Take the most scenic route up Africa’s tallest mountain, the adventure enhanced by our expert guides, porters and cooks
Scale Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route, considered the most beautiful of the seven established trails up Tanzania’s mightiest mountain. It’s no easy task, but this trip has been designed to maximise your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak at the very top – we have one of the best summit success rates of any operator here. Our eight days on the slopes is longer than most (allowing more time to acclimatise), while larger-than-normal tents, full porterage throughout and chef-prepped meals make the journey as comfortable as possible.
Why trek with us?
One of the highest summit success rates of any operator on Kilimanjaro
One guide to every two trekkers on summit day – essential for maximising your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak
Acclimitisation day built into trip to improve success rates
Larger-than-normal tents make the trek that little more comfortable
Exodus is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, which aims to improve the working conditions of porters
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5995
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5995
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This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5995
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 563
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5995
Book with USD 1498 deposit
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 563
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5995
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 563
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5995
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Availability
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The adventure begins at our much-loved hotel in Arusha, the gateway for your Kilimanjaro trek. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time for a dip in the pool or to relax in the lovely gardens.
Around 6pm, sayjambo (that’s hello in Swahili) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Meet your Kilimanjaro Chief Guide who will give a briefing on all aspects of the trip, including the distribution of any hired equipment you have booked. Please also bring your passport, insurance details and flight details.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Tanzanian welcome by arranging a group dinner together.
Want to extend your stay? Speak to your sales representative to book extra nights.
There will be a trip briefing this afternoon/evening. Please bring with you your passport and insurance details, and your air ticket details. The briefing will cover all aspects of your trip and will include the distribution of any hired equipment you have booked.
We transfer (67mi/108km) to Lemosho entrance gate (6,890ft/2,100m) in the morning, passing between Kilimanjaro and the horseshoe-shaped volcanic crater of Mount Meru. In the short distance before reaching the Lemosho trail head gate, we drive through farmland and plantations. The last 3mi (5km) of the road to the park gate are poor quality, particularly after rain, and the drive there should be considered part of the adventure.
After completing the necessary registration formalities, we often have lunch in the designated tourist shelter before starting our walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through lush forest and an area with a variety of wildlife, including buffalos. We camp at Lemosho Forest camp (8,695ft/2,650m).
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 4mi (7km)
Activity hours: 3-4
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
3
Explore Shira Plateau; camp at Shira One
This morning begins, as all do on the trail, with hot tea brought to your tent – a very welcome wake-up. Today’s hike starts in lush montane forest before ascending into a moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with views across the plains, opening out as we reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially if the afternoon mists cloak the landscape. We camp in the centre of the plateau at Shira One (11,645ft/3,550m).
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 5mi (8km)
Activity hours: 6-7
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
4
Walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral to camp at Shira Hut
Enjoy a day to help acclimatisation and explore the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations of the plateau. We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. The views from our camp near Shira Hut (12,600ft/3,840m) of Mount Meru floating on the clouds are unforgettable. The afternoon is free to relax, enjoying those views and getting to know each other even better.
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 6mi (10km)
Activity hours: 4-5
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
5
Descend to camp at Great Barranco valley
We have a morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, walking on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (14,930ft/4,550m), we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (12,795ft/3,900m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below, including the Barranco Wall, which we tackle tomorrow.
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 5mi (8km)
Activity hours: 5-7
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
6
Over the Barranco Wall to Karanga
A short, steep scramble up the famed Barranco Wall provides us with a different challenge and leads us to an undulating trail on the southeastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the southern icefields. The terrain changes to volcanic scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and a powerful sense of mountain wilderness.
Our next camp is at Karanga (13,125ft/4,000m), a short distance away. The valley floor has the last water point on the approach to Barafu and we camp on the higher sides of the valley with views towards the glaciers of the southern icefields.
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 3mi (5km)
Activity hours: 4-5
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
7
Steep ascent to Barafu campsite
The trail follows a path on compacted scree with wide views ahead including the Barafu Ridge, where our camp lies. The trail climbs to reach the Barafu campsite (15,090ft/4,600m) for lunch, after which there is a short acclimatisation walk to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (15,750ft/4,800m). The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent and includes a very early night.
