Machame route is the 2nd most popular option and probably the most scenic route towards Kilimanjaro. Located on the southern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro, Machame Gate (starting point) will lead you to the top of Kilimanjaro through a tropical forest on lower slopes all the way up to an arctic desert. Trekkers who take the Machame Route pass several well-known Mount Kilimanjaro landmarks while en-route, including the famed Lava Tower and Shira Plateau.
Machame route is particularly varied in landscape and offers great views of Mount Meru and the Kibo. It is for that reason that Machame route is widely considered to be the most scenic of all of the routes, providing unique and varied landscapes to pass through on each and every day. The trail starts on the south side of the mountain, passes underneath the Southern Ice Field and makes its summit approach from the Barafu Camp.
Because of its acclimatization profile, the 6 days Machame route is the perfect option for individuals with a short time to climb Kilimanjaro. In comparison to other six-day routes, the Machame route exposes the climber to greater heights sooner (on day three), kick-starting the body’s adaptation to altitude. However, in order to confront the difficult elevation increases and declines, this route require that a person be in good form.
Itinerary
DAY 0: ARRIVAL & PRE-CLIMB BRIEFING
- Transport: Private Car/Van (1.2hours)
- Accommodation: 4 Star Hotel
- Meals: Dinner
If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, our company representative will pick you up
from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport upon landing and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Depending on your schedule, you will meet your African Delight Safaris Mountain guide for your
climb on the same day or early the next morning. The guide will provide a pre-trek briefing at
your Moshi hotel and will also review your equipment and assist you in renting any missing
equipment which is needed.
DAY 1: MACHAME GATE (1800M) - MACHAME CAMP (3000M)
- Distance: 11km/7 miles
- Walking Time: 5-7 hours
- Zone: Rainforest
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The first day trekking begins with meeting the head tour guide and he will brief you about the
day’s schedule. An hour’s drive from Moshi will get you to Machame gate. You will be
introduced to the rest of your trekking crew of assistant guides, porters and cooks.
After the climbers and crew have checked in with the park rangers, we will hike up through the
montane forests.
This forest path is muddy and overgrown in places and so trekking poles are useful here. After a
4 to 5hr. hike you'll arrive at the Machame Camp and a picnic lunch will be served.
Later in the afternoon a small walk to a bit higher altitude is done for acclimatization and after
returning to camp in the evening, a hot meal awaits you
DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP (2980M) - SHIRA CAMP (3840M)
- Distance:3km/3 miles
- Walking Time: 4-5 hours
- Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
On day two after early breakfast, our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the
steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau.
We will trek slowly through short savannah, soaking in the scenery as we make our way through
the moorlands for approximately 4 to 5hrs, with picnic lunch en-route before arriving in the
afternoon at the Shira Hut camp.
The camp sits on a plateau which provides you with the first views of Kibo in the North-West
and Mount Meru in the East. Dinner will be served early/late evening depending on your
preferences
DAY 3: SHIRA CAVE CAMP (3840M) - LAVA TOWER (4630M) - BARRANCO CAMP (3950)
- Distance:8km / 6.7 miles
- Walking Time: 6-8 hours
- Zone: High Alpine zone/ Low Alpine Zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today is a long day but lots of acclimatization as you climb high, sleep low. We continue to the
east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower. We will take an
acclimatization hike to Lava Tower (a 300ft tall volcanic rock formation) for lunch, before
descending to the Barranco valley.
We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an
altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent
at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.
DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP (3950M) - BARAFU CAMP (4600M)
- Distance:5km / 5 miles
- Walking Time: 6-8 hours
- Zone: Alpine Desert
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft. cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga valley (4095m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp (3963m).
After Lunch we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early supper to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position. At about 1 hour past midnight, we start tomorrow’s summit ascent.
DAY 5: BARAFU CAMP (4600M) - UHURU PEAK (5895M) - MWEKA CAMP (3100M)
- Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
- Walking Time: 6-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
- Zone: Arctic
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day five is summit night (and day)! We start off around after midnight, and walk steeply upwards
to the summit glaciers.
You will enjoy a light breakfast before starting final your final ascent to the summit
in darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks.
Stella Point reached in approximately 5 to 6hrs and a further ascent to the Uhuru Peak reached
in about another 45 minutes. We will gain incredible height over a short distance.
The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. Near Stella Point (5750ft)
you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over
Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the
continent of Africa.
Congratulations! You ‘ve made it to the "Roof of Africa". Enjoy and cherish this moment.
We will eventually begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending onwards
tracking our way back to Barafu Camp for lunch, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp
for dinner and a long well-earned rest.
DAY 6: – MWEKA CAMP (3100M) - MWEKA GATE (1980M) - TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL
- Distance: 10 km/6 miles
- Walking Time: 3-4 hours
- Zone: Rain Forest
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: 4 Star Hotel
This is your last day upon Mt. Kilimanjaro. After breakfast we continue with a gentle trek that
takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. It can be wet and muddy so trekking poles
will help. Also shorts and t-shirts will be suitable.
Upon reaching Mweka Gate, your tour guide will complete park formalities and you'll receive
certificates. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where you can say
goodbye & thank your team of guides, cooks & porters for a successful trek.
A private vehicle from African Delight Safaris will be waiting for you at Mweka village to drive
you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 1hour).
