5 daysHuts
5-Day Marangu Route
Marangu’s classic hut-to-hut climb offers straightforward access and the comfort of National Park huts.
From US$2,640 per climber, groups of 1–5, sharing a room or tent
- Days on the mountain
- 8 days
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Approach
- Londorossi Gate
- Descent
- Mweka Gate
- Price
- From US$3,440 per climber, groups of 1–5, sharing a room or tent
Overview
Lemosho’s eight-day camping itinerary approaches from the west, crosses the Shira Plateau and follows the Southern Circuit through Barranco and Karanga. Its longer pace, professional mountain crew, safety equipment and altitude-focused meals suit serious trekkers.
Widely considered the most beautiful way up — from Londorossi Gate through the Lemosho Glades and across the Shira Plateau, with a chance of game sightings low down, then the Southern Circuit past Lava Tower and the Barranco Valley. Long, gentle, breathtaking.
10 days door-to-door. 7 nights on the mountain. Full camping.
Where you sleep
- Day 1Mti Mkubwa Camp
- Day 2Shira 1 Camp
- Day 3Shira 2 Camp
- Day 4Barranco Camp
- Day 5Karanga Camp
- Day 6Barafu Camp
- Day 7Millennium Camp
The climb
- Highest point
- 5,895 m
- Summit night
- Day 7
- Last camp, 4,640 m
- Barafu
- Walked in total
- 86 km
Show the figures as a table
| Day | Place | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Londorossi Gate | 2,385 m / 7,825 ft |
| Day 1 | Mti Mkubwa | 2,780 m / 9,121 ft |
| Day 2 | Shira 1 Camp | 3,500 m / 11,483 ft |
| Day 3 | Shira 2 Camp | 3,900 m / 12,795 ft |
| Day 4 | Lava Tower | 4,640 m / 15,223 ft |
| Day 4 | Barranco | 3,960 m / 12,992 ft |
| Day 5 | Karanga Camp | 4,035 m / 13,238 ft |
| Day 6 | Barafu Camp | 4,640 m / 15,223 ft |
| Day 7 | Uhuru | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft |
| Day 7 | Millennium | 3,790 m / 12,434 ft |
| Day 8 | Mweka Gate | 1,630 m / 5,348 ft |
Day 1
Londorossi Gate → Mti Mkubwa
2,385 → 2,780 m (+395 m)7 kmabout 3–4 hours
Day 2
Mti Mkubwa → Shira 1 Camp
2,780 → 3,500 m (+720 m)12 kmabout 6–7 hours
Day 3
Shira 1 Camp → Shira 2 Camp
3,500 → 3,900 m (+400 m)8 kmabout 5–6 hours
Day 4
Shira 2 → Lava Tower
3,900 → 4,640 m (+740 m)15 kmabout 6–7 hours
Day 4
Lava Tower → Barranco
4,640 → 3,960 m (−680 m)
Day 5
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp
3,960 → 4,035 m (+75 m)5 kmabout 3.5 hours
Day 6
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp
4,035 → 4,640 m (+605 m)4 kmabout 2–3 hours
Day 7
Barafu → Uhuru
4,640 → 5,895 m (+1,255 m)17 kmabout 11–12 hours
Day 7
Uhuru → Millennium
5,895 → 3,790 m (−2,105 m)
Day 8
Millennium Camp → Mweka Gate
3,790 → 1,630 m (−2,160 m)18 kmabout 5–6 hours
Map
- Londorossi Gate
- Mti Mkubwa
- Shira 1 Camp
- Shira 2 Camp
- Lava Tower
- Barranco Camp
- Karanga Camp
- Barafu Camp
- Uhuru Peak
- Mweka Gate
Not on the map yet: Millennium.
Sample plan — we adjust it to your group
Day by day
- 1Day
Londorossi Gate → Mti Mkubwa
After registration at Londorossi Gate, the vehicle continues to the western trailhead.
- Elevation
- 2,385 m to 2,780 m
- Distance
- about 7 km
- Hiking time
- about 3–4 hours
- Habitat
- Mountain forest
- Focus
- Western forest approach
Overnight: Mti Mkubwa Camp
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After registration at Londorossi Gate, the vehicle continues to the western trailhead. The first walk follows an undisturbed forest trail to Mti Mkubwa, or Big Tree Camp.
- 2Day
Mti Mkubwa → Shira 1 Camp
The route climbs out of the forest into heath and moorland, with increasingly open views.
