6 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Climb During Afcon 2027 Tanzania

Your Kilimanjaro adventure begins in Moshi, where our professional mountain team will meet you in the morning before driving toward Lemosho Gate on the beautiful western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. As you leave Moshi behind, the journey takes you through local communities, farmland and the greener foothills of the mountain before reaching the park entrance. After completing the required registration procedures and receiving a final trail briefing from your guide, you will begin your first climb through Kilimanjaro’s lush montane rainforest. The trail is surrounded by towering trees, thick vegetation, giant ferns and moss-covered branches, providing a cool and peaceful introduction to the mountain. Your guide will encourage a slow and steady pace from the beginning so that your body can gradually adapt to the increasing elevation while conserving energy for the higher sections of the route. Along the way, you may hear forest birds and occasionally encounter blue monkeys or black-and-white colobus monkeys moving through the trees. After several hours of trekking, you will arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp, completing your first stage and beginning the transition from football excitement to the peaceful wilderness of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Attractions: Lemosho Gate, western Kilimanjaro rainforest, giant ferns, montane vegetation, forest birds and possible monkey sightings.

Altitude: Approximately 2,100 m at Lemosho Gate to around 2,650–2,800 m at Mti Mkubwa Camp.

Trekking Time: Approximately 3–4 hours.

Distance: Approximately 6–7 km.

Destination:

Lemosho Gate To Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Camp

Overnight:

Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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After leaving Mti Mkubwa Camp, you will continue climbing as the dense rainforest gradually gives way to open heath and moorland. The trail becomes steeper as you gain altitude, but the changing scenery provides increasingly impressive views across the western slopes of Kilimanjaro. You will move through heather-covered landscapes, volcanic ridges and distinctive high-altitude vegetation before emerging onto the vast Shira Plateau. On a clear day, the enormous Kibo massif becomes increasingly visible ahead, while looking back provides expansive views across the plains far below the mountain. Because this six-day Lemosho itinerary combines the journey through Shira 1 and onward to Shira 2 in the same day, the trek is longer and more demanding than on slower Lemosho itineraries. Your guide will therefore maintain a controlled “pole pole” pace and provide regular rest opportunities while monitoring how you are responding to the altitude. You will continue across the dramatic plateau toward Shira 2 Camp, finishing the day surrounded by one of Kilimanjaro’s most impressive high-altitude landscapes and preparing for the important acclimatization stage toward Lava Tower.

Attractions: Shira Plateau, Shira 1, Shira 2, Kibo views, moorland vegetation, volcanic landscapes and panoramic mountain scenery.

Altitude: Approximately 2,650–2,800 m to around 3,850 m at Shira 2 Camp.

Trekking Time: Approximately 7–9 hours.

Distance: Approximately 14–17 km.

Destination:

Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira I to Shira 2 Camp

Overnight:

Shira 2 Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Today provides one of the most important acclimatization stages of your Kilimanjaro climb. You will leave Shira 2 and continue eastward through increasingly rugged terrain as vegetation becomes sparse and the landscape changes into a dramatic alpine desert. The trail climbs steadily toward Lava Tower, an impressive volcanic formation situated at approximately 4,600 meters, giving your body valuable exposure to a significantly higher altitude. Reaching Lava Tower is an important part of the route because you will climb high before later descending to a lower sleeping elevation at Barranco. After spending some time around the Lava Tower area, you will begin descending through changing terrain toward Barranco Valley. Giant groundsels and other remarkable high-altitude plants begin to appear as you approach the valley, while the huge Barranco Wall rises dramatically above the landscape. The descent often feels easier after the demanding climb to Lava Tower and gives you an opportunity to continue adjusting to altitude. By the time you reach Barranco Camp, you will have completed one of the most visually diverse and important days of your Lemosho expedition.

Attractions: Lava Tower, alpine desert, volcanic formations, giant groundsels, Barranco Valley, Kibo views and Barranco Wall.

Altitude: Approximately 3,850 m to around 4,600 m at Lava Tower, then down to approximately 3,900 m at Barranco Camp.

Trekking Time: Approximately 6–8 hours.