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 2mi (3km)
Activity hours: 3-5
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
8
Reach Stella Point for sunrise; to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa; descend to Millennium Camp
We start our ascent around midnight so we can reach the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace takes us to Stella Point (18,815ft/5,735m) in about five or six hours. We rest there for a short time to enjoy sunrise over Mawenzi.
Those who are still feeling strong can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft/5,895m) – congratulations, you’ve made it! Standing at the highest point in Africa, taking your photo at the Uhuru Peak sign and knowing you have climbed one of the Seven Summits is a moment that will stay with you forever!
The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast; after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (12,470ft/3,800m) at Millennium Camp.
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Distance covered: 7mi (11km)
Activity hours: 11-15
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
9
To Mweka Gate; transfer to Arusha
Today is a sustained descent on a well-constructed path through lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the national park gate at Mweka (5,415ft/1,650m) where we meet our vehicle and drive through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. The shower, beer and swimming pool are tantalisingly close! We return by bus (62mi/100km) to Arusha.
Spend this morning resting in the hotel garden by the pool or exploring Arusha for souvenirs if you have time before your flight home.
Alternatively, if you’d like to recuperate after climbing Kili, speak to your sales representative to book a relaxing break on idyllic Zanzibar or an unforgettable safari adventure encompassing three different national parks.
Meals included: Breakfast
Extend Your Trip
Zanzibar Beach Extension
End your trip on a (very) relaxed note by heading to the idyllic island of Zanzibar. Stroll along powdery white-sand beaches, discover the offshore reef, or simply unwind under a palm tree. Stay for as many nights as you wish in a choice of secluded beachfront retreats, luxury resorts or in the cultural heart of Stone Town.
Let us know your preferences and we’ll take care of all the details, including flights, transfers and accommodation: all you need to do is relax.
Safari Add-on Tour - after Lemosho Route
This add-on tour is the perfect introduction to the wildlife of Africa, taking in three unique national parks over three days. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area provides acts like a giant enclosure, providing refuge and habitat for a vast number of animals. Tarangire National Park has the largest number of elephants in the northern part of Tanzania and is dotted with baobab trees. Finally, Lake Manyara National Park is small but supports a high density of mammals including tree-climbing lions.
The detailed itinerary is here, or speak to your sales representative for more details.
Essential Info
Is this trip for you?
The trip is rated Activity Level 6 (Challenging & Tough). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
The summit attempt is graded Activity Level 7 (Tough) because of the high altitude and the level of physical effort needed. The rest of the trek is graded Activity Level 5 (Challenging), more because of the high altitude and extended wilderness camping than the difficulty of walking; hence the overall grading of this trek as Activity Level 6 (Challenging/Tough).
Walking conditions: This is a challenging trek, reaching an altitude of 19,340ft (5,895m). Even if you consider yourself fit, you might still find the climb very hard, depending on how well your body acclimatises to high altitude. There is no scientific way to determine how easily you will acclimatise; the acclimatisation process can also differ from climb to climb. Most of the trails on the Kilimanjaro trek are well defined and good quality but some forest sections are slippery and moorland paths can be very wet in poor weather conditions. The final ascent to Uhuru Peak is almost exclusively on scree and loose rock without permanent footpaths but no technical skills are required. During the trip, we spend time at both high and low altitude, experiencing both extremely cold and quite hot conditions. You should be prepared for an early start every day on Kilimanjaro.
Altitude: This trip spends time above 9,842ft (3,000m); please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness.
Maximum altitude: 19,341ft (5,895m)
Maximum sleeping altitude: 15,420ft (4,700m)
Equipment: It is essential you are well prepared for this adventure. Please review our Kilimanjaro Kit List to make sure you have all the items you need. The Essential Equipment section on the Trip Notes also provides more information on what you need to bring.
Under 18s: We believe this trek is manageable for a strong 16- or 17-year-old with previous experience of sustained trekking and possibly altitude. Under 18s should be accompanied by an adult on the trek and must pay an additional fee in advance (ask your sales representative for prices) for an accompanying guide. This guide provides support throughout and is available should they need to come off the mountain at any point in the trek.
