Machame Route

This is one of the most beautiful routes up Kilimanjaro. During your stay on the mountain, the Machame route offers accommodation in tents and not huts like the Marangu route(some of the best tent pictures you will ever take). From late afternoon sunsets at Shira to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic "slideshow" over 7 days. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 7 days on the mountain which has an added benefit, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain - acclimatization time.

All your equipment and supplies are portered up and down the mountain, with the exception of a small backpack carried by you. There you will have your snacks and water for the given day’s hike. A cook will prepare all your meals on the mountain and believe us when we say, you will be eating like a royal.

• Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Meet & Greet our local team at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Masailand Safari Lodge in Arusha for dinner & overnight. In the evening we will have an expedition briefing with both the Adventurati and Kili guides to give you some insight on what is to come and prepare you for the climb.

• Day 2: Machame Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)

• Hiking time: 4 hours     • Distance: About 12 km     • Habitat: Montane forest

• Elevation change: +820 m     • Final elevation: 2720m
 

Leave Arusha early for Machame Gate with the porters, guides and cooks who will spend the next seven days trekking with you to Uhuru Peak; the roof of Africa. 

The drive through coffee farms and villages to Machame Gate takes about 1.5 hours. Once you arrive, you will wait at the gate while we register your climb as the porters and guides make final preparations. 

Your first day's destination is Machame Camp. Each day, porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp in time for your arrival. On this first day, you will hike through the moss-covered trees of Kilimanjaro's cloud forest. The forest will thin at the end of the hike and vegetation will change to include heathers, tall grasses and wildflowers. If the weather is clear, view the surrounding area and your ultimate destination – Kibo Peak.

• Day 3: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)

• Hiking time: 5-6 hours     • Distance: About 9 km     • Habitat: Moorland                             • Elevation change: +1000 m     • Final elevation: 3720 m
 

Although considered to be the easiest day on the Machame Route, today's trek includes several uphill sections. Carry plenty of drinking water, as the exposed hike can be hot on a clear day. There are several viewpoints from which you can see the plains and forests below and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks above. As you gain altitude, notice the change in vegetation. The trees diminish in size giving way to Kilimanjaro's famous high altitude plants, Dendrosenecio Kilimanjari and Lobelia Deckenii. After eating lunch, climb the Shira Plateau created when Kibo's lava flows filled the Shira crater. Continue to Shira Camp, where you will relax for the rest of the day. Kibo lies to the West and Mount Meru to the East.

• Day 4: Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft)

• Hiking time: 5-6 hours     • Distance: About 15 km     • Habitat: Semi-desert

• Elevation change: +690 m     • Final elevation: 3950 m
 

Although this up and down day ends with an elevation gain of only 110 meters, by early afternoon you will have climbed 690 meters to a height of 4,530 meters before beginning your descent to Barranco Camp. This day is crucial for acclimatization. After breakfast, hike east on the Shira Plateau before reaching the junction for the Shira and Lemosho Routes. We continue on through the barren landscape before stopping for lunch. Shortly after lunch, we reach the highest point of the day before descending quickly to Barranco Camp. Faster hikers can take a detour via Lava Tower, a 300-foot lava formation jutting out of the mountainside. Barranco Camp, set among stands of Senecios Kilimanjaro, is considered to be the most scenic campsite on the Machame Route.

• Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) to Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) 

• Hiking time: 4-5 hours     • Distance: About 6km     • Habitat: Alpine desert

• Elevation change: +250 m     • Final elevation: 4200 m
 

Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hours scramble up Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places, you will have to use your hands to pull your body up. After reaching the top make a short descent into the greener Karanga Valley. We generally camp on the ridge above the valley to allow for greater acclimatization. 

• Day 6: Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)

• Hiking time: 4 hours    • Distance: 4km    • Habitat: Alpine desert

• Elevation change: +400 m, -980m    • Final elevation: 4600 m
 

After breakfast, we begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo's glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. Today you will hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through an alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Try to sleep as soon as you finish dinner, as you will awake before midnight for your summit hike(and try to contain your excitement).

• Day 7: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) 

• Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak     • 7/8 hours to descend to Mweka                  • Distance: About 5 km ascent - 23 km descent     • Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit     • Elevation change: +1295 m, -1820m     • Final elevation: 3100 m
 

Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. For the next six hours, you will hike by the light of your headlamp. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point. Despite the distance being relatively short, progress is slow - there is less than half the oxygen than at sea level! Uhuru Peak provides a unique satisfaction and usually releases a plethora of emotions. The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes approximately one hour. Upon reaching Uhuru, it’s photo time at the peak before beginning the descent to Mweka Camp. On the way down from Uhuru, enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers. 

At Barafu Camp enjoy your breakfast and a short break. You still have another 3-5 hours to go before reaching Mweka Camp. Camp is pitched at 3100 meters/10, 1070 ft.

• Day 8: Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,500m/4,920ft)

• Hiking time: 3-5 hours     • Distance: 15km     • Habitat: Forest 

• Elevation change: -1600m     • Final elevation: 1500 m
 

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it’s a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. 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 (5730m) 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 4km (2 hours). In the Mweka village, you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! We now drive back to Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations at Masailand Safari Lodge!!

• Day 9: Optional Safari day

We have an option to add more days in beautiful Tanzania with a Safari that will leave a mark in your memory. Few options are Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Ngorongoro Crater.

Those with scheduled flights will be transported to the airport. 
 

Those who wish to extend their stay with a safari experience can choose from a one or two day package at one of Tanzania’s best Safari Lodges. More info will be shared with interested parties.