Distance: Approximately 10 km.

Destination:

Shira Cave To Lava Tower To Barranco Camp

Overnight:

Barranco Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your fourth day begins with one of Kilimanjaro’s most memorable challenges, the famous Barranco Wall. Although the wall looks extremely steep when viewed from camp, your guide will lead you carefully along the established scrambling route, helping you negotiate the narrower and steeper sections while maintaining a safe and comfortable pace. As you climb higher, spectacular views open across the Barranco Valley and surrounding mountain scenery, making this one of the most rewarding sections for photography. After reaching the top of the wall, you will continue across a series of ridges before descending toward Karanga Valley and climbing again toward Karanga Camp. On the six-day Lemosho itinerary, you will continue onward rather than stopping here for the night, making this one of the longer and more physically demanding stages of the expedition. The landscape becomes increasingly barren as you enter the high alpine desert and continue toward Barafu Camp. Upon arrival, your guide will explain the summit plan, check your essential equipment and encourage you to rest as much as possible because the final ascent begins around midnight. The excitement builds here as Uhuru Peak moves from a distant goal to the challenge waiting only a few hours ahead.

Attractions: Barranco Wall, Karanga Valley, alpine desert, Mawenzi views, Kibo slopes and high-altitude volcanic scenery.

Altitude: Approximately 3,900 m to around 4,673 m at Barafu Camp.

Trekking Time: Approximately 7–9 hours.

Distance: Approximately 9 km.

Destination:

Barranco Camp to Karanga to Barafu Camp

Overnight:

Barafu Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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This is the most challenging and rewarding day of your entire Kilimanjaro journey. Around midnight, you will prepare for the summit attempt and begin climbing slowly through darkness and freezing high-altitude conditions. Guided by your mountain team and the light from your headlamp, you will follow a steady zigzag trail toward Stella Point on the crater rim. The altitude and cold make this section physically demanding, so your guide will maintain a slow rhythm, provide short rest stops and continuously monitor your condition. As dawn approaches, the first light may illuminate Mawenzi Peak, the glaciers and the enormous landscapes far below, providing one of the most memorable moments of the expedition. From Stella Point, you will continue along the crater rim toward Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters, the highest point in Africa. Reaching the summit creates an extraordinary achievement to add to your AFCON 2027 Tanzania journey: football may have brought you to the country, but Kilimanjaro gives you the opportunity to return home having stood on the Roof of Africa. After photographs and a short celebration, you will descend toward Barafu for a brief rest before continuing much farther down the mountain toward Mweka Camp.

Attractions: Stella Point, Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro glaciers, sunrise, crater rim, Mawenzi and panoramic summit landscapes.

Altitude: Approximately 4,673 m to 5,895 m at Uhuru Peak, then down to around 3,100 m at Mweka Camp.

Trekking Time: Approximately 11–14 hours.

Distance: Approximately 17 km.

Destination:

Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

Overnight:

Mweka Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your final day begins with a steady descent through the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro as you leave Mweka Camp and return toward the lush montane rainforest. The environment changes dramatically as the dry high-altitude landscape gives way to thicker vegetation, giant ferns, taller trees and warmer temperatures. With more oxygen available at the lower elevations, the final walk provides a relaxed opportunity to reflect on everything you have experienced during the previous six days—from the western rainforest and Shira Plateau to Lava Tower, Barranco Wall and the unforgettable summit of Uhuru Peak. Eventually, you will reach Mweka Gate, where you will complete the required checkout procedures and celebrate the conclusion of your expedition with the mountain team. You will then meet your vehicle and drive back to Moshi. For travelers who originally came to Tanzania because of AFCON 2027, the journey ends with a completely different achievement: you will leave with memories not only of African football but also of climbing the continent’s highest mountain.

Attractions: Mweka rainforest, tropical mountain vegetation, forest birds, Mweka Gate and Kilimanjaro climbing celebration.

Altitude: Approximately 3,100 m down to around 1,640 m at Mweka Gate.

Trekking Time: Approximately 3–4 hours.

Distance: Approximately 10 km.