Tanzania Flight Safety: The EU has recently introduced restrictions on all Tanzanian-registered flight operators. These restrictions are related to operational compliance by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority, rather than to individual airlines themselves. On this itinerary, the only routes affected are the Zanzibar Extension travelling between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, or the optional hot air balloon flight. While domestic flying in Tanzania requires careful consideration, we want to reassure you that Exodus only works with Tanzanian carriers that are either accredited by internationally recognised safety auditing bodies (IOSA & ISSA) or have been approved by our independent aviation safety auditors. Independent audits include annual on-the-ground visits to carriers based in Tanzania. If any concerns arise about the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will immediately remove it from our operations and only reinstate it once our air-safety experts are satisfied that it meets the required standards.
Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Recommended arrival time: There is a welcome briefing around 6pm at the start hotel. Hotel check‐in is normally from around midday. Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport depending on traffic. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Catching your return flight
There’s one group transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Arusha Location end: Arusha
Vaccinations and Health
Tanzania
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rabies, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Protection against malaria is essential. Please seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic on the best course of action for all the above. Additionally, dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
You may also be required to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate (or an exemption certificate) if you’re coming from (or transiting for more than 12 hours through) a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. If you’re visiting Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania, border officials have been known to demand proof of yellow fever vaccination or an exemption certificate.
Visa
Tanzania
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Tanzania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
Please note, it is possible to get the visa online (from US$50), but this can take between 10 days and three weeks. For more information and to apply for the visa, please visit www.visa.immigration.go.tz. If you are flying into Kilimanjaro Airport, we recommend arranging the visa in advance as the visa-on-arrival process has become more complicated and can now take longer.
Food & Drink
All meals during the climb are included. Please allow about US$30-US$50 for the two lunches (days 1 and 10) not included.
On trek, the emphasis is on a varied and well-balanced diet with a greater amount of fresh fruit and soup to maximise the daily intake of fluids.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. The availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent in Tanzania and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home.
The menu has a high liquid and carbohydrate content, the two important elements for successful climbing. At higher altitudes, stimulants (such as coffee) and less digestible foods (such as meat) are not recommended. Our evening meal at the highest camp on Kilimanjaro is a meatless stew as our experience shows this to be the ideal preparation for the summit day. At mealtimes, a selection of hot drinks is available. Soup is served twice daily.
Daily meals
Bed tea: Tea or coffee served in your tent.
Breakfast: Seasonal fresh fruit (mango/banana/watermelon), porridge, cooked eggs, sausage, bacon and toast.
Energy snacks, such as biscuits, bananas and chocolate bars, are provided for the daily walk
Lunch: Either a packed lunch on longer days or, more usually, a hot lunch served in camp by a small team who have raced ahead of the clients. A hot lunch typically consists of soup, bread or pancakes, cheese, tuna, jam, peanut butter, pasta salad and cake.
Afternoon tea: Served in late afternoon. It is an opportunity to drink lots of hot drinks and snack on peanuts or popcorn.
Dinner: The main meal of the day and always consists of three courses: soup and bread, followed by the main dish, which could be rice, potatoes or pasta with fish, meat or vegetables, and is followed by a dessert often of fruit.
Summit snacks: While we provide enough food for the climb, we recommend you bring some of your favourite snacks and keep them for the summit day. The summit day is a long, tough climb and having your favourite snacks can provide a very welcome boost.
Water
While the water we provide on Kilimanjaro is suitable for drinking you may wish to be extra safe and treat it with your own water-purification tablets.
Weather
Although Tanzania lies in the tropics, the temperature depends more on altitude than on season. Northern Tanzania has temperatures around 16C-23C (61F-73F) in August, rising to 18C-28C (64F-82F) in February. The long rains, during which we do not operate trips, occur from late March to May, and there are intermittent short rains in November and December, though the latter have no great effect on mountain climbs.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year, but it is usually very wet in the rainforest in April and May. January and February are the warmest months. Above the cloud line, the days are warm and pleasant, with temperatures in sunlight often above 20C (68F), but the nights can get very cold. It is possible for temperatures to get as low as -20C (-4F) at Barafu campsite, our highest overnight stop. The daily weather pattern on the mountain tends to be clear mornings with an afternoon cloud build-up that often clears before sunset. In the (European) summer, the weather is usually cloudy at lower altitudes and often sunny above 11,480ft (3,500m). Please note, mountain weather conditions are never totally predictable and we may meet wet and snowy conditions at any time.
Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge and Kilimanjaro camps
On this adventure, we spend seven nights camping in three-person tents and two nights in a hotel.
Arusha: Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge (nights 1 and 9)
Before and after our time on Kilimanjaro, we stay at the Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge. In a peaceful setting just outside Arusha, this property has 40 spacious thatched cottages dotted throughout a beautiful garden overlooked by Mount Meru. There’s also an excellent restaurant serving African and international dishes, a bar and a swimming pool. It is also possible to book a massage for when you return from the trek.
Kilimanjaro: Full-service camping (nights 2-8)
Although conditions are basic on the mountain, the camping we experience is one of the best available on the Lemosho Route. We sleep in Vango Halo Pro 300 tents regardless of whether you have made a twin-share or single supplement booking. These are spacious three-person tents that are ideal for the conditions on Kilimanjaro. Our camp life is about as comfortable as it gets on Kili, with a communal mess tent, where we gather as a group and eat breakfast and dinner, and a private toilet tent. We also ensure there is a bowl of hot washing water for you in the morning and again after the walk at an agreed time in the afternoon. The only exception is the highest camp where there is no water source.
Worth knowing
The campsites on Kilimanjaro are designated by the national park and are mainly stone/dirt. They are not all level and can be crowded in peak season.
Handwashing water, treated with Dettol, is available along with soap before all meals, and everyone is strongly advised to make use of it.
The toilet tent has toilet paper within it, but we recommend that you bring your own toilet paper and wet wipes.
All camping equipment is provided except for sleeping bags, sleeping mats and pillows.
The Best tour to climb Kilimanjaro - First Class Standard
We have just returned from this amazing trip.
What a wonderfully experience it was.
David the tour leader was absolutely fantastic.
He was strong and decisive leader and was exactly what we all needed to complete this tough challenge.
The porters were unbelievable and every bit of credit you read about them in other reviews is so very well deserved.
See for yourselves how dedicated to you they are.
It’s like a small village constantly on the move up the mountain together.
The food was first class and there were a lot of choices for everybody.
To be fair we all ate really well and you certainly wont go hungry at all.
The mess tent had a great vibe as you will find similar people wanting to do similar things as yourselves.
Our group of 11 had a great balance.
Me and my wife were the only couple together and all the others had come despite being in relationships.
Advice
Don’t take a book or a kindle. There is very little ‘down time’ so you wont get the time you think you will get because there is always something to do.
I thought we’d have hours of waiting around in the afternoons but it never worked out that way.
Sometimes everybody would be tired and take a nap other times a card game would commence.
You’ll be amazed at how quickly the hours go.
You will have a great group of people believe me.
You booked this trip for the same reasons that they did so embrace it.
You will wear a lot of the same clothes, just ensure you have your summit night clothes fresh and ready to go.
Because we went in early February there were hot days and cold nights.
Your clothes wont smell and neither will you so take a little roll on deodorant and use it every morning.
You will get a wishy washy (bowl of hot water) every morning and most afternoons too.
Remember it’s nothing like Glastonbury camping mainly because you will always be sober.
Believe it or not but the 15kg allowance is plenty.
No it really is.
Don’t stress about packing it’s all going to be OK…
Don’t go mad with your snacks as there is unlimited chocolate and biscuits provided by Exodus.
The only small complaint was that the toilet tent was a bit shabby and the zipper needed attention.
The toilet itself was absolutely fine.
I’m sure Exodus can afford a new toilet tent.
The organisation was first class and a lot of friendships developed.
It’s amazing how it’s all arranged and so well put together.
I would recommend this trip 100% and Exodus as a company have got you covered.
They might cost a little more than other tours but you get what you pay for on the mountain.
Most Inspirational Moment
One of our guides on summit night Lucy dragging me to the top when I was exhausted.
“Get on your feet!” She would shout to me.
