7-Day Kilimanjaro Trek on the Machame Route

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

Machame Gate to Machame camp

Pick up from the accommodation at 8:30 am and drive to the Machame Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park (approximately 45 min drive from Moshi town). Here we will process your park fees and the fees for the crew before you will start your ascent.
Trekking takes you through the Montane forest ecosystem of the national park. Your guide will show you a variety of fauna and flora including a high chance of seeing the Black and White Colobus monkey. You will reach the camp between 3 and 5 pm (you will always be able to go at your own pace so the time varies). At the camp, you will be welcomed with hot water for washing and a nice cup of tea. If you have time and energy, there is the option to do a short hike, which offers you extra acclimatization, to a point 100m higher from the camp before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.

Start: Machame Gate (1828m) Finish: Machame Camp (3020m)
Total distance (approx.): 10.8km
Hiking time (approx.): 6 hours.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Today’s hiking time is much shorter as it is a much steeper route. Following breakfast at 7:30 am, you will start your heading out of the forest and heading into the moorland area of the national park. From here you can have a great view of your summit and even Mt Meru on a clear day. After a short break for lunch, you will start to ascend the undulating rocky ridge of the Shira plateau. Once reaching camp you will again be welcomed by your team of porters and chef with hot water before dinner and overnight. There is an optional extra 30-minute hike to Shira Camp 2 (100m extra altitude) where you can see evidence of buffaloes that previously came to find calcium here. There is also a great view of the Shira cathedral (where the 3rd peak of the mountain collapsed millions of years ago).

Start: Machame Camp (3020m) Finish: Shira Camp (3850m)
Total distance (approx.): 5.2km
Hiking time: 3-4 hours.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

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

Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Following breakfast, you will leave camp to start your ascent to the Lava Tower Rock. We won’t fib, this will be quite a tough hike and may be the first time you experience altitude sickness due to the higher elevation. It gives you a good opportunity to adjust to the climate at this altitude and the great thing is that following lunch at the big rock, you get to descend down to Barranco Camp where you will have dinner and overnight.

Start: Shira Camp (3850m) Finish: Barranco Camp (3980m) via Lava Tower Rock (4600m)
Total distance (approx.): 10.7m
Hiking time: 7 hours.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barranco Camp to Karanga camp

A shorter day, giving you a good chance to adjust but still a little challenge just when you leave the camp as you climb up what has been nicknamed the ‘breakfast rock’. It’s all worth it though as at the top of this rock you can have a great view of Kibo peak and its magnificent glaciers, whilst at the same time in the other direction you’ll be able to see Mt Meru. This day also includes a lot of ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ until you reach the valley which marks the last point for water passing on the Machame route. Head back up the valley to Karanga camp where you can relax for the afternoon before dinner and overnight.

Start: Barranco Camp (3980m) to Karanga Camp (4035m)
Total distance: 6.6km Hiking time: 3-4 hours.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Karanga camp to Barafu camp

During your trekking this day you will find the trail to get steadily steeper all the way to Barafu camp. On the way, you will pass over the volcanic rocks from previous explosions of this volcano and you will be able to view the entire landscape of the mountain. You will arrive at Barafu camp around 1 pm for a hot lunch and then rest up and get some sleep in preparation for your summit night! Although during the daytime it can be a little hot at this time, the Barafu or ‘ice’ camp really lives up to its name once the sun goes down.

Start: Karanga Camp (4035m) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
Total distance: 3.9km Hiking time: 3-4 hours.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Summit to Barafu camp to Mweka Camp

From the summit, you will descend back down to Barafu Camp where you will be welcomed by the rest of the crew and enjoy a short break and breakfast. Here you can have a nap for a couple of hours depending on the time you arrive. From Barafu Camp you will make your way down to Mweka Camp, passing from desert to moorland terrain. You will reach Mweka Camp at approximately 5 pm. There’s always a great atmosphere at camp. The hard work is over and now you can pat yourself on the back. Celebrations won’t go on for too long as you will no doubt want to head into the tent early for rest.

Total distance: 10.8km
Hiking time: Summit- Barafu Camp (2-3hours) Barafu Camp- Mweka Camp (4-5 hours).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Passing through the montane forest, similar to your first-day trekking, you will make your way down to Mweka Gate, stopping to watch the monkeys and spot turaco birds or hornbills. Upon reaching the gate you will sign out and exit Kilimanjaro National Park. From here you will be picked up by our company transport and transferred back to our office in town where you will be presented with your certificate before returning to your hotel for a well-deserved rest. End
Total distance: 8.5km
Hiking time: 3-4 hours.

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.