renowned for its gradual ascent profile, allowing more time for altitude adaptation. We follow the “climb high, sleep low” principle, maintain a carefully paced itinerary, and include additional acclimatization opportunities to help your body adjust naturally.
Your safety is supported by experienced mountain guides, daily health monitoring (including oxygen saturation checks), emergency response protocols, and high-quality camping equipment.
Your Kilimanjaro Story Starts Here
Climbing Kilimanjaro isn’t about rushing to the top.
It’s about embracing every step — the rainforest humidity, the golden sunsets over the Shira Plateau, the silence before summit push, and the unforgettable stillness of the crater overnight.
With Sana Wild Experience, you don’t just climb a mountain.
You live it.
Ready to Trek Kilimanjaro via the 8 Days Lemosho Route?
Contact Sana Wild Experience today to start planning your 8 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking with Crater Overnight and take the first step toward standing on the highest point in Africa.
The mountain is calling. Are you ready to answer?
8 Days Lemosho Route Itinerary Overview
DAY 1: Arrival
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 2: Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)
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 covered: 7km / 4.3mi
Approx. time taken: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 3: Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)
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 covered: 16.5km / 10.3mi
Approx. time taken: 9 – 10hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 4: Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
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 covered: 10km / 6.2mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 5: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
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 covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 6: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
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 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit.
Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 7: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) to Crater Camp (5,790m)
Wake before dawn to start your summit approach. You’ll reach Uhuru Peak in the early afternoon, when few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier. Crater camp is not a route in it’s own right but a challenging extension which in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers.
Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 5-6 hours & 1-2hours to Crater.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 8: Crater Camp (5,790m) to Millennium Camp (3790m)
In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on a scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi
Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 9: Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Today you walk 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 your arranged hotel in Moshi.
Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi
Approx. time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 10: Depart Tanzania
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
Meals: Breakfast Included
Combine Your Trek with Tanzania Safari Tours
After conquering Kilimanjaro, extend your adventure with unforgettable Tanzania safari tours. Explore world-famous wildlife destinations such as:
We create seamless mountain-to-safari packages, giving you the ultimate Tanzania experience in one journey.
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1 Person - 3400/Person
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2 - 4 People - 3000/Person
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5 - 7 People - 2800/Person
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8 - 10 People - 2600/Person
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11 & Above - 2400/Person
Enquire This Trekking
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8 Days Lemosho Route Cost & Inclusions
What is included in this trekking?
Items that are included in the cost of the trekking price.
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your hotel
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
- Sleeping Mattress
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
What is included in this trekking?
Items that are not included in the cost of the trekking price.
Tanzania Visa
International and domestic flights
Hotel (available as an optional addon)
Transfers (available as an optional addon)
Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
Tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