I would never have submitted without her.
Everyone at Exodus was inspiring.
Fred, William, Angela, Anna and of course our leader David and Mama Lucy (my sister from a different Mister) were inspirational.
Milton and his team in the cooking tent were magicians.
Thank you to you all.
Thoughts on Group Leader
David was a solid leader who was impeccable, faultless.
He made you believe in him and respect him.
When he spoke you listened.
He didn’t mess he wanted to get everyone to summit and he cared about his group and his staff.
Advice for Potential Travellers
No books (you wont have time)
Wear the same clothes apart from summit night.
Go easy on your snacks as Exodus supply plenty themselves.
Take hand sanitiser
You only need one hat.
Wet wipe washes are fine and wear merino wool undies.
Small packet of Rennie (heartburn)
You wont need any hair products as you will be wearing a hat for most of the time.
No one ‘dresses up’
Garry Ward
Reviewed July 2024
Excellent adventure
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
For me this is not a personal thing but it is watching the porters. They carry all the camp gear and our kit bags and soon zip past us after we leave camp in the morning for our day of hiking. Often they were wearing clothing and footwear that is questionable for the environment yet they complete their job with incredible stoicism.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Lucia was excellent in every way. Three of our main guide team were women. Lucia, Anna and Happiness, we also had Angela for a couple of days at the start too. Brown was the fourth and only male guide we had from start to finish. Freddie, one of the helping porters who we got to know serving our food in the mess tent, stepped up and worked as an assistant guide on the final summit stage. He did a great job too. Lucia clearly earned and commanded so much respect from everyone both us as clients and the rest of her team. She and Anna were very strong, standing our ground on the Barranco wall where it is easy for climbers to be pushed aside by the army of porters also ascending the same narrow route. All our guides set a really good walking pace that made it all that much easier. Lucia told us that she sends a member of her team ahead to the next camp to try and get us good spots at the camp sites before everyone else. This often worked and was a good tactic for us all.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This was my second summit of Kilimanjaro. The first time was by the Rongai route, this time the Lemosho. I naturally compared the two. Lemosho definitely wins for altitude aclimatisiation over Rongai. The lay of the land and two more days of ascent help greatly with this. I will also say Lemosho is slightly more scenic along the trail than Rongai but not massively. Where Lemosho fails is crowds. Just about every adventure travel operator going, including Exodus generally plug Lemosho as the premier route up Kilimanjaro. Add to this the fact the also popular Machame route and Lemosho route merge on the third day, the crowds of porters and hikers can be significant. A few times, I saw a near unbroken line of people as far ahead on the trail as I could see and the same looking back where we'd come from. This also makes for very large and crowded camp sites. On summit night it took us about 20 minutes of "pole pole" walking just to clear the Barranco camp. A few years back on the Rongai there were four or five total groups , including us, moving up the mountain at the same time. I also found the final summit climb on Rongai to be easier under foot but one of our guides told me that it may no longer be as good as I remember it due to the fact with climate change, the ground does not as reliabley freeze hard at night as it once did. Sometimes making it heavy going on the loose small stoney trail. As for other things. Kilimanjaro is a dusty place, which ever way you go, and it gets everywhere. Be prepared to be mucky. British travellers don't need a plug adapter for Tanzania, it's the same plug. I travelled in July. I did not see or hear a single mosquito from start to finish. All your drinking water on the mountain is provided and is chlorinated by the crew so there is no need to bring your own water treatment. The barranco wall is no where near as bad as you may sometimes hear (apart from the numerous false summits) but it is a hands on job. Some light gloves like long finger mountain bike gloves would be handy for it. More so when Lucia told us the porters frequently spit on the rocks you're gripping on to.
Victor Spencer
Reviewed March 2024
Lemosho route to Uhuru the summit of Kilimanjaro!
Exodus 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
Most Inspirational Moment
Summit night. To quote one of our fellow group members after summiting: " We looked deeply into ourselves, all through a very dark and stormy night on an unrelenting climb, faced real adversity and prevailed!" Sounds a bit melodramatic but all of the previous night's summit attempts were cancelled because of the weather.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Lucia Kivio and her assistant guides, Anna, Angela, Happiness and Joyce were superb. As stated above, I couldn't have summited without them.
