Machame Route

Machame Gate (1,800 m/5,380 ft) – Machame Camp (2,980 m/9,780 ft)

• Walking distance: 11 km/7 miles
• Walking time: 5-7 hours
• Altitude gain: 1,490 m/4,890 ft

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel at approximately 8:30 AM for Machame village with lunch boxes for the trek. From the park entrance gate (Machame, 5,900 ft), you will walk through a dense forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other tropical vegetation for about two to three hours. A stop for lunch will be made halfway to the campsite. As you continue your ascent, the tropical forest gives way to tall grasses and giant heather. Arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Dinner and overnight at Machame Camp (FB).

Machame Camp (2,980 m/9,780 ft) – Shira Cave (3,840 m/12,600 ft)

• Walking distance: 9 km/5.5 miles
• Walking time: 4-6 hours
• Altitude gain: 860 m/2,820 ft

Wake-up call is at around 6:00 AM, with a steaming cup of tea or coffee and, weather permitting, a fabulous view of Uhuru Peak. Today's trek takes you up a steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather. You will encounter giant groundsels as you hike through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams. The hike to the next campsite takes approximately six hours. On arrival at the camp, there is time to relax and acclimatize before dinner. Overnight at Shira Camp (FB).

Shira Cave (3,840 m/12,600 ft) – Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) – Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft)

• Walking distance: 15 km/9.3 miles
• Walking time: 7-9 hours
• Altitude gain: 10 m/360 ft (680 m/2,230 ft to Lava Tower)

The entire Shira Plateau greets you this morning with sweeping vistas across to Meru and the Shira Needles. A steady walk takes you up to the pass at Lava Tower (15,000 ft), where you stop for lunch. Crossing the Bastain stream, you begin descending towards Barranco Camp, along the immense canyon called the Great Barranco. You will see numerous waterfalls fed by streams from the mountain, converging to form the Umbwe River. Your camp is set at almost the same altitude as the night before. Today is a full day trek, and you will feel very tired. Arrival at the camp is between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp (FB)

Karanga Camp (4,040 m/13,255 ft) – Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft)

• Walking distance: 3.5 km/2.2 miles
• Walking time: 4-5 hours
• Altitude gain: 510 m/1,675 ft

The scenic climb to Barafu is mostly on a moraine and lava ridge with a view of Mawenzi Peak towering majestically to the right, and overhead, Kibo Peak seemingly just out of reach. The alpine desert terrain here is mostly a mineral environment with few lichens and mosses. Lunch is taken at the camp, followed by a summit clothing check in the afternoon. Climbers aiming for the peak will go to bed very early, as the next day is the longest. Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp (FB).

Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) – Summit via Stella Point (5,752 m/18,871 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) – Descend to Millennium Camp (3,820 m/12,530 ft) or Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft)

You will be awakened at midnight and, after a light breakfast, start climbing around 12:00 AM. This stage of the climb becomes much more difficult, and climbers should carry as little as possible. Temperatures range from -4° to 5°F. After about six hours, you reach the edge of the crater (Stella Point). Another hour of climbing brings you to the summit (Uhuru Peak stands at 19,340 feet), the highest point on the continent of Africa. The track around the crater's edge is rocky and often icy, so concentrate on your feet and follow your guide closely. The descent is no easier than the ascent. You will reach Barafu Camp after about three hours (around 11:30 AM) and then continue to Mweka Camp for the night, arriving around 5:00 PM. You will have trekked a total of thirteen to seventeen hours today. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp (FB).

Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) – Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft)

• Walking distance: About 15 km/9.3 miles
• Walking time: 3-4 hours
• Descent: 1,120 m/3,670 ft

On the final day, climbers will descend from Mweka Camp to the base. Descending to the gate takes approximately five hours, with arrival usually before noon. At the gate, climbers are rewarded with certificates attesting to their success at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. After finishing your climb, you will be taken to the hotel for a hot shower, dinner, and overnight rest (BB).

Departure