6 Days Machame Route

Full Itinearary

Day 1: Machame Gate - Camp Machame

Altitude change: from 1800 m to 3000 m (+1200 m)
Distance: 11 km
Time: 5-7 h
Environment: Montane Forest

Transfer from the Hotel by car until the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. We sign up at the Park’s office, at the gates of the Park. Then we get ready to start climbing. We go by a rain forest, a winding trail takes us up on a ridge until Machame Camp, our camping site for tonight.

Day 2: Camp Machame - Camp Shira

Altitude change: 3000 m to 3850 m (+850 m)
Distance: 9 km
Time: 4-6 h
Environment: Moorland

We have breakfast and then start our walk, during which we leave behind the rain forest. We continue ascending, traversing a valley and going up a rocky ridge, quite steep and covered in heath. Then we turn west, to the river’s gorge. We end the day at the Camp Shira, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Day 3: Camp Shira through Lava Tower - Camp Barranco

Altitude change: 3850 m to 4600 m to 3950 m (+750 m)
Distance: 12 km
Time: 6-7 hrs
Environment: Semi-desert

Today is crucial for acclimatisation, our bodies are getting prepared for the summit day. It’s an intense day and you may feel the altitude symptoms. We ascend until Lava Tower (4600m), where we have lunch and rest. Then we go down to Barranco campsite, where we will sleep. This camp is located in a beautiful valley under the Breach and the Great Barranco Wall. and the sunset here is memorable! It’s a special place to photograph.

Day 4: Camp Barranco - Camp Karanga

Altitude change: 3950 m to 3930 m
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 h
Environment: Alpine Desert

The day begins with a fun scramble, quite short, until the top of Great Barranco Wall. Then we cross over the scree to Karange Valley (3930 m), located under the icefalls of Kersten, Heim and Decken Glaciers. We spend the night at the camp Karanga

Day 5: Camp Karanga - Camp Barafu

Altitude change: 3930 m to 4600 m (+670 m)
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Time: 3 hrs
Environment: Alpine Desert

Leaving the Karanga camp behind, we reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail for descent. Then we continue until the Barafu Hut. This marks the completion of the Southern Circuit. From here there are views of the top from different angles. We will camp, rest and enjoy some dinner. From here we can clearly see the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.

Day 6: Barafu Camp until the Summit - Hut Mweka

Altitude change: 4600 m to 5895 m (+1295 m) (and down to 3100 m)
Distance: 7 km ascent /23 km descent
Time: 6-8 h ascent /6-7 h descent
Environment: Stone scree, ice-capped summit / Alpine desert.

We will wake up at 11:30PM, quickly have some tea and cookies and start the hike. The destination is the summit located between the Ratzel and Rembman glaciers. Heading to the north-west, we go up through scree to Stella Point, on the rim of the crater.

This is probably the most challenging portion of the hike, both physically and mentally. At the Stella Point (5732 m) we have a short stop to rest, and the sunrise here will likely be the most marvellous you have ever seen, if the weather permits. At the Uhuru Peak (5895 m), we reach the culminant point both of Mt Kilimanjaro and of Africa.

It can get really cold during the night. But it’ll be very warm at the end of the day of hiking. From the peak, we go down until the Hut Mweka campsite, via Barafu, where we have lunch. We need trekking poles for the loose gravel heading down to Camp Mweka (3100 m). Later in the day, we enjoy the last dinner on the mountains and a well-earned rest.

Day 7: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate

Altitude change: 3100 m to 1800 m
Distance: 8 km
Time: 3-4 hrs
Environment: Montane Forest.

We go down until the Mweka Park Gate where you receive the summit certificate. At lower altitudes it may be muddy and wet. Gaiters and trekking poles will be helpful. It’s convenient to have t-shirts and shorts for this part, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothes at hand.