A great route up Kilimanjaro allowing for some of the best (for Kilimanjaro) altitude aclimatisation on the way, helping to ensure greater success and less physical stress. Lemosho is a busy route though, even more so when the trail merges with the Machame route. You will definitely not feel like you have the mountain to yourself.
Climb Kilimanjaro Treks
Top 5 Highlights of Climbing Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro Treks & Tours
The only place on land where you can clearly see the curvature of the Earth, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
As you ascend through farmland, into lush rainforest that gives way to alpine meadows, and finally traverse across a lunar landscape; you will you reach the climax of your Mount Kilimanjaro trek. Immerging through the clouds, the snow-capped mountain of Kilimanjaro provides the stunning backdrop to the national park. Watch herds of elephants grazing alongside giraffes and zebras as they keep a watchful lookout for lions and hyenas.
Climbing Kilimanjaro will not only fill you with an immense sense of achievement, but also a sense of wonder as you gaze down at the natural beauty of Africa, admiring the endless scenery before it disappears over the horizon.
There are seven incredible routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The Rongai and Lemosho routes are much less crowded and take you on a breath taking journey through farmland, forests and alpine scenery. When taking the Lemosho Route, you’ll trek along the caldera of Shira Volcano and below Kibo’s icefields. As you take in some of the world’s most spellbinding views on this Kilimanjaro trek, you’ll experience an immense feeling of achievement like no other.
There is full porterage throughout your climb and each of our tours is accompanied by an expert guide who’ll not only provide you with the encouragement and motivation to continue when the going gets tough, but they’ll also share their knowledge about Kilimanjaro and the culture of Tanzania.
Our Kilimanjaro Treks
Ngumu – The Porters of Kilimanjaro
Exodus and Kilimanjaro
Exodus Travels has been leading Kilimanjaro treks for many years, providing expert guides for exceptional trips. We make every effort to work closely with the national park and local partners in Arusha, always ensuring the best standards of practice. We believe it’s of great importance to take good care of our porters and by sponsoring the Kilimanjaro porter project, we’re able to provide training, education and fair wages. As well as forming a rainy season school for porters and guides with The African Walking Company, Exodus is also a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), helping to improve working conditions.
Garry Ward Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Route
Victor Spencer Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho RouteExodus and their team, whether those based in the UK or on the ground in Tanzania, could not have acted more professionally or been more helpful in ensuring that I had a fantastic trip.
Our group’s all female team of guides, led by Lucia, with Joyce, Anna, Angela and Happiness did their utmost everyday with words of encouragement, smiles and gentle cajoling to steer us to the summit! It was like being looked after by a pride of lionesses!
Without the rest of Lucia’s team of porters, chefs etc, success would not have been possible.
The aim of the trek was to summit Kilimanjaro but by taking the Lemosho Route, it enabled us to enjoy, stunning scenery, interesting and unusual flora and fauna and perhaps most important of all, a little more time to acclimatise for the summit attempt.
Prospective trekkers should be aware that a sunrise at the top of Kibo is not guaranteed. The five of us who successfully summited, were greeted by a temperature of -10 deg C and very strong winds! Just glad I had so many layers on! All summit attempts for the previous night were cancelled.
This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life, including getting to know my seven fellow trekkers, who were great fun! Have a good look at Exodus, you will not be disappointed.Date of experience: 25 February 2024
mary dunne Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho RouteI loved every minute of this trip. We had a great group, 16 people. Our leader and porters were fantastic. The weather during the day was good. It was cold at night. Thankfully I brought a hot water bottle and the porters filled it for me at night. My only comment would be, that the sleeping bags which we hired were very poor quality. I think that they had been laundered too many times, hence there was no warmth in them. The sleeping bags were very small, just one size! Not sure that a well built man would be able to fit into one of them! I didn’t have any altitude sickness symptoms, but some of my fellow travellers did. The food was great, very plentiful and for me, no tummy problems. I had the right clothes for the trip and this made a huge difference. We had a proper toilet at each camp and that was great for us girls…! I just loved this trip, I would go again tomorrow. I am already looking at Everest Base Camp – I am hooked.
FAQs on Kilimanjaro
How hard is Kilimanjaro Trekking and how fit do you have to be?
Trekking Kilimanjaro is challenging; however, it requires no special expertise or mountaineering equipment. On our tours we allow plenty of time for acclimatisation, as well as soaking up the scenery. We suggest you have a good level of fitness for climbing Kilimanjaro – we want you to make the most out this awe-inspiring experience. However, should you encounter any trouble with your fitness you’re in safe hands, all our groups are led by experienced Chagga guides and porters, who are on hand to help and offer you encouragement. And, because our group sizes are small, you’ll have all the care and attention you need to help your Mount Kilimanjaro climb.
Are there guides when I’m climbing Kilimanjaro?
You can rest assured that when climbing Kilimanjaro, you will receive expert instruction from our first-class Chagga guides, who will be there to help and encourage you throughout your trek.
All our guides have comprehensive first aid training, and they carry portable oxygen to treat altitude sickness. We provide one guide for every two guests on our climbs – your safety is of paramount importance to us.
How long does it take to climb Kilimanjaro and what is the best month to do it?
Our Kilimanjaro trips have been designed to provide you with enough time to acclimatise for your Kilimanjaro trek and reach the 5895m summit. Our incredible trips start from eight days and involve six days of walking. With the option of extending your trip for a few days so you can explore the beautiful coast of Zanzibar.
The best months to climb Kilimanjaro are the driest months of year, especially January, February, August and September. But any time between January and mid-March or between June and October offers reasonable chances of good weather.
What are the routes to climb Kilimanjaro?
There are seven main routes that take you to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro: Lemosho, Rongai, Northern Circuit, Machame (Whiskey Route), Shira, Marangu and Umbwe. Each route has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right one for you. We would recommend taking either the Lemosho or Rongai route as they are much less crowded than the others. While Rongai is considered one of the easier routes owing to its more gradual ascent, Lemosho is often favoured for its more dramatic scenery.
How do you prevent altitude sickness when climbing Kilimanjaro?
Standing at 5,895m, Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa so it’s no surprise that trekking to the summit comes with its challenges. One challenge that is particularly dangerous is altitude sickness, with most climbers experiencing some symptoms nearer to the summit where there is almost 50% less oxygen than at sea level. These symptoms can include headache, nausea, loss of appetite and fatigue. To help avoid altitude sickness you should stay hydrated, take your time and walk slowly to conserve your energy, and opt for a longer route that allows you more time to acclimatise.
Are there toilets on Kilimanjaro?
You may be surprised to learn that this is a very common question to ask and even more surprised that the answer is yes, there are toilets on Kilimanjaro. Obviously, you shouldn’t expect the kind of toilets we have at home but on our Kilimanjaro tours, we do provide private tent toilets at each camp.
What facilities do the camps have on a Kilimanjaro trek?
On each of our treks, you’ll have full-service camping in a three-person tent, with a private toilet tent provided. Sleeping bags and mats are not provided so you need to bring your own. For an additional fee, you can reserve a single tent. There is a communal tent for breakfast and dinner, equipped with chairs, tables and a light. In the morning and afternoon, you’re given a bowl of hot water for washing, apart from at the highest camp where no water is available.
How do I book my Mount Kilimanjaro trek?
Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself by climbing Kilimanjaro in six days or would prefer to take your time and explore the wilderness, we have a tour for you or can create something bespoke. Please get in touch with one of our team.
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