Kilimanjaro Climb — Machame Route - Detailed Itinerary

Code: TTGKCM

Climbing Days: 7

Duration: 8 Nights & 9 Days

Kilimanjaro’s Machame Route is widely regarded as the best route on Kilimanjaro as it doesn’t involve a long drive, ascends and descends by different routes, enjoys beautiful campsites, passes many of Kilimanjaro’s finest features and the overall success rate is excellent.

Additionally we add an extra day to the standard itinerary to ensure you have the best chance of acclimatisation and success in summiting Kilimanjaro.

Grade

Climbing Kilimanjaro is graded strenuous and you should be in good physical fitness and have experience of multi day trekking or walking trips prior to undertaking a Kilimanjaro climb. Even for fit people the effects of altitude can make the climb very tough. The effect of altitude should not be underestimated.

The trails are on Kilimanjaro are generally clear and well maintained, although they can be slippery lower down. The Barranco Wall on day 5 involves an easy scramble for 1.5 hours and final climb to the summit is on loose scree and rock and can be snowy/icy. The climb is a walk so no specialist climbing skills are necessary.

DAY 1 Arrive Starting Point: Arusha

Kilimanjaro Airport is the best airport to arrive at and reasonably priced transfers are available to your hotel in Arusha. Our local representative will meet the group at your hotel in Arusha in the evening for a full briefing and to answer any last minute queries you may have.

Overnight: Arusha Hotel

DAY 2 Machame Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) Elevation Gain: 1,200 meters, 3,935 feet Distance: 10 kilometres

At 9am, leave Arusha for Machame Gate, where you will meet your porters, guides, and cooks that 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.

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 the first day, 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.

Overnight: Camping

DAY 3 Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) Elevation Gain: 840 meters, 2,760 feet Distance: 7 kilometres (2610m)

Considered to be the easiest day on the Machame Route, today's trek includes several uphill sections. There are several viewpoints from which you can see the plains and forests below and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks above. As you gain altitude you will notice the change in vegetation. The trees diminish in size, giving way to Kilimanjaro's famous high altitude plants.

After lunch we climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo's lava flows filled the Shira crater and 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.

Overnight: Camping

DAY 4 Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) Total Elevation Gain: 690 meters, 2,264 feet Distance: 10 kilometres

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 we hike east on the Shira Plateau before reaching the junction of the Shira and Lemosho Routes. Continuing 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 Senecio kilimanjari, is considered to be the most scenic campsite on the Machame Route.

Overnight: Camping

DAY 5 Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) to Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet Distance: 7 Kilometres

The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and you may have to use your hands to climb occasionally. After the climb we descend into the green Karanga Valley and camp on the ridge above the valley to allow for greater acclimatization.

Overnight: Camping

DAY 6 Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet Distance: 6 kilometres

The walk to Barafu passes through alpine desert but enjoys spectacular views of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. It’s early to bed as we will be up before midnight to tackle the summit climb.

Overnight: Camping

DAY 7—SUMMIT DAY Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters, 4,240 feet Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet Distance: 18 kilometres

At midnight we begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. For the next six hours you hike by the light of your head torch as you tackle the ascent to the crater rim, the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point. Sunrise comes as you reach the crater rim, a moment that you will never forget.

The one hour climb from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb but the altitude makes the walk long and tiring. After celebrating reaching Uhuru Peak (5895m) we descend to Mweka Camp.

On the descent you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers. After a break and breakfast at Barafu Camp, we descend for another three to five hours to reach Mweka Camp.

Overnight: Camping

DAY 8 Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,500m/4,920ft) Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet Distance: 10 kilometres

After the strenuous effort of yesterday your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro's cloud forest. Our vehicles will be waiting at the lower station of Mweka Gate to transfer you back to Arusha and the cold beer and hot showers you’ve been looking forward to.

Overnight: Arusha Hotel

DAY 9 Onward Travel

Either travel home or perhaps extend your stay in Tanzania with a safari or visit to Zanzibar. Our team can plan your perfect adventure.

Tanzania Extensions

Tanzania is one of the World’s best safari destinations, while the island paradise of Zanzibar is the perfect spot to relax after all the effort of Kilimanjaro.

Safari:

A safari in East Africa is the perfect way to relax and unwind after the strain of climbing Kilimanjaro. Tanzania is one of the world’s best safari destinations and we can arrange your ideal safari to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater or further afield.

Additional Nights:

If you require additional nights in Arusha before or after your climb you can add these at the time of booking. Day safaris and other activities are available from Arusha.