6-Day Mt Kilimanjaro via Machame Route

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Machame Gate

Your day starts early with breakfast, followed by a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Gate (1828m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment at the gate. After registering at the gate office, you immediately start your ascent and enter the rainforest. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, transforming the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about halfway and will reach the Machame Camp (3020m) in the late afternoon. Your porters (arriving at the campsite long before you) will have erected your tent on arrival. In the evening, the porters will bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Machame Camp (3020m) - Shira Camp (3847m)

You rise early at Machame Camp and after breakfast, you'll climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike, you will reach the Shira Campsite at 3 847m. The porters will once again supply you with a small bowl of washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Shira Camp (3847m) to Lava Tower (4642m) to Barranco Camp (3984m)

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4642m after about a 5-hour trek. Lunch is served at a designated area. This is the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch, you'll descend again by almost 658m to the Barranco camping area.
After reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner to be prepared.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Barranco Camp (3984m) - Barafu Camp (4681m)

After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you'll make your way up this awesome-looking obstacle, which in the end usually turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you should reach Barafu Hut.
The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu Camp.
The summit is now a further 1214 m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. Go to bed at around about 7:00 pm and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Barafu Camp (4681m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3090m)

You will get up around 11:30 pm. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers, the 6-hour walk to Stella Point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point 5739m, 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 will normally encounter snow on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Hut 3090m. The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mweka Camp (3090m) - Mweka Gate (1641m)

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4- to 6-hour scenic hike back to the park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descent longer than planned. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info.

At Mweka gate, you'll sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village, you will be served a delicious hot lunch. After lunch, you'll drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations.

Main Destination:

Moshi (Town)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.