Kilimanjaro trek – Machame Route

You want to challenge yourself by climbing Africa’s highest mountain? If you are healthy, fit and have a strong willpower this is absolutely possible. Make sure you prepare yourself well and choose the route that suits you best. The Machame Route is one of the most popular Kilimanjaro routes due to the beautiful scenery and amazing views. The trail circles around the mountain and especially the sights of the Barranco Wall and Maasai plains are breathtaking. Another reason to choose this route is its gradual ascend, which gives trekkers more time to acclimatize and therefore a better summit success. Experience the overwhelming feeling of joy and excitement when you reach the top of this impressive mountain and watch the sunrise over Africa.

Day 1: Arrival – Moshi

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your accommodation in Moshi. Settle in a take some time to get used to the environment, climate and Tanzanians way of life.

Day 2: Moshi

Before starting your Kilimanjaro trekking we advise you to take a day to acclimatize. This day you can relax and spend at your leisure. The head guide will come over to brief you on the trekking and to check your equipment. Make sure you go to bed early and get a good night sleep. In the next 7 days you will trek through five different climate zones, including rainforest, heather, moorlands, alpine desert, and arctic conditions near the top.

Day 3: Machame Gate – Machame Camp

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Moshi in the morning and drives you in 1 hour to the Machame Gate. After registration and meeting your crew (guides, porters and cooks) your trekking starts. On this first day you hike through a beautiful green rainforest at the southern base of the mountain. The trail can be muddy and slippery, so good hiking shoes are recommended. After 5-7 hours you will arrive at the first camp, Machame Camp. To secure your safety, the guide checks your pulse rate and oxygen saturation each day.

Elevation (m / ft): 1800 m/5,900ft to 3,000m / 9,800 ft
Distance: ± 11 km / 7 miles
Trekking time: ± 5-7 hours
Habitat: rainforest

Day 4: Machame Camp – Shira Camp

The trekking today is a bit shorter but steep. After breakfast you leave the rainforest behind and continue with a steep uphill trek to reach a curved cliff, known as the Picnic Rock. Enjoy the amazing views of Kibo-peak and a collapsed volcanic crater called Shira Plateau. After lunch, you continue the beautiful route to Shira Camp for dinner and overnight.

Elevation (m/ft): 3,000m / 9,800 ft to 3,840m/ 12,600ft
Distance: ± 5 km / 3 miles
Trekking time: ± 4-6 hours
Habitat: moorland

Day 5: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp

Today will be a long trekking. From the Shira you trek towards the peak of Kibo, heading east, up to the Lava Tower. After a lunch break near the Lava Tower you descend in about 1,5 hours back down to the Barranco Valley. The tents will be set up at the Barranco Camp and it’s time to enjoy the amazing views and dinner. Barranco Camp is one of the most beautiful campsites on the Machame Route, located at the feet of the Barranco Wall. Today is an important acclimatization day. By trekking up high and coming down to sleep, you give your body time to adapt to the elevation.

Elevation (m/ ft): 3,840m/ 12,600ft to 3,850 m./ 12,960ft
Distance: ± 10 km / 6 miles
Trekking time: ± 7 hours
Habitat: semi desert

Day 6: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp

After a good breakfast you leave Barranco Camp to trek on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall. For this adventurous part of the trek you need to use your hands, to scramble up the rock.
The trek continues in a circle around the mountain. On your left side you can see the Kibo Peak, at your right side Africa’s second highest mountain, Mount Meru. After this you go down and arrive at Barafu Camp. From this point the views of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks are beautiful. Enjoy dinner in the evening and get prepared for day 7, summit day!

Elevation (m / ft): 3,850 m./12,631 ft to 4,600 m./1591 ft
Distance: 8,5 km / 5 miles
Trekking time: 8 hours
Habitat: alpine desert

Day 7: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

Around midnight, you will put on your head lamp and start the ascent to the summit under thousands of twinkling stars. It’s a steep, long night, and the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek due to the wind, snow and cold temperatures. It will take 6-8 hours to reach the Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro’s highest point. Enjoy the feeling of relief and excitement when you reach the top and overlook Kili’s immense crater and the sunlight twinkling on the glaciers. After celebrating your achievement you need to trek 5-6 down to Mweka Camp. Descending is quite a challenge as well. Going down from the summit can actually put quite a lot of strain on your already tired legs. A good pair of trekking poles can make the descent much easier.

Elevation (m / ft): 4,600 m./ 15,100ft to 5,895 m./ 19,340ft to 3,110 m./ 10,170ft
Distance: ± 15 km/ 9,5 miles
Trekking time: ± 6-8 hours to top, 5-6 hours down to Mweka Camp
Habitat: arctic

Day 8: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate

After a last breakfast on Mount Kilimanjaro, the descent down to Mweke Gate starts. Just like on the first day of your trekking, the lower elevations can be slippery, muddy and the weather warm. On this part of the mountain you can see lots of monkeys and birds. After 2-3 hours you arrive at Mweke Village where your adventure ends. Our driver meets you at the gate and transfers you to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.

Elevation (m / ft): 3,110 m./10,170 ft to 1,830 m./ 6000 ft
Distance: ± 10 km / 6 miles
Trekking time: ± 3-4 hours
Habitat: rainforest

Excludes: Accommodation at day 1 and 2 in Moshi.

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