8-Day Machame Route Hiking Kilimanjaro Explore

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha

On arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport meet our representative and transfer to Planet Lodge in Arusha. Later our Kilimanjaro manager & your guide will come for detailed briefing & gear checking before leaving you to enjoy the nice weather of Arusha City & the invitingly lodge’s environment & facilities.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Arusha Planet Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Arusha (City)

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+18 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive to Machame Gate -Machame Camp

Embark on your Kilimanjaro climbing adventure via the Machame route, starting after breakfast in Arusha. A 2-hour drive takes you to Machame gate, passing Chagga villages and plantations, offering glimpses into Tanzanian life. Complete necessary paperwork, weigh luggage, and sign book.

Commence the 7-day Machame route climb, trekking on a forest road in a wet, humid climate. Encounter rain, mud, and fog amid the vibrant red giant ferns and impatiens of Kilimanjaro's rainforest. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route.

Continue through the jungle, where the path becomes winding, narrower, and steeper. Notice changes in vegetation as you enter the moorland zone. After about 6 hours of climbing, reach Machame Camp at 3,010 m. Porters will have set up your tents and offer coffee/tea and snacks. Refresh, rest, and anticipate a picturesque sunset and potential views of Kibo's snow-capped peak if weather permits.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Machame Camp at 2980 m – Shira 2 Camp at 3840m

Embark on the second day of the Machame route, starting in the moorland zone. As you ascend to 3,200 meters, encounter large rock formations narrowing the path to 50 cm, offering stunning views of Machame Camp and Machame village below.

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast, enjoying the sunrise and views of Kilimanjaro's summit. Trek towards Shira Camp, taking a lunch break at 3,400 meters. After lunch, navigate the challenging section with changing vegetation and dominant black lava sand, encountering ups and downs, mountain streams, and rocky walls leading to deep gorges.

At 3,700 meters, witness another change in the landscape. Shira Camp, situated at 3,845 meters on Shira plateau, awaits. Join your guide for a walk to Shira Cathedral and the needle up to Shira hill, offering an awesome view of Mount Meru. At the camp, follow the routine of getting hot water, having coffee or tea with snacks, changing clothes, and resting until dinner. Briefing for the next day follows dinner.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Shira 2 Camp 3840 m – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp at 3950 m)

Embark on the third stage of Kilimanjaro climbing on the Machame route. Hike south of Shira/Lemosho route, traversing a well-passable route through a black lava desert strewn with rocks. Reach the Lava Tower at an altitude of 4,630 meters, experiencing tranquility amidst the quiet surroundings. Enjoy lunch with a view of the snowline above the Lava Tower, where temperatures approach freezing. Proceed to Barranco Camp at 3,960 meters, employing the technique of climbing high and sleeping low to lower the altitude by 680 meters.

After nearly 7 hours, reach Barranco Camp with views of the western breach of Kibo, the Barranco Wall, and the southern glacier. Witness a splendid play of colors during the evening. Upon reaching the camp, follow similar procedures as the previous day, preparing for the continuation of your Machame route 7 days itinerary the next morning.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp

Kilimanjaro climbing Machame route 7 days, the day of a great challenge, climbing Barranco Wall on Kilimanjaro. After breakfast, advisable early start to avoid traffic jam at the wall; you will possibly need 1 to 1.5 hours to climb the great Barranco Wall. See the barren and rocky plateau behind the wall which is attentively waiting for you. Enjoy the stunning view Kibo as well as the three southern glaciers.

You will then continue walking on gravel and sand path through the rocky moors. Repeatedly, pass through streams, grasses and giant stones across herbs. Reach Karanga camp at an altitude of 4,250 meters after 2 or 3 hours. When climbing up, hill after hills the good view of other upcoming routes are clearly observed. Have lunch at the Camp and enjoy the rest of your day just resting as you have acclimatized enough. Arriving at the camp same procedures will follow just as much as previous day.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Karanga Camp at (3950 m) – Barafu Camp at (4600 m)

After breakfast depart Karanga Camp and proceed on a steep ridge up to Barranco wall and then through Karanga valley to the junction that joins Mweka trail. Then continue up to Barafu hut (4,600 m). South circuit is now complete, here you can view the summit from many different angles. You will set your Camp here and enjoy the views of the summit from the distance. This is the point where there is no water.

Barafu is a swahili word means ice, this Camp is placed on a rocky, exposed ridge therefore tents will be more exposed to wind & rock it is vital for climbers to be familiar with the camp before dark. Dinner will be served early to maximizing your rest time & the preparation of your summit attempt at night. Your guide will give you a detailed briefing on how to prepare for your last push to the summit tonight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

Kilimanjaro trekking Machame Route 7 Days continue, early morning sun rays will accompany you towards Rebmann Glacier and further ahead to Hans Mayer point. You will then witness an amazing play of lights across the ice formation as the sunrise. Soon the summit sign of Kilimanjaro Mountain will appear and you have made it via Machame route! Congratulations for reaching the highest point in Africa “The roof of Africa” at an altitude of (5, 895 m) take a short break before descending along the crater rim and down to Stella point and more down to Rebman Glacier. Follow the same route of ascent down to Barafu Camp, at the camp you will have hot lunch & may be a little rest then you will continue further down to Mweka camp, enjoy the change of vegetation type on the way and reach your camp late afternoon, get hot water to wash, tea or coffee with some snakes, then change clothes you have been hiking with. Spend the rest of your day relaxing and gathering some strength for the next day.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mweka Camp at (3100 m) – Mweka – Gate at (1980 m) – Arusha

After a very good breakfast you have 10 km to reach Mweka gate, a souvenir photo of the whole team can be nice before walking down to the gate. Walk through a well-established forest road and the second half of the way is mostly characterized by rain forest. At the get you will sign out & Kilimanjaro trekking certificates will be given to you guide who will fill some details. Whoever reached Stella point will be awarded green certificate & for Uhuru Peak the actual summit will be rewarded gold certificate (Big Diploma) for climbing Kilimanjaro Machame route 7 days.

You can have a group photos and some celebration before say a farewell to all your crew plus tipping then you will meet your drive who is already there waiting for you and drive back to Planet Lodge in Arusha where you can have a long over due hot shower before dinner & overnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.