Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing – Machame Route

Altitude: 1,800 m – 3,100 m
Hiking Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 6 hours

After a hearty breakfast served in the morning, meet your guides and crew for a short briefing before packing your hiking items. You’ll then drive for about 45 minutes from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate, where your adventure begins.

At the gate, you'll receive a packed lunch box. Bottled water is available for purchase at your hotel in Moshi, so be sure to bring enough for the journey. After completing the registration process at the gate office, you’ll start your hike through the rainforest. Be prepared for the possibility of rain, as it often makes the trail soggy, muddy, and slippery.

The hike to Machame Camp will be a scenic, yet challenging, experience. In the evening, the cook crew will boil drinking and washing water and prepare a delicious dinner. As night falls, temperatures may drop to freezing point, so be ready for a cold night in your tent.

Altitude: 3,100 m – 3,840 m
Hiking Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4–5 hours

After waking up early at Machame Camp, you’ll enjoy breakfast before starting the day’s hike. The first part involves a climb for about an hour, taking you to the top of the forest zone. From there, the gradient becomes gentler as you enter the moorland zone, where you'll trek for approximately 2 hours.

After a short lunch and rest, you’ll continue your journey up a rocky ridge towards the Shira Plateau. As you hike, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Western Breach and its glaciers to the east. At this point, you’ll be directly west of Kibo, and after a short hike, you will reach Shira Camp at an altitude of 3,840m.

Once at camp, the porters will boil drinking and washing water for you. Dinner will be served, but be prepared for a colder night than the previous one. With the exposed nature of the camp, temperatures will drop well below freezing.

Altitude: 3,840 m – 3,940 m
Hiking Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 7–8 hours

The route now turns east, exposing you to a semi-desert and rocky landscape as you approach Lava Tower. After about a 5-hour walk, you'll reach an altitude of 4,630 m, making this one of the most challenging days so far.

Lunch will be served at a designated area before continuing your ascent along a rocky scree path to Lava Tower. It’s at this altitude that many climbers begin to feel symptoms of altitude sickness, such as breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. This is perfectly normal as your body adjusts to the thinning air.

After lunch, you'll descend almost 680 meters to Barranco Camp. This descent is important for acclimatization as it allows your body to adjust to the higher altitude. The trek to Barranco takes approximately 2 hours, and along the way, you’ll have great opportunities to capture breathtaking photos of the Western Breach and the Breach Wall.

Barranco Camp is nestled in a valley below the Breach and the Great Barranco Wall, offering a spectacular setting for a memorable sunset. After arriving, you can relax, enjoy a hot meal, and prepare for the night at Barranco Camp.

Altitude: 3,960 m – 4,550 m
Hiking Distance: 13 km
Hiking Time: 7 hours

Today's hike takes you to a narrow, stony ridge, often exposed to the gales, where you'll set up camp. This part of the journey can be dangerous, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. At this stage, the summit is still 1,345 m higher, and your final ascent will take place later that night.

As you prepare for your summit attempt, ensure that your gear is ready. This includes checking your walking sticks and thermal clothing. It's a good idea to replace the batteries in your headlamp and camera, and keep a spare set of batteries on hand. To prevent your water from freezing, use a thermal flask.

You’ll aim to go to bed around 19:00, allowing yourself some rest. While you won't get much sleep, the key is to rest your body for the demanding summit hike that lies ahead. Aim to rest for around 5 hours before the final leg of your Kilimanjaro adventure.

Altitude: 4,670 m – 5,895 m – 3,100 m
Hiking Distance: 17 km
Hiking Time: 15+ hours

The final day begins around 23:30 when you’ll rise, have some tea and biscuits, and prepare to head into the night. The first leg of the ascent takes you northwesterly through the challenging scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour climb to Stella Point (5,685 m) is one of the toughest on the entire route, both mentally and physically.

Upon reaching Stella Point, take a short rest and prepare to be rewarded with one of the most spectacular sunrises of your life (weather permitting). From here, you’ll proceed with a 2-hour ascent through snow-covered terrain to reach the summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). This moment is the culmination of your Kilimanjaro adventure, and the time spent at the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Be mindful not to linger too long, as the cold and fatigue will make it difficult to start again.

After taking in the incredible accomplishment of reaching the top, the descent begins. The walk back to Barafu Camp takes approximately 3 hours, where you will take a brief rest and collect the remainder of your gear. From Barafu, you will continue your descent down to Mweka Camp (3,100 m) for a well-deserved dinner and overnight rest.

This day will be long and demanding, but the memories and the achievement of reaching the roof of Africa will stay with you forever.

Altitude: 3,100 m – 1,800 m
Hiking Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4–5 hours

After a hearty breakfast, you'll begin your descent from Mweka Gate, walking down to Mweka Village. The path is typically muddy, so be prepared for a slippery, hour-long walk. Once you reach Mweka Village, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Moshi, where you'll be greeted with a delicious hot lunch and the opportunity to enjoy a long-overdue hot shower.

This marks the end of your Kilimanjaro adventure, and your guides will provide you with your summit certificate. Climbers who reach Stella Point (5,685 m) receive a green certificate, while those who reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) are awarded a gold certificate.

Tipping your guides and porters is highly appreciated at this stage as a token of thanks for their hard work. Tips can be given at the hotel. You'll spend your final night in the comfort of your hotel, reflecting on the incredible achievement of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.

After an unforgettable 7-day adventure on Mount Kilimanjaro, it's time to bid farewell to this stunning and majestic land. A transfer will take you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward travel. Alternatively, you may choose to continue your journey with a Safari through Tanzania's breathtaking wildlife reserves or unwind in the paradise of Zanzibar for a well-deserved relaxation.

Whichever destination you choose next, we hope your memories of Kilimanjaro will stay with you forever. Safe travels and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future!