7-Day Recommended Route - Mt Kilimanjaro Trek (Machame)

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

Trekking From Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation: From 1800M to 2835M
Distance: 7 Miles / 11KM
Trekking Time: 5-7 HRS
Habitat: Afromontane Forest

Today you will commence the trekking of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. After early morning breakfast from your hotel/lodge, our mountain crew will arrive to meet you and hold a quick briefing. Then you will be transferred by vehicle to Machame Gate.
Once the permits are settled, we will begin our ascent through the verdant rainforest that clothes the lower reaches of Mt. Kilimanjaro. A picnic lunch is taken on route. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforest. Hiking for 5 – 6 hours through this ancient jungle, you’ll get to go on a miniature safari as you spot wildlife such as black and white colobus monkeys along the way. We highly recommend you take your raincoat, gaiters and trekking poles among others.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Trekking From machame Camp to Shira Camp

Elevation: From 2835M to 3750M
Distance: 3 Miles / 5KM
Trekking Time: 4-6 HRS
Habitat: Afromontane Forest / Moorland

Day two on the Machame Route begins with an early start. After a hearty breakfast we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The temperature begins to drop. The trek is relatively steep as you enter the low alpine zone which is characterized by moorlands and grasslands. As well, attractive heliochrysum and lobelia plants become apparent. Various geologic features can be seen today from lava tubes to glacial valleys.

Physically speaking, the trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. We arrive at Shira Camp in time for a hot lunch. Shira Camp sits on a plateau giving you time to relax and soak in the stunning views.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Shira Camp to Barranco Camp Via Lava Tower

Elevation: From 3750M to 3900M
Distance: 6 Miles / 10KM
Trekking Time: 6-8 HRS
Habitat: Moorland

Day three, we depart from Shira Camp after breakfast and head towards Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m). Walking on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. This part of the climb has many ascents and descents and offers beautiful views along the way. It is a longer hike and you might feel a bit uncomfortable due to the increased altitude. The lunch break will take place at Lava Tower in order to give you some extra high-altitude time for proper acclimatization.

After lunch, we descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Although you end the day at a very similar elevation to when you started from Shira Camp, it is arguably one of the most important days on your trek as it gives you a chance to climb high and sleep low which is important for apt acclimatization.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation: From 3900M to 3995M
Distance: 3 Miles / 5KM
Trekking Time: 4-5 HRS
Habitat: Moorland

Day four will taste your mountain climbing power, agility, and strength, as you’ll tackle Barranco Wall for a bit of old-fashioned rock climbing. We make an early start to avoid crowding on the way up Barranco Wall. Afterbreakfast, we start by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley and the junction, which connects, with the Mweka Trail. Despite the Wall’s seemingly daunting height and steepness the actual climb is rather merciful at a mere hour or so. The top provides a great photo opportunity with Kibo Peak as the backdrop. Today is a relatively short day’s hike and lunch is taken at Karanga camp.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: From 3,995M to 4673M
Distance: 2.5 Miles / 4KM
Trekking Time: 4-5 HRS
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day five is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Your hike takes you across an alpine desert, making for a truly otherworldly day of hiking. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. As you’ll be summiting tomorrow, it’s important that you eat a full meal and drink plenty of fluids. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the rest of the evening.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking to Uhuru Peak and Descend to Mweka Camp

Elevation: From 4673M to 5895M / 5895M to 3100M
Distance: 11 Miles / 18KM
Trekking Time: 14-16 HRS
Habitat: Arctic, Alpine Desert, Heath

Day six is summit night. Excitement is building up as we make an early start from Barafu Camp (4,673 m) at midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m). Technically the climb is relatively simple; however, the most challenging part is the high altitude. You’ll be hiking in utter darkness for the next 5 hours, so take it slow and you’ll arrive at Stella Point on the crater rim before dawn. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa. Afterward, we begin our long hike downhill to Mweka Camp with some stops to refuel.

Main Destination:

Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trekking From Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation: From 3100M to 1640M
Distance: 6 Miles / 10KM
Trekking Time: 3-4 HRS
Habitat: Afromontane Forest

Day seven is a day of celebration, our final day of trekking. After a warm breakfast, a gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate 1,640 m). As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. Around midday you will be already at Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! Here, you’ll get to celebrate with your porters and guides, provide them with their tips for their hard work. After saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by our Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

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