Lemosho Route 9 Days Trekking with Crater Overnight
- Best Time To Go : January – March and July - December
- Holiday Length : 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Holiday type : Trekking
Trekking Overview
The newest and longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro is the Northern Circuit. It starts at the Londorossi Gate in the west and spends the first two days traveling along the same route as the Lemosho Route. The trail veers northward near Lava Tower after passing the Shira plateau, taking the longer Northern Circuit rather than the more well-traveled Southern Circuit via Barranco Valley. The path hugs the mountain’s eastern flank, circling around its more sedate northern slopes. Compared to the other Kilimanjaro pathways, the Northern Circuit is longer and requires a minimum of eight or nine days to complete. Instead of spending the extra day at Shira Camp 2 for acclimatization, the eight-day hike goes directly to Moir Camp.
About Kilimanjaro’s Crater Camp
Crater camp is a difficult add-on that may be added to any route; it is not a route in and of itself. It entails spending the night in the crater’s bowl. A very remarkable encounter relished by a select group of daring climbers. The duration varies based on the path. Due to additional fees imposed by the park administration and increased wages provided to the workers, camping at the crater is somewhat pricey.
Day by Day Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival
After being picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and taken to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will give you an overview of the trip ahead of you and check that you have all the gear you need for the mountains. On this day, the missing equipment can be rented.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 2: Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) – Start Point 2,360 meters to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters)
The Lemosho Route and the Northern Circuit Route both start at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West. From Moshi, the travel to Londorossi Gate takes about two hours, while from Arusha, it takes much longer. At the gate, you register with the officials of Kilimanjaro National Park. After that, you’ll be taken higher up the mountain to the trailhead. Before starting the short first-day hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters), most tour providers serve lunch here. As you make your way towards your first camp, you might get lucky and see enormous species like buffalo and elephants that occasionally emerge onto the path from the rainforest. You will be fed dinner upon arrival at Mti Mkubwa Camp.
Distance: ~5.5km / 3 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 3: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) to Shira Camp Two (3,850 meters)
During the first hour of the second day, you will travel over the final stretch of the rainforest route before reaching the low alpine moorland zone, which leads directly onto the Shira Plateau. The hike is comparatively brief and easy, passing via Shira Camp 1 and coming to a finish at Shira Camp 2.
Distance:~14km / 9miles
Trekking time: 6-7 hours
Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 4: Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters) 7o Moir Camp (4,200 meters)
The fourth day involves a lengthy walk east through the “Garden of the Senecios” and into the high alpine desert. You go up to the famous Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters in the morning, where you will have lunch. Following lunch, you’ll continue on the northern circuit and descend to 4,200-meter Moir Camp (see above map). This is a crucial day for your hike since it will allow you to experience high altitude and then low altitude sleep, both of which are beneficial for acclimatization.
Distance: ~14km / 8 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 5: Moir Camp (4,200 meters) to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters)
On the fifth day, there is a climb out of Moir Valley that is somewhat difficult. Hikers can make a little detour to reach the 4,375-meter top of Little Lent Hill from here, and then retrace their steps to rejoin the Northern Circuit trail. From this point on, the route makes a succession of ascents and descents as it circles around Kibo’s northern slopes to reach Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters).The walk offers breathtaking views of the lowlands that stretch to the Kenyan/Tanzanian border and lie north of Kilimanjaro. After a strenuous day of hiking, you will arrive at Buffalo Camp shortly after midday, where you may eat lunch and relax.
Distance: ~12km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: High alpine zone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 6: Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters) to Rongai Third Cave (3,800 meters)
The sixth day begins with an ascent over Buffalo Ridge and a descent into Porfu Camp, where lunch is typically provided. After that, the path heads east over the northern slopes to 3,800 meters to the Rongai Third Cave. You should be feeling well acclimated to the altitude by now because the walk is shorter than it was the day before. It will not be too late in the afternoon when you reach the Third Cave.
Distance: ~8km / 5 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 7: 3rd Cave (3,800 Meters) to School Hut (4,800 meters)
The seventh day consists of a continuous ascent up and over the Saddle, which is situated between Mawenzi Peak and Kibo Peak. The hikers then proceed to trek up to School Hut (4,800 meters) in a southwest direction. You will be given an early dinner at School Hut, and afterward you should get some rest because you will need to get up before midnight in order to begin your summit attempt. Before you go to bed, don’t forget to gather all of your equipment, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, munchies, a headlamp, and a camera.
Distance: ~15km / 8 miles
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 8: School Hut (4,800 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 Meters) To Crater Camp (5790 Meters)
Before the sun rises, you will rise to begin your ascent of Uhuru Peak, often known as the Roof of Africa, by meandering up the switchbacks to Gilman’s Point and then climbing around the edge of the caldera! You will travel to Crater Camp inside the volcano after taking photos and admiring the vistas.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 9: Crater Camp (5,790m) to Millennium Camp (3790m)
After a leisurely breakfast in the morning, we start our descent by making our way down to Stella Point. From there, we descend down the scree slope, passing Barafu Camp and stopping briefly before reaching Millennium Camp for a lengthy and well-earned rest.
Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi
Approx. time taken: 11 – 13 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 10: Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
On the last day, there’s a quick climb from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters) through thick montane rainforest. You will need to sign out with the officials at the gate. They will also give you your official certificate; those who made it to Gilman’s Point will receive a green certificate, while those who reached Uhuru Peak will receive a gold certificate. Tipping your guide and porter is usual before you are driven back to your Moshi hotel.
Distance: ~10km / 6.5 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 11: Depart Tanzania
You have the entire day to relax after the hike before your return flight. You could visit Moshi town and pick up some souvenirs before going to the airport, depending on the time of your flight.
If you want to explore Tanzania even further, there are add-ons like safari and Zanzibar.
Meals: Breakfast Included
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1 Person - 3775/Person
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2 - 4 People - 3325/Person
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5 - 7 People - 3100/Person
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8 - 10 People - 2875/Person
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11 & Above - 2650/Person
Enquire This Trekking
Related Trekking Safaris
Includes and excludes
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