Advice for Potential Travellers
1) Pole, pole, the slower the better. 2) Drink more than you think you will need. 3) Eat plenty, it's easy not to but you need as much energy as possible. 4) A positive attitude is essential, one step at a time, only think about one day at a time and enjoy. 5) Enjoy the company of your group and support each other.
mary dunne
Reviewed October 2023
Fantastic Experience
I 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.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved the Baranco wall and reaching the summit early on summit day. Getting there early, meant easy access to the Kilimanjaro sign and to be able to take photos. Those who got there later, had "arguments" with fellow trekkers to get a photo at the sign. The way that the guides and porters work is inspirational. They were such a happy bunch. We loved the singing.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leader was fantastic, very kind and caring. She had a great team around her. All the porters were just fantastic. Great attitude, positive, friendly, happy. Amazing people.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a hot water bottle, have the right clothes,(lots of layers) consider taking your own sleeping bag (right size for you and with the right level of warmth). Maybe get some clothes in the charity shop that you are willing to donate or leave behind at the end of the trip. These are useful for the porters and guides in the future. My clothes got very dirty, I am still trying to get them clean! Think about leaving your trainers/hiking boots for the guides and porters. Their shoes and clothes are not the same quality that we are used to.
Alex Brooks
Reviewed November 2022
Trip of a Lifetime
This trip is well worth booking, challenging yet rewarding I am so pleased we chose to do this through Exodus. The food is great, it’s hard to believe food to such a high standard is prepared in a tent.
Most Inspirational Moment
The team who helped us throughout the week are so inspirational. They work so hard and yet always have a smile on their faces. There is no way we would have completed summit day without their expertise and support. We were a group of 6 with a team of 23!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our team leader was called Happiness and she was amazing in everyday. Supportive, professional, inspiring and so experienced. Happiness ran a great team, always made sure we were feeling OK, checked how much we were eating and drinking and made sure we dug deep to get to the top. Her assistant guides Lucy, Simon, Pendaely and Floriam (for summit day) were equally amazing. They all work so well together. Nothing can prepare you for how difficult the summit walk is and without good guides it would be impossible to make it.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The tents are small so if travelling alone I think the single supplement is money vety well spent! I also think arriving a couple of days early really helps prepare for the climb. The whole trip is extremely dusty so bring plenty of spare clothes! One of the members of our trip hired a sleeping bag and it wasn't warm enough, every camp is cold so do research and bring a good sleeping bag and roll mat.
Anne Weare
Reviewed November 2022
A fabulous bucket list trek
A tough but inspiring adventure that provides stunning scenery, great camaraderie and the realisation of a bucket list dream
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro with a group of people who had become as close as family and enjoying the success together - knowing that we had conquered our collective struggles and achieved something that had challenged us.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Happiness was simply the best. She was organised, informative, supportive and motivational. She got the measure of each member of the group very quickly and identified any weaknesses so she, along with the assistant guides, could lend a hand immediately it was required. She gave us confidence and instilled a belief that we could do it. She was also funny, fun and great company.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go for it!!! Find yourself a really comprehensive kit list. I used Mark Whitman's https://www.climbkilimanjaroguide.com/kilimanjaro-kit-list/ Technical kit can be expensive but there are loads of deals on line and I found some excellent bits and pieces in charity shops. When you read the suggested tip amount on the trip notes it might seem a bit high - it is not. The work the team do is phenomenal and they absolutely deserve it. Battery power banks worked better than solar chargers
Don Collins
Reviewed October 2022
TYR: Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route
The overall trip was a great success. The Kia Lodge was basic but clean. The initial transfer from Kia Lodge to the Moivaro hotel was smooth. The Moivaro Coffee plantation hotel was a good quality hotel with good facilities. The journey to Lemosho Gate was as expected. The 8 day hike was well led, well supported and the food was plentiful and of good quality. The chef did a superb job. The tents could do with an upgrade, and the groundsheets were a tad smaller than necessary. The support staff were magnificent and all played their parts in making this a memorable journey. The return to Moivaro was as expected although some of the admin could have been completed quicker to allow more time at the hotel after 8 days hiking. The private transfer back to Jaro airport was a mess! Transport did not arrive on time, after chaser call, Exodus admin staff member (who did her utmost) arrived to pick us up in private car about 20 mins later but ran out of petrol. Taxi was flagged and passenger ejected. Private taxi then tried to play catch-up and had to stop to fill up before rushing us to the airport exceeding limits, risky overtaking and honking horn. We got to the airport…..but not a particularly satisfactory end to the trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the summit along with other team members and the 'crew' who were particularly helpful and attentive. The efforts of the entire support staff were truly marvelous and they appeared to work well with their guides and trip leader David.
