8 Days Machame Route

Overview
Considered to be the most beautiful and attractive route up Mount Kilimanjaro compared to other climbing routes, Machame Route is suitable for more adventurous mountain hikers who wish for a more physically demanding climb than what Marangu or Rongai routes has to offer.
Machame route is presently the most common route despite its higher degree of difficulty and climber’s physical exhaustion, so you can expect to not be alone on this route as to ascend to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Day 1: Arrival

Pick up from Arusha city or Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha or Moshi city both the famous gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro. You will have a half Board accommodation at a Base Hotel in Moshi or Arusha where all trekking briefings will take place and final preparation to embark on the journey to the roof of Africa.

DAY 2

Trekking from Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Distance: 11 km/7 miles
Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

Group will leave Moshi to Machame Gate takes less an hour to arrive. The drive passes through Machame villages located on the lower slopes of the Kilimanjaro Mountain. Once all official registration and briefing are done we will leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on ever winding trail until we reach the Machame Camp.

DAY 3

Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heath

We leave the openings of the rain forest and continue our trek on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, here we will pass across heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.

DAY 4

Trekking from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Trekking from Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Distance: 3 km/2 miles
Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We will continue a trek to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. Afterwards we will descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but stunning Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft.
Although on this day you will have begun and end the day at the same elevation, this time spent at higher altitude is very helpful for acclimatization.

DAY 5

Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

A day will start by descending into a ravine to the bottom of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we will hike the non-technical but steep cliff, nearly 900 ft. From the highest reaching point of the Barranco Wall we will cut across a number of hills and valleys until we arrive at Karanga Valley with a sharp descend. And then just one steep climb we will reach Karanga Camp. This is also a shorter day specifically meant for acclimatization.

DAY 6

Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We will depart from Karanga and make way to the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We proceed up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. Reaching this point, you will have completed the Southern Circuit, which give you amazing views of the Kilimanjaro summit from many different angles.
We will make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to organize for the summit day. From this camp you will have a perfect view of two Kilimanjaro peaks Mawenzi and Kibo that offers enough motivation for the summit day.

DAY 7

Trekking from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic

Descend from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

Around midnight, we begin to progressively push to Uhuru peak. This is the most mentally and physically demanding part of the trek. There will be extreme wind and cold at this elevation. We will ascend in the darkness luckily with the moonlight over our heads for several hours while taking short, breaks.
Coming to Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be satisfied with the most magnificent sunrise coming over from Mawenzi Peak. And finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro, the rood of Africa and the crown of Tanzania.
After spending a few moments at Uhuru peak taking all in from the plains of Africa and your triumph, we will descend to Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The track is very rocky and can be quite challenging on the knees using trekking poles will be helpful.
Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest and mist or rain can also be expected in the late afternoon.
Later in the evening, we will gather and enjoy our last dinner on the mountain, telling stories of the grater accomplishments and take a well-deserved sleep.

DAY 8

Descend from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

On this last descending day, we will proceed to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates of success. At this lower elevations’ trails can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we carry on for another hour to Mweka Village. Afterwards you will be transferred back to a hotel in Moshi.