Kilimanjaro Machame Route

Arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where you’ll be met by our representative and transferred to your booked accommodation in Moshi town.

Machame Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) Elevation Gain: 1,200 meters, 3,935 feet.

At 8am, leave Moshi for Machame Gate, where you will meet our porters, guides, and cooks that will spend the next seven days trekking with you to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. Once you arrive, wait at the gate while we register your climb and the porters and guides make final preparations.

Your first day’s destination is Machame Camp. Each day porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp.

Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) Elevation Gain: 840 meters, 2,760 feet.

Although considered to be the easiest day on the Machame Route, today’s trek includes several uphill sections.

After eating lunch, climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo’s lava flows filled the Shira crater. Continue to Shira Camp.

Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) Total Elevation Gain: 690 meters, 2,264 feet.

Although this up and down day ends with an elevation gain of only 110 meters, by early afternoon you’ll have climbed 690 meters to a height of 4,530 meters before beginning your descent to Barranco Camp. This day is crucial for acclimatization. After breakfast, hike east on the Shira Plateau before reaching the junction for the Shira and Lemosho Routes.

Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) to Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet Distance: 7 Kilometers

Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up Barranco Wall.

This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you’ll have to use your hands to pull your body up. After reaching the top make a short descent into the greener Karanga Valley.  You’ll generally camp on the ridge above the valley to allow for greater acclimatization.

Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet Distance: 6 kilometers.

After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail.

During day four, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers.

Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.

Try to sleep as soon as you finish dinner as you will awake before midnight for your summit hike.

Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters, 4,240 feet

Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet

Distance: 18 kilometers

Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. For the next six hours, hike by the light of your headlamp.

The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.

The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes approximately one hour. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos of your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Mweka Camp. On the way down from Uhuru, enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers.

Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,500m/4,920ft) Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet, Distance: 10 kilometers.

After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Mweka Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery.

Our vehicles will be waiting at the lower station of Mweka Gate to take you back to Moshi/Arusha.

End of the 7-days Kilimanjaro Machame route, get ready for the next day flight back home or proceed with the wildlife safaris to other destinations.