Thoughts on Group Leader
David was an excellent leader and demonstrated his skills and capability throughout the entire climb
Advice for Potential Travellers
Prepare well, only take what you need and embrace the spirit of teamwork.
Claire Scrafton
Reviewed November 2019
Fabulous Adventure
While summit night was very challenging due to a snow blizzard and extreme cold the overall trip was very well led by our Chief guide David, the porters were wonderful, the food was amazing considering we camping for 8 days and our group of 10 bonded quickly as a team and were all very supportive and encouraging of each other.
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting back to base camp ⛺️ after making time the summit in horrendous weather conditions
Thoughts on Group Leader
David was very talented leader in how he supported and advised us as a group and his leadership of the team of 43 porters /assistant guides who supported us. His approach was authoritative but very kind.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go for it, it’s tough but the feeling of satisfaction is amazing m. I’m no athlete and suffer from asthma but the guides let me walk at my own pace and I made it!!
Dorothy Walker
Reviewed November 2019
This fantastic adventure will remain with me for the rest of my life!
I was in a team with 4 others who will be ‘forever friends’ such a short time on the mountain six days up and two down yet we got to know each other so well encouraging each other all the way. An absolute dream team . Thank you Caroline , Hazel, Fay and Andrew
. Our head guide Julian (J.T) was superb as were Hance and David.
As long as I can remember I have wanted to climb this mountain and at 62 I thought I should give it a go! A month ago today I stood on the roof of Africa. What a day!
Most Inspirational Moment
Everyday was different the rain forest ,
Shira Plateau, Lava Tower etc.
The most fun day was the great Barranco wall which looks steep but completely doable.
On summit night I was excited, apprehensive and just wanted to get to the top however I knew it would be a very long day reaching Uhuru Peak .As soon as day break comes you get this burst of extra energy! Reaching Uhuru Peak was just the best moment!
Thoughts on Group Leader
I can not praise our guides enough .
Head guide - Julian (J.T.) was so professional, so kind and patient setting a sensible pace to allow us to acclimatise.
Absolutely first class chap.
Assistant guides- David and Hance equally as professional . I felt safe at all times on our journey.
They all gave quiet and kind words of encouragement all the way. They never stop smiling and making things seem easy!
I shall never forget them .
Not forgetting our superb cook Trophin providing the food which would give us the energy we needed each day . Excellent porridge ! The wonderful porters and assistant guides Rikado Trophin and Arnold Thomas.
Julius I thank you for also always being there! All the way to the top!
Advice for Potential Travellers
The most important thing is to follow the pace the guides set they are so experienced and everyone will tell you poly poly and that’s exactly what to do to give yourself more of a chance of acclimatising and reaching the summit .
Don’t forget your nail brush ! I did !
Keep your head down especially on summit day this was the advice I was given ‘don’t look up’!! Just keep plodding . Have fun , you will love it and carry those memories forever.
Hazel Norton
Reviewed October 2019
Kilimanjaro, Lemosho route
This was my third trip with exodus and it did not disappoint.
I had a great time and met some fantastic fellow travellers.
The trek was fairly easy walking with a few points that required scrambling over rocks mainly Barranco wall, one of my favourite days on the trek.
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting to the crater rim and seeing the clouds below us.
Thoughts on Group Leader
JT was a great leader always friendly and approachable, David and Hans the assistant guides were very knowledgeable and all three of them were positive and kept us going up to the top.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Try to pack as light as you can, and make sure you will be warm enough on summit night, its very cold until the sun comes up!