The Machame Route remains one of the most popular routes on Mount Kilimanjaro, and with beautiful pathways leading through equatorial jungles, alpine deserts, and glacial valleys, it is the perfect choice for those who want to experience the many eco-systems that Africa’s highest mountain has to offer.

 

While it is possible to climb the Machame Route over six days, we strongly recommend the seven-day option to allow for acclimatisation. During your summit, you’ll overnight at Machame, Shira, Barranco, Karanga, Barafu, and Mweka Camps, and enjoy a mix of gradual inclines, demanding trails and moon-like landscapes.

 

The views along the Machame Route are simply spectacular and worth the journey alone.  Every day brings something new, while every step brings you closer to your goal.

 

All Kilimanjaro Company Expeditions include pre-and-post climb accommodations and airport transfers. The only extras you need to budget for are dinner/drinks at the hotel in Moshi and tips for your mountain crew. You'll find further information about this in our Kilimanjaro Essential Information Booklet below.

 

MACHAME ROUTE ITINERARY

 

DAY 1: ARRIVE KILIMANJARO

At Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. After hotel check-in, you will have a few hours to relax before meeting with your guide for a briefing.

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)      

    

DAY 2: MOSHI – MACHAME GATE - MACHAME CAMP

After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will collection you and transfer you to the Machame Gate, where you will begin your expedition to the Roof of Africa. After completing registration and collecting your snack pack, you will begin your ascent through the equatorial rainforest to Machame Camp. Lunch will be served on route.

DAILY INFORMATION

Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft

Elevation (m): 1,645m to 2,865m
Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Equatorial Rainforest                

Overnight: Camping Machame Camp                                                                                                                                    

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP

Your day will start with a bowl of warm water for washing. Afterwards, you will pack up your sleeping bag and head to the mess tent for a delicious hot breakfast. After refreshing your daypack with freshly filtered water, snacks, and essential kit such as your hat, raingear, and camera, you will head off on the relatively steep Shira trail towards Shira Camp. Today is a demanding day, but one that holds untold rewards in terms of scenery. On a clear day, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Uhuru Peak. Lunch will be served on route.

DAILY INFORMATION

Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft

Elevation (m): 2,865m to 3,810m

Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Hiking Time: Approximately 5 - 6 hours                 

Overnight: Camping Shira Camp                                                                                                                                                          Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 4: SHIRA CAMP – BARRANCO CAMP

You may have heard the phrase ‘climb high and sleep low’ and today you will do exactly that. An important day for acclimatisation, you will hike from Shira Camp to the impressive formation of Lava Tower at 15,000ft or 4,572m, before descending to Barranco Camp at 13,000ft or 3,965m, through a magnificent canyon. The giant lobelia on this part of the route are thought to be hundreds of years old, and well worth a photo stop. Lunch will be served on route.

DAILY INFORMATION

Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft

Elevation (m): 3,810m to 3,965m
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert

Overnight: Camping Barranco Camp                                                                                                                              

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

The Barranco Wall instils fear in many climbers, but it is not as bad as it looks. After a hot breakfast in the mess tent, you’ll be ready to tackle this imposing wall of rock, which takes approximately two hours to mount. At the top, you’ll be treated to spectacular vistas, before making your way across the glacial valleys to Karanga Camp. With an elevation gain of just 100ft or 30m, today is another important day for acclimatisation. Lunch will be served on route or in camp.

DAILY INFORMATION

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft

Elevation (m): 3,965m to 3,995m
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert                                                   

Overnight: Camping Karanga Camp                                                                                                                      

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  

DAY 6: KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP  

After breakfast today, you’ll make your final push for Barafu Base Camp at 15,300ft or 4,665m above sea level. While the trek to camp is steep in some parts, you’ll arrive just after midday, and after lunch, you will have plenty of time to rest and prepare for the summit night ahead.

Dinner will be served early today, before you head to your tent for some much needed R&R. At midnight, your journey to Uhuru Peak will begin.

DAILY INFORMATION

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Elevation (m): 3,995m to 4,665m
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Overnight: Camping Barafu Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 7: BARAFU CAMP - SUMMIT – MWEKA CAMP

The day you have been planning for and dreaming about has finally arrived. At midnight, you will enjoy a warm drink before departing base camp for Stella Point, your first port of call on the way to Uhuru Peak. It’s going to be along and demanding night, but your goal lies just 6 – 7 hours away, so take things steady, follow the instructions of your guide, and slowly but surely, you will reach 19,345ft or 5,895m – the top of Mount Kilimanjaro!

After taking those photos that you will cherish for a lifetime, you will make your descent back to Barafu Camp for lunch. After a short rest, you’ll descend further to Mweka Camp, where you will spend your last night on the mountain.

DAILY INFORMATION

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)

Elevation (m): 4,665m to 5,895m (and down to 3,050m)
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles ascent / 12 km / 7.5 miles descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent

Overnight: Camping Mweka Camp                                                                                                                   

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 8: MWEKA CAMP - MOSHI

Enjoy a final mountainside breakfast before descending to Mweka Gate, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy some quality time with your guides, chefs, and porters, and give them their well-deserved tips. After collecting your certificate, you will transfer to your hotel in Moshi for a much-needed shower and ice-cold Kilimanjaro beer.

DAILY INFORMATION

Mweka Camp to Moshi
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft

Elevation (m): 3,050m to 1,645m
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Equatorial Rainforest

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

DAY 9: DEPARTURE

 

After breakfast, you will have some time to relax and shop for any last-minute souvenirs, before transferring to the airport or onwards to your safari or Zanzibar beach extension.

 

From £2195.00 per person sharing