- Elevation
- 2,780 m to 3,500 m
- Distance
- about 12 km
- Hiking time
- about 6–7 hours
- Habitat
- Heath and moorland
- Focus
- Enter the Shira Caldera
Overnight: Shira 1 Camp
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The route climbs out of the forest into heath and moorland, with increasingly open views. It crosses Shira Ridge and reaches Shira 1 Camp inside the broad caldera.
- 3Day
Shira 1 Camp → Shira 2 Camp
A gradual traverse crosses the Shira Caldera toward the western side of Kibo, with an optional line via Shira Cathedral.
- Elevation
- 3,500 m to 3,900 m
- Distance
- about 8 km
- Hiking time
- about 5–6 hours
- Habitat
- Heath and moorland
- Focus
- Plateau traverse
Overnight: Shira 2 Camp
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A gradual traverse crosses the Shira Caldera toward the western side of Kibo, with an optional line via Shira Cathedral. High-altitude plants and broad plateau views define the day.
- 4Day
Shira 2 → Lava Tower → Barranco
The trail climbs east to Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization at 4,640 metres.
- Elevation
- 3,900 m to 4,640 m
- Elevation
- 4,640 m to 3,960 m
- Distance
- about 15 km
- Hiking time
- about 6–7 hours
- Habitat
- Semi-desert
- Focus
- Acclimatization
Overnight: Barranco Camp
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The trail climbs east to Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization at 4,640 metres. It then descends into Barranco Valley, finishing beneath the Great Barranco Wall.
- 5Day
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp
The morning begins with a hands-on but non-technical ascent of the Great Barranco Wall.
- Elevation
- 3,960 m to 4,035 m
- Distance
- about 5 km
- Hiking time
- about 3.5 hours
- Habitat
- Alpine desert
- Focus
- Barranco Wall
Overnight: Karanga Camp
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The morning begins with a hands-on but non-technical ascent of the Great Barranco Wall. A rolling traverse and final climb across Karanga Valley lead to camp.
- 6Day
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp
A short high-alpine stage completes the Southern Circuit and reaches Barafu base camp.
- Elevation
- 4,035 m to 4,640 m
- Distance
- about 4 km
- Hiking time
- about 2–3 hours
- Habitat
- Alpine desert
- Focus
- Summit preparation
Overnight: Barafu Camp
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A short high-alpine stage completes the Southern Circuit and reaches Barafu base camp. The afternoon is used for an early meal, hydration, equipment checks and rest.
- 7Day
Barafu → Uhuru → Millennium
The summit push begins around midnight and climbs through scree to Stella Point before continuing to Uhuru Peak.
- Elevation
- 4,640 m to 5,895 m
- Elevation
- 5,895 m to 3,790 m
- Distance
- about 17 km
- Hiking time
- about 11–12 hours
- Habitat
- Arctic to high alpine
- Focus
- Summit day
Overnight: Millennium Camp
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The summit push begins around midnight and climbs through scree to Stella Point before continuing to Uhuru Peak. The descent pauses at Barafu, then continues to Millennium Camp for the final mountain night.
- 8Day
Millennium Camp → Mweka Gate
The route descends through heather and mountain forest to Mweka Gate.
- Elevation
- 3,790 m to 1,630 m
- Distance
- about 18 km
- Hiking time
- about 5–6 hours
- Habitat
- Heather and forest
- Focus
- Certificates and return
Read the dayHide the day
The route descends through heather and mountain forest to Mweka Gate. Park checkout, summit certificates and the return transfer complete the itinerary.
What’s included
Included
- Two nights' hotel in Arusha & all JRO transfers
- Transfers to and from the mountain trailheads
- Kilimanjaro park entrance, camping/hut & rescue fees
- Professional English-speaking mountain guides, cooks & porters
- All meals on the mountain — nutrition planned for altitude
- Complimentary fruits & juice while hiking; porterage of 1 bag (15 kg)
- Oxygen cylinder / Gamow bag & daily oximeter checks
- Camping equipment: Mountain Hardwear tents, mess tent, portable toilet, solar light (camping routes)
- Hot-water bottle at night · Flying Doctors cover · liability insurance
Not included
- Tips to guides, cooks and porters
- Bottled mineral water
- Visas
- Laundry & telephone calls
- Day rooms on the final day after the climb
- Items of a personal nature
- Costs of early descent (extra Arusha nights etc.)
Last updated
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Plan: 8-Day Lemosho Route
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