8 Days Full Moon Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari – Premium Moonlit Journey to Africa’s Highest Summit

Distance: 70–120 km drive, then 5.5–7 km trekking
Driving Time: 3–4 hours
Trekking Time: 3–4 hours
Starting Altitude: Moshi around 890 m / Lemosho Gate around 2,100–2,250 m
Sleeping Altitude: Big Tree Campsite around 2,780–2,895 m
Vegetation: Montane rainforest, tall trees, moss, ferns, wildflowers, birds, and possible colobus monkeys

Your Full Moon Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari begins with a beautiful drive from Moshi to Lemosho Gate, the peaceful western entrance of Mount Kilimanjaro. After registration, you will start trekking through a fresh rainforest trail surrounded by tall trees, green moss, ferns, birds, and natural forest sounds. This first walk is a gentle introduction to the mountain, allowing your body to start adjusting slowly. Our guides will lead you at a comfortable pace and explain the trail as you move deeper into Kilimanjaro’s rainforest. You will enjoy lunch along the way before reaching Big Tree Campsite, where the crew will welcome you with warm drinks, fresh mountain food, and a calm forest camp setting.

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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Distance: 7–9 km trekking
Trekking Time: 5–6 hours
Starting Altitude: Around 2,780–2,895 m
Sleeping Altitude: Shira 1 Camp around 3,500 m
Vegetation: Rainforest edge, heather zone, moorland, giant heather, wild grasses, and open plateau scenery

After breakfast, you will leave the rainforest behind and begin climbing toward the Shira Plateau. The vegetation changes beautifully as tall trees become heather plants, mountain grasses, volcanic soil, and wide open views. This day brings your first important altitude gain, so our guides will encourage you to walk pole pole, drink enough water, and keep your breathing steady. Unlike shorter itineraries, this 8-day route allows you to stop at Shira 1 Camp, giving your body more time to adapt before going higher. At camp, you will relax with hot tea, fresh food, and a peaceful evening as the open sky of Mount Kilimanjaro begins to reveal the special full moon atmosphere ahead.

Destination:

Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Camp To Shira 1 Camp

Overnight:

Shira 1 Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Distance: 7–10 km trekking
Trekking Time: 3–5 hours
Starting Altitude: Around 3,500 m
Sleeping Altitude: Shira 2 Campsite around 3,850–3,900 m
Vegetation: Open moorland, volcanic stones, short grasses, giant heather plants, and wide alpine plateau views

Today you will cross the scenic Shira Plateau from Shira 1 to Shira 2 Campsite. This is a more relaxed trekking day, giving you time to enjoy the wide landscapes, volcanic formations, open moorland, and possible clear views of Kibo Peak. The slower pace makes this day valuable for acclimatization and helps prepare your body for the higher sections of the route. Our guides will explain the mountain environment, monitor your condition, and keep the walk smooth and enjoyable. On arrival at Shira 2, the crew will prepare hot drinks and fresh food while you rest in a peaceful high-altitude camp. At night, the sky can feel wide and beautiful, creating the perfect mood for a full moon Kilimanjaro adventure.

Destination:

Shira 1 Camp To Shira 2 Camp

Overnight:

Shira 2 Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Distance: 9–10 km trekking
Trekking Time: 6–8 hours
Starting Altitude: Around 3,850–3,900 m
Highest Point: Lava Tower around 4,600–4,640 m
Sleeping Altitude: Barranco Camp around 3,960–3,980 m
Vegetation: Moorland, alpine desert, volcanic ridges, giant groundsels, lobelia, and senecio plants

After breakfast, you will continue toward Lava Tower, one of the most important acclimatization points on Mount Kilimanjaro. The trail becomes drier, rockier, and more dramatic as you move into the alpine desert zone. Reaching Lava Tower helps your body adjust by climbing high during the day before descending to sleep lower at Barranco Camp. Our guides will carefully watch your pace, breathing, and energy as the altitude increases. After resting and eating near Lava Tower, you will descend into the beautiful Barranco Valley. This area is famous for unique Kilimanjaro plants such as giant groundsels, lobelia, and senecio. At Barranco Camp, you will enjoy warm drinks, fresh dinner, and a spectacular evening below the famous Barranco Wall.

