Click on the icon above for an overview map of Alternative Lemosho. It follows the yellow path before diverting off to Moir Huts, and from there keeps to the grey trail to Outward Bound or School Hut. It then travels via Gillman’s Point to the summit (green line), then down the slopes on Mweka (purple line). 

The Alternative Lemosho Route uses as its template one of the official routes – the standard Lemosho Route. However, instead of heading round the southern side of Kibo, the Alternative Lemosho Route heads round the little-used northern side on a path known as the Northern Circuit. It then heads to the summit via the School Hut and Gilman’s Point.

The reason we like this route so much is that we like to think we know what people are looking for from their Kilimanjaro climb: great views, adventure, the opportunity to see some of the local wildlife, and the chance to spend virtually each day of their climb in completely different scenery to the day before.

We also know what trekkers regard as the number one disappointment on the mountain: hordes of climbers that swamp certain campsites and have turned certain routes into one huge unbroken queue of people stretching up the mountain slope.

And we think the Alternative Lemosho Route scores well in all of the above categories. For on the Alternative Lemosho Route you get:

• A great opportunity to spot wildlife The Lemosho Route has always been renowned for passing through  the best and most extensive stretch of forest of any trail. The Alternative Lemosho Route not only passes through this same forest, but also passes above Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, affording you the best chance (though still slim) of seeing some of the African wildlife that live in Kilimanjaro’s shadow –  elephant, buffalo, leopard, antelope and monkey. These animals occasionally climb Kili’s slopes to feed on the minerals in the rocks, so even though you may not see the animals themselves, you should see evidence that they’ve passed this way.
• The chance to get away from the crowds Whilst  trekkers are obliged by KINAPA to follow established trails, the Alternative Lemosho Route also takes paths that seldom see other walkers. Only the Umbwe Route is better when it comes to avoiding the crowds.
• The chance to see more of the mountain than on any official route – and get the best views The Lemosho Route is the longest of the official routes on Kilimanjaro. The Alternative Lemosho is even longer, and takes in not only the vast Shira Plateau on the western side of Kibo, but also overlooks the desert lands of the Saddle to the east of Kibo. Plus, of course, there’s the Kibo summit and Uhuru Peak…
• An improved chance of reaching the summit The route offers plenty of chances to ‘climb high, sleep low’, which aids acclimatization, helping trekkers to deal with the effects of altitude – which in turn increases your chances of reaching the top.