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Kilimanjaro · Lemosho Route
Family Lemosho Route Climb
The scenic Lemosho Route, stretched to 8 days with an extra acclimatization day and a slower daily pace — built for families climbing together.
Overview
A summit climb, paced for families
The Lemosho Route is one of the most scenic ways up Kilimanjaro — a wide, quiet start through rainforest and across the Shira Plateau, before joining the southern circuit toward the summit. It's also one of the gentlest routes on the mountain in terms of daily gradient, which is exactly why we build our family departures around it.
We run this climb over 8 days rather than 7, adding a full acclimatization day at Barranco Camp. That extra day means shorter walking hours, more rest, and more time to adjust to altitude as a group — parents and children moving at the same, unhurried pace, with our guides setting the tempo rather than the clock.
Every family climb is led by guides experienced specifically with younger and mixed-age climbers, supported by a full crew, with twice-daily health checks and emergency oxygen carried throughout.
Trip at a glance
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Route
Lemosho, family-paced
Difficulty
Moderate, gentler daily pace
Max altitude
Uhuru Peak, 5,895m
Accommodation
Mountain tents + hotel
Best months
Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct
Group
Private family departures
Trip highlights
What your family will experience
- A gentler daily rhythm — shorter walking days than our standard climbs, built around an extra acclimatization night.
- Five climate zones together as a family, from rainforest to alpine desert to arctic summit.
- Guides experienced with families, used to setting pace, morale, and safety checks for mixed-age groups.
- A private family-only departure — no joining unrelated trekkers on your schedule.
- Standing on Uhuru Peak together, the highest point in Africa at 5,895m.
Day by day
Your 8-day family Lemosho itinerary
Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
After registration at Londorossi Gate, a short drive brings you to the trailhead. A gentle, well-shaded walk through rainforest — look out for colobus monkeys — leads to Mti Mkubwa, "Big Tree Camp," your first night under canvas.
Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp
The forest thins into open moorland as you climb onto the edge of the Shira Plateau. Wide skies and the first real views of Kibo open up as camp comes into sight.
Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp
An easier, largely flat crossing of the Shira Plateau — one of the gentler days on the mountain, and a good one for the whole family to enjoy the scenery at a relaxed pace.
Shira 2 to Barranco Camp, via Lava Tower
A key acclimatization day: the group climbs high to Lava Tower (4,630m) for lunch, then descends to sleep lower at Barranco Camp. "Climb high, sleep low" helps everyone's body adjust ahead of the extra rest day to come.
Acclimatization day at Barranco Camp
This is the day that makes the family itinerary work: a full extra night at Barranco with only a short, optional acclimatization walk. Time to rest, eat well, and let the body adjust as a group before the push toward the summit.
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
The day starts with the Barranco Wall — a fun, non-technical scramble that our guides take slowly, with plenty of stops. A short day to Karanga Camp follows, keeping the pace unhurried.
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
A steady climb to Barafu, the summit base camp. Early arrival, an early dinner, and rest through the afternoon — the whole camp is quiet and focused ahead of the night climb.
Summit day: Barafu to Uhuru Peak, then descend to Mweka Gate
A pre-dawn start for the climb to Stella Point and on to Uhuru Peak for sunrise — our guides set an especially slow, deliberate pace on summit night for family groups. After summit photos, the descent continues all the way down through Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, where you receive your certificates and transfer back to your hotel.
The details
What’s included & what’s not?
Included
- All national park, camping & rescue fees
- Guides experienced with family & mixed-age groups
- Fairly paid cooks & porters
- All meals & drinking water on the mountain
- Quality family-sized tents, sleeping mats & equipment
- 2 hotel nights in Moshi (before & after)
- Airport transfers (Kilimanjaro / JRO)
- Emergency oxygen, oximeter checks & first aid
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania entry visa
- Travel insurance (with high-altitude cover)
- Tips for the mountain crew
- Personal climbing gear (available to rent)
- Meals & drinks not on the mountain
- Personal expenses & laundry
- Optional upgrades (private vehicle, VIP add-ons)
Good to know
Before you book this climb
Who this is for
Families climbing together who want the extra safety margin of a slower pace and an additional acclimatization day.
Best time
The dry seasons — January to March and June to October — offer the clearest, most reliable conditions.
Safety & acclimatization
Twice-daily health checks, emergency oxygen, and a dedicated extra acclimatization day are built in as standard.
Gear
Bring your own kit or rent quality equipment from us — sized for younger climbers as well as adults.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is there a minimum age for this climb?
We assess this on a case-by-case basis depending on the child's fitness and prior trekking experience. Please send us your children's ages when you enquire and we'll advise honestly on suitability.
Why choose the 8-day family Lemosho over a standard 7-day climb?
The extra day adds a full acclimatization night at Barranco Camp and shortens the daily walking hours throughout. For a family group, that additional margin matters more than shaving a day off the schedule.
Do we climb as a private family group, or join other trekkers?
Family departures on this itinerary are private — your group only, on your dates, with guides and pace set around your family.
How cold does it get on summit night?
Summit night is the coldest part of the climb, often well below freezing with wind chill. We'll give you a full family packing list, and warm gear in a range of sizes is available to rent if needed.
Is the price per person?
Yes. The exact figure depends on your family's size, children's ages, and dates — send us an enquiry and we'll give you an honest, all-inclusive quote.
Enquire & book
Reserve your family Lemosho climb
Send us your dates, group size, and children's ages, and we'll reply with availability, guidance on suitability, and an honest, all-inclusive quote.
We reply within one working day