Destination:

Shira 2 Camp To Lava Tower To Barranco Camp

Overnight:

Barranco Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Distance: 5–6 km trekking
Trekking Time: 4–5 hours
Starting Altitude: Around 3,960–3,980 m
Sleeping Altitude: Karanga Campsite around 3,995–4,050 m
Vegetation: Alpine desert, rocky ridges, dry shrubs, short grasses, and scattered giant groundsels

This day begins with the famous Barranco Wall, one of the most exciting and memorable sections of the Lemosho Route. From camp, the wall may look difficult, but it is not technical climbing, and our guides will show you the safest steps as you move upward. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with beautiful views of valleys, glaciers, and the upper slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. The trail then continues across rocky ridges and down into Karanga Valley before rising gently to Karanga Campsite. This shorter day gives you time to recover, enjoy warm tea, eat well, and prepare for the final approach to Barafu. The climb now starts to feel more serious as the full moon summit night gets closer.

Destination:

Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Overnight:

Karanga Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Distance: 4–5 km trekking
Trekking Time: 3–4 hours
Starting Altitude: Around 3,995–4,050 m
Sleeping Altitude: Barafu Campsite around 4,600–4,673 m
Vegetation: Dry alpine desert, volcanic rocks, open slopes, short grasses, and rugged high-altitude terrain

After breakfast at Karanga, you will trek slowly toward Barafu Campsite, the base camp for your summit attempt. The distance is shorter, but the altitude is higher, so our guides will keep the pace calm and controlled. The landscape becomes colder and more rugged, with volcanic stones and wide views toward the summit area. On arrival at Barafu, you will rest, enjoy food, drink warm tea, and save your energy for the midnight climb. Our guides will give a detailed full moon summit briefing, including what to wear, what to carry, how to use your headlamp, and how the team will move safely through the night. This is your final preparation before the moonlit journey to the roof of Africa.

Destination:

Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Overnight:

Barafu Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Distance: 5 km ascent to Uhuru Peak, then 12 km descent to Mweka Campsite
Trekking Time: 6–8 hours up, then 5–7 hours down
Starting Altitude: Barafu Campsite around 4,600–4,673 m
Summit Altitude: Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
Sleeping Altitude: Mweka Campsite around 3,068–3,100 m
Vegetation: Arctic summit zone, scree slopes, glaciers, ice fields, then heath and upper forest zone on descent

Around midnight, our guides will wake you with hot tea and light summit food before the final ascent begins. This is the highlight of your 8-Day Full Moon Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari. If the sky is clear, the full moon can light the trail, glaciers, and upper slopes, creating a magical atmosphere as you climb toward Stella Point. You will walk slowly through the cold arctic zone while our guides stay close, encourage you, and monitor your condition. From Stella Point, you will continue to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895 meters. After photos and celebration at the summit, you will descend to Barafu for a short rest and food before continuing to Mweka Campsite, where the lower altitude brings warmer air and easier breathing after your great summit achievement.

Destination:

Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

Overnight:

Mweka Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Distance: 10 km trekking, then 30–50 km drive to Moshi
Trekking Time: 3–4 hours
Driving Time: 1–2 hours
Starting Altitude: Mweka Campsite around 3,068–3,100 m
Ending Altitude: Mweka Gate around 1,640 m, then Moshi around 890 m
Vegetation: Rainforest, wet forest trails, tall trees, moss, ferns, flowers, and rich green vegetation

After your final breakfast on Mount Kilimanjaro, you will descend through the lush rainforest toward Mweka Gate. The trail is peaceful, green, and refreshing after the cold summit zone, with tall trees, ferns, moss, flowers, and wet forest paths around you. Our guides will walk with you at a relaxed pace as you reflect on the full journey from Lemosho Gate to Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Barranco, Barafu, and the full moon summit at Uhuru Peak. At Mweka Gate, you will sign out and receive your summit certificate if you reached Stella Point or Uhuru Peak. After the celebration, we will drive you back to Moshi, where you can enjoy a hot shower, good food, and a comfortable rest after completing your 8-Day Full Moon Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari.

Destination:

Mweka Camp To Mweka Gate

Overnight:

Kilimanjaro White House Hotel

  budget 2 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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