6 days Machame Route

Elevation: (1490m) to (2980m)

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: Approximately 18 kilometers

Habitat: Montane forest

Starting point: The starting point for the 6-day Machame route is at the Machame Gate.

To kickstart your expedition, after an early and hearty breakfast at your hotel in Moshi, you will be picked up and transported to Machame Village from Moshi (1400m). We will carry packed lunch and mineral water. Depending on road conditions, you can drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3-kilometer trek will take roughly an hour. You begin to scale the mountain slopes by entering the rainforest almost immediately after registering at the gate office. There’s a good chance of rain in the forest, which will turn the track sloppy, muddy, and hazardous.

You’ll pause for a delicious lunch break approximately halfway through and arrive at the Machame camping location late in the afternoon.
Your porters (who arrived at the campsite far earlier than you) will have already set up your tent when you arrive. Before you retire to your tent for the night, the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare meals. At this location, nighttime temperatures might already be below freezing.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping – Machame Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking time: 6 hours

Distance: Approximately 9 km

Habitat: Moorland

You get up early in Machame camp and ascend about an hour or so to the top of the forest, then walk for two hours across the moorland zone at a softer grade. You proceed over a rough slope onto the Shira plateau after a quick lunch and break. By now, you should be able to see the Western Breach with its magnificent glaciers from an easterly direction. You are now due west of Kibo and will arrive at the Shira campground at 3 840m after a short climb. Before serving supper, the porters will boil drinking and cleaning water. The night will be considerably colder at this exposed camp than the previous night, with temperatures falling far below freezing.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping – Shira 1 Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: Approximately 15 km

Habitat: Semi-desert

After around a 5-hour walk, the road bends east through a semi-desert and rocky environment surrounding Lava Tower, where you will reach a height of 4630m. Before hiking the rough scree trail to Lava Tower, lunch is given in a designated area (4630m). This is by far the most difficult day thus far. It is usually about this point, 1′, that some climbers begin to experience symptoms such as dyspnea, irritability, and headaches for the first time. After lunch, you descend about 680 meters to the Barranco camping area, and the entire acclimatization advantage of this day becomes apparent when you reach the high altitude of 4600 meters at Lava Tower.

The descent to Barranco camp takes roughly 2 hours and provides excellent photographic chances of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. While you wait for your meal to be prepared, the camp is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should award you with a magnificent sunset.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping – Barranco Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking time: 7h

Distance: Approximately 13 km

Habitat: Alpine desert

After spending the night at the Great Barranco Wall (an intimidating sight at first), you climb this impressive-looking challenge, which usually turns out to be easier than you thought. When you reach the top, right below the Heim Glacier, you realize how stunning Kilimanjaro is. The path then descends through the Karanga Valley, passing through slopes and valleys on its way to reaching the Mweka route. This is the favored descent path from the peak, so keep that in mind. Turn left up the slope and you’ll arrive at Barafu Hut in about an hour.
Because there is no water at Barafu Camp, the last water break on the trek is the Karanga Valley. The Swahili term “Barafu” means “ice,” and it is a desolate and difficult camping spot. The tents are placed on a small, craggy, and perilous ridge, completely exposed to the constant gales. To avoid any mishaps, make sure you familiarize yourself with the terrain before it becomes dark. The top is now 1345 meters higher, and you’ll finish the climb that night. For your summit attempt, prepare your equipment, ski stick, and warm gear. This should involve replacing your light and camera batteries, as well as making sure you have a spare pair on hand. Carry your water in a thermal flask to prevent it from freezing. Go to bed at 19h00 and try to catch up on some much-needed rest and sleep.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping – Barafu Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking time: 8h to reach Uhuru Peak, 7 – 8h to descend to Mweka

Distance: Approximately 7 km ascent – 23 km descent

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You’ll get up at 23h30 and trudge off into the night after some tea and biscuits. You’ll hike over hard scree to Stella Point on the crater rim in a north-westerly direction. This 6-hour hike to Stella Point is the most emotionally and physically demanding trip for many climbers. You’ll take a short break at Stella Point (5685m) and be rewarded with the most spectacular dawn you’ll ever witness (weather permitting). On your 2-hour trek to Uhuru Peak from Stella Point, you will almost certainly encounter snow. The amount of time you spend on the top will be determined by the weather.

Stopping here for too long will make it tough to restart owing to the cold and exhaustion. Take pride in your success and remember this day for the rest of your life. It takes roughly 3 hours to return to Barafu from the peak. You’ll take a well-deserved but brief break here before gathering the remainder of your belongings. The trail is not challenging and will take you through the moorland and into the woodland through a rock and scree path. The camp is located in the higher woodland, so expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner will be provided, as well as washing water.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping – Mweka Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking time: 3h
Distance: Approximately 15 kms
Habitat: Forest

Your team will enjoy a tremendous celebration with dancing and singing after a well-deserved breakfast. You will give your suggestions to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters here on the mountain. You will return to Mweka Gate after partying for three hours. To get a certificate of completion from the National Park, all hikers must sign their names. Hikers who reach Stella Point (5685m) are awarded green certificates, while those who reach Uhuru Peak (5895m) are awarded gold certificates. Hikers will descend into Mweka village for 1 hour after getting certificates (3 kilometers). You’ll be fed a hearty lunch before returning to Moshi for some much-needed rain and more festivities.