7 Day Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Via Machame Route

Upon your arrival, you will be personally met by one of our representative and be transferred to Arusha to a well booked hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will have a briefing with the climbs manager and your guide.

Dinner and overnight at Mvuli Hotel in Arusha or similar hotel.

Have breakfast and after depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro. While at the gate, your crew will finalize packing and after finishing with the formalities, you will start off from Machame gate. Hiking today is through the verdant afromontane forest to Machame camp and on your route, you will have a picnic lunch. You will then look out for the pretty endemic flora and a gradation of forest zones.

Dinner and overnight at Machame Camp

From Machame Gate to Machame Camp

• Distance : 11km
• Elevation (Ft) : 5,400ft to 9,400ft
• Hiking: 5-7 hours
• Habitant: Rain Forest.

This drive is from Arusha to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate which takes you about 1 hours. This journey passes through the Village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

Have breakfast and after leave the glades of the rainforest and then continue on a continuing path. From machame camp, you will hike TO Shira Camp. This first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly. Have a picnic lunch and it will be taken on the same trail. The zone you will pass through is known as the heath zone where attractive Helichrysum and the Lobelia plants become so apparent. There are many various geologic features that can be seen today from lava tubes to the glacial valleys.

Dinner and overnight at Shira Camp-FB

-Distance: 5 km

– Elevation

-Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

-Habitant: Moorland

Just from Shira plateau, we will continue to the east up a ridge as you pass the junction towards the peak of kobo. As we proceed, our direction changes to the south East towards the Lava Tower, which is called the Shark’s Tooth. After the tower, we come towards ascending to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now shall continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. We shall rest here, and after enjoy dinner and overnight. Although you will end the day at the same elevation as when you had started, the day is so important for the acclimatization and will help your body prepare for the summit day.

• Elevation: 2,500ft to 13,000ft
• Distance: 10km
• Shira camp to Laver Tower to Barranco camp
• Hiking Time: 8-8 hours
• Habitant: Semi desert

From Barranco camp which is famous for its giant groundsels, you will ascend the Barranco wall and hike the glacial valleys to the Karanga camp. Today is a short day hiking and you will have your lunch at Karanga camp. Later in the afternoon, have a walk with your guides for the great views of the southern walls of the Kibo and deep glacial valleys

Dinner and overnight at Karanga camp-FB

• From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
• Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
• Distance: 5 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

This is another half day ascending to the Barafu Camp. Enjoy lunch at the camp allowing much time to relax before the summit bid. You will now desolate alpine and at times the strong winds rip over the camp and in the evening enjoy the splendid views of Mawenzi peak that is a norm. You will have a relatively early dinner and will be taken before heading to rest in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp-FB

• Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

• Distance: 4 km

• Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

You will wake up very early in the morning like at 2am and we shall continue our way to the summit which is between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You will then head in a northwest direction and then ascend through the heavy scree towards Stella point on the crater rim. This is also the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella point of about 18,600 ft, you will stop for a short rest to relax and you will be rewarded with the most beautiful sunrise you ever likely to view. From the stella point, you will encounter some snow all the way on your 1 hour ascent to the summit.  And at Uhuru peak, you will reach the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we shall make a descent continuing straight down to the Mweka hut campsite, stopat Barafu for your lunch. And after you will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel that goes down. The Mweka camp is situated with in the upper forest and you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we shall enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp-FB

• From Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
• Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
• Habitat: Arctic
• Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent

Have breakfast and after continue the down to the Mweka park gate to receive your summit certificates. At this low elevation, it can be wet and muddy and here the gaiters and trekking poles will help you. The shorts and t-shirts will help and always keep rain gear as well as warmer clothing’s especially in the hands. From the gate, you will continue for another hour to the Mweka Village. The vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to Arusha or Moshi town.

• From Mweka Camp to Moshi
• Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
• Distance: 10 km
• The Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

This day, you will get a day room which will make you relax and check out later in the day. The vehicle will be available to transfer you to the airport to connect with your flight.

Day room at Meru View Lodge