Machame Route

Day 1: Trekking from Machame Gate to Machame Camp (1790m to 3010m)

On Day 1, you’ll be picked up from your hotel or the airport and transported to Machame Gate, about an hour’s drive from Moshi. Here, you’ll meet your trekking crew, including your guide, porters, and cook, as you complete the necessary park formalities. The trek begins with a steady ascent through the magnificent, dense rainforest. This section of the route is less traveled, so it may be overgrown in places, and expect wet and muddy conditions underfoot.

Day 2: Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3010m to 3845m)

On Day 2, rise early as you continue your journey upward through the forest. The route features a steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, transitioning into the low alpine zone, characterized by moorlands and grasslands. Shira Camp 2 is situated on the plateau, offering your first stunning views of Kibo to the northwest and **Mount Meru** to the east. This trek takes approximately 4-6 hours and covers a distance of 5.4 km (3.4 miles)

Day 3: Trekking from Shira Cave to Barranco Camp (3845m to 3960m)

On Day 3, you’ll walk through high moorland, experiencing a significant change in the landscape. The trek traverses the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing beneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the **Western Breach** before reaching Barranco Camp. Although you end the day at a similar elevation (3960m) to where you started (3845m), this day is crucial for acclimatization, as you ascend to higher altitudes (up to 4600m) before sleeping lower.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (3960m to 3963m)

On Day 4, begin with a descent into the Great Barranco, then ascend the Great Barranco Wall, a long but non-technical climb. You’ll pass beneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers before reaching the Karanga Valley. Finally, climb to Karanga Camp at 3963m. For those feeling strong, an optional afternoon acclimatization trek to around 4200m is available before returning to camp.

Day 5: Karanga Camp (3963m) to Barafu camp (4640m).

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

Day 6: Barafu camp (4640m) to Uhuru peak (5895m) & Down to Millennium Camp (3790m)

We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

Day 7: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower.