Kilimanjaro Machame Trek

Day 1 Moshi
At 5896m Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Few mountains can claim the grandeur of Kilimanjaro , with it's breathtaking views of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, the Rift Valley and the Maasai Steppe. Unlike many of the world's other high peaks, no climbing is actually required and even first-time enthusiasts can hike to the top.

Your Kilimanjaro adventure begins with you being met at Kilimanjaro airport and transferred to the tour hotel. Feel free to the make use of the swimming pool or explore the friendly town of Moshi before your trek briefing at the hotel with our mountain guide in the late afternoon.

Day 2 Moshi to Machame Camp
After an early breakfast we will have a pre-trek briefing and check & prepare our equipment before leaving Moshi. We then drive for approximately 45 minutes to Kilimanjaro’s Machame Gate, on the southwestern side of the mountain. Your guide will handle your registration before we begin the hike around 10:30am if all has run to time.

Once we start our ascent we immediately enter the rain forest. The trail ahead is often very muddy and slippery, due to heavy rains on this side of the mountain, so good grip footwear, trekking poles and gaiters are recommend even at this early stage! Our cooks will have a welcome lunch ready for us at the halfway point, then we continue through the rain forest and we should reach camp at around 4-5pm. Camp is set up for us ahead of our arrival, giving us time to unpack, relax and socialize around the campfire.

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation 1640m to 3048m
Distance 11 km
Hiking Time 5-7 hours
Habitat Montane Forest

Day 3 Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After an early breakfast, we climb to the top of the rain forest and follow a gentle gradient though the moorlands. After lunch we follow a rocky ridge, and as Shira plateau comes into sight, we are welcomed with some spectacular views of the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. The path leads us to Shira camp, which is located on moorland meadows next to a cold mountain stream. We should arrive at camp around 2-3pm, and have the rest of the afternoon and early evening to explore the plateau. Please note that this camp is exposed to the elements and at night temperatures can drop to below freezing.

Machame Camp – Shira Camp

Elevation 3048m to 3658m
Distance 5 km
Hiking Time 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Day 4 Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco
Today’s hike will take us past the Lava Tower at 4600m before continuing to the Arrow Glacier at around 4876m and then descending down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3860m. Today is extremely important for acclimatization, and will be the toughest so far. The terrain will change from moorland into semi desert and rocky landscape, which surrounds the Lava Tower. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, and we should arrive at camp around 4pm, giving us time to rest and find a prime position for what is sure to be a memorable sunset.

Today be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness and be sure to make our guides aware of how your feeling, so that they can plan accordingly and make recommendations for the following days hike.

Shira Camp – Lava Tower - Barranco

Elevation 3658m to 4876m
Distance 7 km
Hiking Time 4-5 hours
Habitat Semi desert

Day 5 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Over breakfast we take in the enormity which is the great Barranco Breach Wall and consider our next task of climbing it! The climb itself is not as hard as you may anticipate and brings us just below the Heim Glacier. We now head down into the Karanga Valley, where our path entwines with the Umbwe route. We plan to arrive at Karanga camp by mid-day, giving us time to unpack, relax and socialize before dinner. We don't gain much altitude today which will help with our acclimatisation.

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation 3860m to 4200m

Distance 5 km
Hiking Time 4-5 hours
Habitat Semi desert

Day 6 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Leaving Karanga camp we start climbing again with some steep valleys to negotiate. We have some hard hiking today, especially as your body may well be struggling with the altitude. Our destination is Barafu Camp (Barafu meaning ‘ice’ in Kiswahili) from where we make our final ascent at midnight. Once at the camp we will have time to walk around the rocky ridge for some spectacular views of Mawenzi peak and Kibo, weather permitting!

We will have the afternoon to prepare our equipment for our final ascent and then an early dinner and early to bed to get some much needed pre-climb rest and sleep.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation 4200m to 4673m
Distance 4 km
Hiking Time 4-5 hours
Habitat Alpine desert

Days 7 Summit Day - Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Huts
Today is our ascent day! We’ll wake at 23:30, have a light breakfast and prepare for our journey under a star lit sky. It will be a very cold and steep hike, but everyone’s spirits will be high! We have around a 6-8 hour hike to the top of Africa. Once at Uhuru Peak, we will have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. You would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak!

Faster hikers will see an incredible sunrise from the summit, others from Stella Point (5745m), just below on the craters edge, but both are sure to be a memorable and breath-taking experience. Once we have all reached the summit, had time for some ‘champion’ photos, we need to head straight down. We head for Mweka Huts, which will take around 5 hours, after dinner we get some well-deserved sleep!

Please note that we will be doing the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly, slowly and in Kiswahili “pole, pole,” an optimistic attitude will get you there!

Summit Day - Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Huts

Elevation 4673m to 5895m to 3068m
Distance:4 km up, 11 km down
Hiking Time:13-16 hours
Habitat Stone scree/ice capped summit

Days 8 Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
After a hearty and well-deserved breakfast, we make our way down to Mweka Gate. We will reach the gate around 2-3pm, and at this point we will receive our Summit Certificates, and say goodbye to our guides, cooks, and porters. We’ll transfer to your hotel in Moshi, where it is definitely time for celebrations!!!

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation 3068m to 1640m
Distance 10 km
Hiking Time 3-4 hours

Days 9 Trip ends in Moshi
Your trip ends after breakfast today and your time is then free. Airport transfers to the nearby Kilimanjaro Airport are available from your hotel or can be pre-booked if you prefer. There are also regular shuttle buses to both Arusha and then on to Nairobi on a daily basis if you are connecting with one of our other trips or a safari