The Machame Route, with its diverse landscape and fantastic views, offers a unique experience to test your will power, fitness finesse and mental strength. The route takes you through lush rainforest, where colobus monkeys roam, into heath and moorland, with its many ferns and ericas, until finally reaching the icy caps of the mountain top. Overnights on the Machame Route will be in tents. It is not difficulty to climb because you will be guided by our professional tour guide.

7-Day Climbing Kilimanjaro via Machame Route

Day 01: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro 003 You will be picked up from your hotel by our driver as well as our guide who will give you a briefing about your journey up Kilimanjaro. After your briefing you will be driven to Machame gate where you will register and sign some before you start your journey.
We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
Elevation:1790m – 3010m
Distance:11km
Hours:5-6 hours
Habitat: Rain forest.

Main Destination

Toothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

Machame Camp,
In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 02: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro 007

After breakfast, leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a little valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the end of the ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. You will spend the overnight at the Shira hut campsite.
Elevation:3010m – 3845m
Distance: 5km
Hours:4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland.

Main Destination

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

Shira Camp 1
In or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 03: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro 037

In this new day your trek begins with an ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower. The surrounding vegetation becomes more sporadic as the landscape changes to an alpine desert. The route stretches through the sweeping Barranco Valley with its lobelia and giant senecio plants. And in approximately 6 to 7 hours, you will arrive at the Barranco Camp, the most beautiful camp on the mountain.

Elevation:3845m – 3986m
Distance: 8km
Hours: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert.

Main Destination

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

Barranco Camp,
located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 04: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro 008

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day and meant for acclimatization.

Elevation: 3986m – 4034m
Distance: 5km
Hours: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert.

Main Destination

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

Budget Camp,
located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 05: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro 011

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Elevation: 4034m – 4662m
Distance:3km
Hours: 2-3 hours
Habitat:Alpine Desert.

Main Destination

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

Barafu Camp, located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 06: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
From the summit descend back to Barafu, where you will have a warm meal and relax. Then continue to Mweka campsite. At Mweka camp you will have your evening meal and sleep.
Elevation:4662m -5895m (going up) 5895m – 3106m (going down)
Distance: 5km (going up) – 11km (going down)
Hours: 4-5 hours (going up) 5-6 hours (going down)
Habitat:Arctic – Alpine Desert.

Main Destination

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

Mweka Camp, located in or near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 07: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). After your done with everything at the gate you will be driven back to your respective accommodation.

Elevation:3106m – 1633m
Distance: 7km
Hours:3-4 hours
Habitat:Rain forest..

Main Destination

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Inclusion

Included

Porterage
Rescue fee
Park fees(For non-residents)
All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinking water(On all days)

Excluded

- Climbing gear
- International flights(From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees