6-Day Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro | 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

Your day will commence early with a briefing from the tour organiser and guides, followed by a 50-minute drive from the airport to Machame village. Once there, the guides and porters will prepare and pack your equipment and supplies.

After registering at the gate office, your ascent will begin, and you'll enter the rainforest almost immediately. Rain is common in this region. You’ll follow a winding trail up a ridge. In the lower sections, the trail can be muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are advisable.

After halfway up, you'll take a lunch break before continuing to the Machame camping area, which you should arrive at late in the afternoon, where you’ll set up camp for the night.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

You'll rise early at Machame Camp and after breakfast, 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'll 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. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner.
You'll conclude the day at the Shira campsite, where you’ll spend the night. 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

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Shira to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

The path takes an eastward turn into a semi-desert and rocky landscape as you make your way towards Lava Tower. After approximately 5 hours of hiking, you'll reach an altitude of 4630m.

Lunch will be served in a designated area before you begin the strenuous ascent up the rocky scree path to Lava Tower. This is typically the most challenging day of the trek, and many hikers may start experiencing symptoms such as breathlessness, irritability, and headaches for the first time.

After lunch, you'll begin your descent to the Barranco camping area. Here, you’ll rest, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is crucial for acclimatization, preparing your body for the summit day. The descent to Barranco Camp usually takes about 2 hours and provides stunning views of the Western Breach and Breach Wall, perfect for capturing some unforgettable photographs.

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 Barafu Camp

You will begin the day after breakfast, departing from Barranco. Ascend this impressive obstacle, which often proves to be easier than expected. As you near the Heim Glacier, take a moment to marvel at Kilimanjaro's stunning beauty. The route then descends through Karanga Valley, traversing ridges and valleys before meeting the Mweka Route. This is the recommended descent path from the summit, so keep it in mind. Follow the ridge to reach Barafu Hut after an additional hour or so. Karanga Valley is the last water source on the way, as there is no water available at Barafu Camp. Barafu, which means "ice" in Swahili, is a desolate and unwelcoming camping spot for the night.

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 Day: Barafu Camp

You will wake up at around early morning, and after having some tea and biscuits, you will begin your ascent into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and climb up the heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This leg of the climb is considered by many climbers to be the most mentally and physically challenging on the route, taking about 6 hours to reach Stella Point.

Once you reach Stella Point, you will take a brief rest and be rewarded with a breathtaking sunrise, weather permitting. From Stella Point, you will continue your climb on snow for about 2 hours until you reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak. It will be a moment to cherish for the rest of your life.

The descent back to Barafu will take approximately 3 hours, where you will take a short rest and collect the rest of your gear before descending further to Mweka Hut.

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 - Mweka Gate

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short (three-hour) and scenic hike back to the park gate. Here you’ll sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. Decent to Mweka Gate and meet the driver who will transfer you to the Airport for the drop-off.

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.