9-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Machame Route

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

Kilimanjaro International Airport - Moshi

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our dedicated Afrikan Accent Adventures representative will warmly welcome you and escort you to the Panama Garden Resort. Here, you'll find everything you need for a comfortable stay after your long flight, including cozy rooms with hot showers, a delightful restaurant offering an array of delicious choices, a friendly service team ready to assist you, and convenient internet access.

At the appointed time, you'll participate in a comprehensive briefing where our experienced guides will provide you with all the details you need for the upcoming trek, ensuring you're fully prepared for the adventure ahead.

Main Destination:

Moshi (Town)

Accommodation:

Panama Garden Resort

• Mid-range hotel located in Moshi (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Machame Gate (1828m) - Machame camp (3020m)

Your day starts early with breakfast, followed by a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Gate (1828m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment at the gate. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about halfway and will reach the Machame camp (3020m) in the late afternoon. Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on arrival. In the evening the porters will bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Near Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

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

Machame camp (3020m) - Shira camp (3847m)

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you 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 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 at 3 847m. The porters will once again supply you with a small bowl of washing water, before serving dinner. 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
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Shira Camp (3847m) to Lava Tower (4642m) to Barranco camp (3984m)

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4642m after about a 5 hour trek. Lunch is served at a designated area. This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 658m to the Barranco camping area.
After reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner to be prepared.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Barranco camp (3984m) - Barafu camp (4681m)

After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall, you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end usually turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you should reach Barafu Hut.

The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Barafu camp (4681m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3090m)

You will get up around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. Head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5739m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life! The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3090m).

Main Destination:

Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Mweka camp (3090m) - Mweka Gate (1641m)

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned.
It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely.
At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch. After lunch you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations.

Main Destination:

Mweka Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

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

Descent From Horombo Camp To Marangu Gate – Moshi

After enjoying breakfast at the usual time of 07:00hrs, take a moment to express gratitude to your dedicated guides and hard-working porters during the important 'Tipping Celebration'. Following this heartfelt gesture, begin your descent from Horombo Huts (3,720 meters) towards Marangu Gate (1,879 meters), making a stop at Mandara Hut (2,720 meters) around midday for a delicious cooked lunch.

Typically reaching Marangu Gate by 16:00hrs, today's leg covers approximately 20 km/12 miles, requiring 6.5 to 7 hours of walking time. Upon arrival at Marangu Gate, you'll be presented with a well-deserved certificate, a cherished memento commemorating your remarkable achievement. Subsequently, return by vehicle to Moshi, where the comfort of your hotel awaits, providing a restful overnight stay and a chance for some well-deserved relaxation. Alternatively, if energy still abounds, consider celebrating your incredible accomplishment—you've just conquered Africa's highest mountain!

Main Destination:

Moshi (Town)

Accommodation:

Panama Garden Resort

• Mid-range hotel located in Moshi (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Moshi - Kilimanjaro International Airport & Depart

After a refreshing night's sleep at your hotel, indulge in a satisfying breakfast before preparing for check-out by 10:00hrs. (Should you wish to extend your stay at the hotel during the day, please inform us upon booking, and we'll provide details regarding the cost for a 'day room,' allowing you to stay until 18:00hrs. We can arrange the booking on your behalf.)

As transfer services are already included in your package, you'll be conveniently collected from your hotel and transported to the airport. For those travelers embarking on a safari adventure, our Afrikan Accent Adventures Tours guide will meet you in the afternoon to deliver a pre-safari briefing, ensuring you're fully prepared for your upcoming exploration.

Main Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

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