9-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Lemosho Route: Guided Climb to Uhuru Peak | Kijani Tours

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfer to your hotel in Moshi. Meet your Kijani Tours guide for a full trek briefing and equipment check. Any missing mountain gear can be hired locally in Moshi. A good night's rest here is your first act of preparation for the climb ahead.

Trekking Highlights:

• Transfer Time: 3 hours
• Trekking Time: 2-3 hours
• Distance: 5 km /3.1 mi
• Altitude Change: +1,299 ft
• Overnight: Big Tree Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Your Northern Circuit trek begins at Londorossi Gate on Kilimanjaro's remote western slopes, the same entry point as the Lemosho Route. After registering with Kilimanjaro National Park authorities, you trek into ancient montane rainforest toward Mti Mkubwa Camp, which translates from Swahili as Big Tree Camp. Elephants and buffalo occasionally cross this section of the trail. Dinner is served on arrival at camp.

Route Highlights:

• Altitude Change: +1,299 ft
• Overnight: Big Tree Camp
• Transfer Time: 3 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and  Dinner

Leaving the rainforest behind, today's trek carries you up onto the expansive Shira Plateau, one of Kilimanjaro's most dramatic landscapes. The transition from dense forest to open moorland happens gradually, with wide panoramic views opening as you gain altitude. Passing Shira Camp 1, you continue to Shira Camp 2 at 3,850 metres for the night.

Route Highlights

• Altitude Change: +2,359 ft
• Overnight: Shira Hut 1
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

The longest day of the first half takes you east through the extraordinary Garden of the Senecios, a landscape of giant groundsels unique to Kilimanjaro's high altitude zones. You climb to Lava Tower and the Shark's Tooth rock formation at 4,600 metres for lunch before descending to Moir Camp at 4,200 metres. This classic climb-high, sleep low profile is one of the key acclimatisation advantages built into the Northern Circuit itinerary.

Route highlights:

• Altitude Change: +1,283 ft
• Overnight: Shira Hut 2
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

A moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley opens into Kilimanjaro's remote northern slopes, the quietest and least trekked section of the entire mountain. An optional detour to the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 metres rewards those who take it with exceptional cross-border views stretching into Kenya. The route then skirts around Kibo's northern face to Buffalo Camp, arriving in the early afternoon for rest and lunch.

Route Highlights:

• Altitude Change:  +2,401 ft; -641 m / -2,103 ft
• Overnight: Barranco Camp
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided.

Climbing the Buffalo Ridge before descending into Pofu Camp for lunch, today's trek continues east along Kilimanjaro's northern slopes toward Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 metres. By this stage of the Northern Circuit, most trekkers are well acclimatised and moving with growing confidence. You arrive at camp in the mid-afternoon with the summit push now two days away.

Route Highlights:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are available
• Overnight: Karanga Valley

The Saddle, the wide plateau stretching between Kibo and Mawenzi Peak, is one of Kilimanjaro's most otherworldly landscapes. Today you cross it, climbing steadily southwest to School Hut at 4,800 metres. An early dinner is served on arrival. Prepare all your summit gear before sleeping: warm clothing, insulated water bottles, a headlamp, snacks, and a camera. Your midnight wake-up call is hours away.

Route Highlights:

• Altitude Change: +628 m / +2,060 ft
• Overnight: Barafu Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

The summit push begins around midnight to avoid the worst of the heat and wind. The trail climbs a rocky path past Hans Meyer Cave before a series of steep switchbacks leads to Gillman's Point at 5,681 metres on the crater rim. From Gillman's Point, a further two hours of ridgeline trekking brings you to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres, the highest point in Africa and the Roof of the African continent. Sunrise from the summit is one of the most extraordinary views on earth. After your summit celebration and photographs, you descend via Stella Point and Barafu Camp to Millennium Camp for a well-earned meal and rest.

Route highlights:

• Altitude Change: +4,046 ft

After an early breakfast, you complete your descent through the forest zone to the Mweka Gate, where your Kijani Tours vehicle waits to transfer you back to Moshi. Certificates are issued at the gate for all trekkers who reach Uhuru Peak. Back in Moshi, a celebratory dinner marks the end of one of the most rewarding physical and mental journeys of your life.

Routes Highlights:

Altitude Change: -1473 m / -4,832 ft

Transfer Time: 45 minutes

Meals: Breakfast

After your climb, unwind along Tanzania's 800km Indian Ocean coastline, from Tanga and Pangani in the north to the remote coral reefs of Mafia Island in the south, before flying home from Julius Nyerere International Airport.