| Duration | Kilometers | Departure Elevation | Route |
| 6-7 days | Approx. 58kms | 1.790m | By Stella Point |
The seven-day Machame route is highly recommended and used by most prominent Kilimanjaro operators. This is the ideal schedule for this route. We separate in 2 days the trek between Barranco and Barafu, so you can have shorter walking days at this point, before to reach the summit.
ITINERARY OF MACHAME ROUTE, DAY BY DAY
- DAY 1
- Elevation: From 1.790m to 2.835m
- Habitat: Dense forest
- From Machame Gate to Machame Camp
- Distance: 11kms
- Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
We leave Moshi in the early morning and we’ll drive for an hour until we reach Machame Gate.
As the start of the trek makes us cross the rain forest, we recommend you to have your walking sticks and gaiters close to you.
- DAY 2
- Elevation: From 2.835m to 3.750m
- Habitat: Moorland
- From Machame Camp to Shira Camp
- Distance: 5kms
- Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours
After having an amazing breakfast we start to hike to Shira cave camp. We should arrive to the camp in the beginning of the afternoon.
As we go through the moorland, we usually advice you to have suncream in your bag.
When we arrive to Shira Camp, we have a hot lunch. Lunch will be followed by a quick rest, before leaving for an acclimatization walk.
- DAY 3
- Elevation: From 3.750m to 3.900m
- Habitat: Semi desert
- From Shira Camp to Lava Tower & Barranco Camp
- Distance: 10kms
- Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours
We start walking through the moorland but we will soon discover the change of the landscape, with a semi desert view. Passing the junction towards to the Lava Tower, which is at 4600meters, we stop for lunch and body acclimatization. This day can be considered as a challenge for your body because of the altitude.
After lunch we will start our descent to Barranco Camp, which is at a lower elevation, so you can recover again.
- DAY 4
- Elevation: From 3.900m to 3.995m
- Habitat: Alpine desert
- From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
- Distance: 6kms
- Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
We leave Barranco Camp, we continue along the Barranco Wall and we end in the Karanga Valley campsite. This short day is dedicated to the acclimatization. We will have lunch at Karanga Camp, then you can rest.
- DAY 5
- Elevation: From 3.995m to 4.600m
- Habitat: Alpine desert
- From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
- Distance: 4kms
- Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects to the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu camp. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
From this point, you can enjoy the view of the two peaks: Mawenzi and Kibo
- DAY 6
- Elevation: From 4.600m to the summit: 5.895m
- Habitat: Arctic
- From Barafu Camp to Summit, then from Summit to Mweka Hut
- Distance: 5kms ascent & 7.5kms descent
- Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours ascent / 3 to 4 hours descent
Very early in the night (around midnight), we continue our way to the summit.
At Stella Point (which is at 5756m), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise likely to see.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 45 minutes-1 hour ascent to the summit.
At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro: CONGRATULATIONS!
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will need your gaiters and walking sticks during the loose gravel going down.
Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest . Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and early sleep.
- DAY 7
- Elevation: From 3.100m to 1.640m
- Habitat: Rain forest
- From Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
- Distance: 10kms
- Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate. There you are, you have fully completed your trek through Kilimanjaro Mount. There, you receive your summit certificates.
The climate in the forest can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and walking sticks will be necessary.
A vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.
PRICE OF MACHAME ROUTE FROM $US 1.900/pax
