12-tägige Kilimanjaro Lemosho Besteigung & Tarangire Safari

This 12 day Kilimanjaro hike and safari takes the Lemosho route, the western approach, over seven days with a registered mountain team, then gives you a lodge bed and two days in Tarangire. The route starts in rainforest, crosses the Shira Plateau, goes over the Lava Tower for acclimatisation, climbs the Barranco Wall, and sets out for Uhuru Peak from Barafu Camp. It is a serious trip, and the safari at the end is a way of coming back down gently.

The Lemosho route starts at Londorossi Gate on the western side of the mountain, in forest, and is quieter than the better-known routes in its first days. On the second day you cross the open Shira Plateau, with the summit ahead, and on day four you climb to the Lava Tower and drop to Barranco, which is the usual way of acclimatising on this route. The Barranco Wall, a rocky scramble, comes the next morning, followed by the camps at Karanga and Barafu. The summit push leaves from Barafu around midnight, and you reach Uhuru Peak around sunrise if conditions allow. Read the best route to climb Kilimanjaro for how Lemosho compares with the others.

The second half of the trip is about recovery. After you come down to Mweka Gate, you return to Moshi or Arusha for a hot shower and a night in a bed. Then you drive to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive and a morning drive the next day, with elephants, baobabs and relatively few vehicles. If you want a Kilimanjaro trip with Machame, Ngorongoro and a Maasai visit instead, see our 12-day Kilimanjaro hiking adventure and Maasai cultural experience. Read the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and browse the Tanzania destination page.

Hard. You walk for seven days at altitude, with long days of five to eight hours, cold nights in tents and a summit night that begins around midnight and lasts eight to twelve hours or more. The altitude affects everyone differently, and fitness does not predict who copes best. The mountain guides check you each day, and they decide when it is safe to continue. You should train for several months, wear boots that you have already broken in and speak to a doctor before you go. We cannot promise a summit, and the guides may turn a climber back for safety reasons.

The driest and clearest periods on the mountain are roughly January to March and June to October, and they are also the busiest. The rain seasons, roughly April to May and November, bring mud, clouds and a lower chance of clear summit views, though some climbers prefer the quieter trails. Nights are cold in every month, and summit night is below freezing. Tarangire is best in the dry months, from June to October.

This tour suits fit, well-prepared walkers who want a Lemosho climb and a short safari, including couples and friends who can handle high altitude. It is not for people who want a relaxed holiday. For an easier trip, look at the 4-day Kilimanjaro hiking tour or the 11-day Tanzania Big Five safari.

Tell us your fitness history, your training and any medical conditions, and we will tell you honestly whether this route suits you. We advise on visas free of charge. Read the Tanzania packing list and what to check before booking a Tanzania safari. Mountain camps are fixed by the route, and your hotels and lodges are confirmed once you book.

For a trip with more community time, see our Signature Journey, the 8-day Tanzania safari beyond wildlife with Maasai culture and village life.