The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. The Machame route approaches the summit from the southwest and descends using the Mweka route, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice field. Great for acclimatization with lots of walk high, sleep low opportunities.
Challenging trek with stunning scenery through 5 diverse climatic zones. Good opportunity to split pre-summit day climb to leave climbers rested before summiting. Very popular trail.
We will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
Depending at what time you arrive you will have pre-trek briefing at your hotel. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend time having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
-Elevation (m): 1830m to 3100m
-Elevation (ft): 6000ft to 10,200ft
-Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
-Habitat: Montane Forest
At 0800 hrs, drive from the Hotel in Moshi or Arusha to Machame National Park Gate, it takes about forty minutes from Moshi. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. After registration and all the formalities, with the porters and guides you leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up on a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
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-Elevation (m): 3100m to 3840m
-Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 12,600ft
-Walking Time: 4-5 hours
-Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. In the midday you arrive at Shira for Hot lunch and siesta until afternoon when you take a short walk to Shira Hut/cave.
- Elevation (m): 3840m to 4630m to 3860m
- Elevation (ft): 12,600ft to 12,700ft
- Walking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: lower alpine desert
From the Shira Plateau, we continue northeast up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South east towards the Lava Tower, where we will be having picnic hot lunch, you can see second junction which leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4,876 meters. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3,860 meters. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
- Barranco Hut (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Valley (3,963 m/13,000 ft)
- Elevation: 3,900 m to 3,963 m
-Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
-Hiking time: 3 -4 hours
-Habitat: Moorland and alpine desert
A short hiking day of 3 hours, after a morning breakfast, it’s time for you to climb the Barranco Wall. Although it may look intimidating at first, trekkers usually report that it turned out to be much easier than they anticipated.
At the top of the wall, you're above the clouds and enjoy superb views of the Southern Ice Fields and the summit. The trail then winds up and down until you arrive at Karanga Camp for lunch and rest
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Karanga Camp (3,963 m/13,000 ft) to Barafu Hut (4,600 m/15,091 ft)
- Hike time: 3.5 hrs
- Elevation change: +600 m/+1,968 ft
- Estimated distance: 4km/2.5 miles
- Final elevation: 4,600 m/15,091 ft
The trail from Karanga to Barafu reaches the bleak high desert of Kilimanjaro. Barafu Camp is a basic camp geared towards the business of reaching the summit.
After breakfast in the morning, we continue scaling close to the summit and have some amazing views of the mountain during your ascent of just three hours to reach Barafu Camp, which sits at 4,600 m (15,091 ft). Arrive for lunch and take an afternoon siesta following with an early dinner served after summit briefing (details on how best to prepare for summit night) and get some rest before attempting the summit that same night.
-Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,091 ft) to The Summit (5,896 m/19,343 ft) and then to Millennium Camp (3,820 m/12,532 ft)
-Summit time: 7 hrs
-Estimated distance: 5km/3.2 miles
-Final elevation: 5,896 m/19,343 ft
-Descent time: 5 hrs
-Estimated distance: 12km/7.5 miles
-Final elevation: 3,820 m/12,532 ft
You will be awoken around 11:30 with hot tea and biscuits and will then begin the steep incline up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. Your first check-point is at 4900m where you will take a short break. The climb steepens as you approach Stella Point on the crater rim, which sits at 5,685 m (18,651 ft) above sea level, which will be around 5-6 hours after departing Barafu Camp.
Take a moment to enjoy the approaching dawn and incredible view out and across to Mawenzi Peak, but remember you still have 1 hour trekking to reach Uhuru Peak so dig deep for the energy. The slope flattens as you head west around the crater rim and you should arrive at the summit at or just after sunrise.
Your stay here will be brief so get as many pictures as you can of the incredible views and surrounding glaciers. You will then retrace your steps back around the crater rim to Stella Point (5,739 meters) where you will turn south and head down the heavily screed slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp.
Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for your final night on the mountain. In total you will be trekking for 14-16 hours on day eight so it is important to pace yourself, remain hydrated and keep your blood sugar levels up.
-Elevation: 3950m/12,959ft to 1680m/5500ft
-Distance: 10km/6miles
-Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-Habitat: Forest
-Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Kili Trips safari vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
Price From: $ 1540
Price From: $ 1780