Climbing Kilimanjaro 7 Days Machame Route

BEST KILIMANJARO 7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE ITINERARY FOR 2023 & 2024

Day 1

Machame Gate (1,800m/5,900ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft)

To Machame Hut, 3000m. After a transfer to the park gate, a 5 hour walk through the forest takes you to Machame Hut. You camp throughout the climb, and your crew will take good care of you, erect and dismantle the camp, and provide you with tasty, filling food.

• Rainforest: 11km /3mi | 5-6 hrs
• Elevation: 1,200 metres / 3,900 feet
• Altitude gained: 1,200 metres / 3,900 feet

Day 2

Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)

At 9am, leave Moshi to Machame Gate, The drive through coffee farms and villages to Machame Gate takes about 1 [[Not allowed]] first day’s destination is Machame Camp. Each day, porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp in time for your arrival. On the first day, hike through the moss-covered trees of Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. The forest will thin at the end of the hike and vegetation will change to include heathers, tall grasses and wildflowers. If the weather is clear, view the surrounding area and your ultimate destination, Kibo Peak.

• Moorland: 5km/5mi | 5-6hrs
• Altitude gained: 840 metres / 2,800 feet

Day 3

Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) via Lava Tower (4,600m/14,900ft)

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours. This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic plug. If time and energy allow, you can scramble to the top of Lava Tower for fabulous panoramic views. From Lava Tower we begin our steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants which actually look like trees, the scenecios. This is good practice for your descent from the summit in a few days time and will take 1-2 hours. Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day. Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.

• Distance covered: 10km / 6.2mi
• Approx. time taken: 7 hrs
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 4

Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via the Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,800ft)

Just after breakfast we concur the famous Barranco Wall. You might need your hands once in a while for better grip, but with that being said, there are no climbing passages, and as safety is very important please listen to our guides who will ensure you get to the top safely. There will be a lot of ascents and descents today followed by a walk along the mountain ridge. This will reward you will a great view of the glacier of Kibo. Walking time today will be 3 – 4 hours with the Kibo summit all the time on your left accompanying you to your camp for the night.

• Distance covered: 6km / 3.4mi
• Approx. time taken: 5 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Karanga camp

Day 5

Karanga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)

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.

• Distance covered: 4km / 3.4mi
• Approx. time taken: 3 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Barafu camp

Day 6

Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), 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.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

• Approx. time taken: 5-6 hours
• Distance Covered: 17kms (12-15) hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Millennium/mweka campsite camp

Day 7

Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest (2-3 hours), looking for monkeys along the way. Return to Moshi from Mweka Village.

• Distance covered:12.1km / 7.5mi
• Approx. time taken: 6 – 7 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: hotel