Kilimanjaro Trek 7 Days - Machame Route

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Machame Gate (1630m/5,380 ft) to Machame Camp (2833/9,350 ft)⌄

   Distance: 11 km/7 miles Hiking Time: 5-7 hours Habitat: Rain Forest Drive to Machame gate from the hotel in Moshi after breakfast takes about 1 hour. The drive passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Leave the park gate after registration; walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp (2,833m/9,350ft).

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Machame hut

2. 2Machame Camp (2833m/9,350ft) to Shira Cave Camp (3788m/12,500 ft)⌄

   Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 4-6 hours Habitat: Heath After breakfast leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, the trail passes through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira Cave Camp.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Shira cave camp

3. 3Shira Cave Camp (3788m/12,500 ft) to Lava Tower (4605m/15,190 ft)⌄

   Distance: 7 km/4 miles Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert Lava Tower (4603m/15,190 ft) to Barranco Camp (3953m/13,044 ft) Distance: 3 km/2 miles Hiking Time: 2-3 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert After breakfast continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. After lunch descend down to Barranco Camp (3953m/13,044ft) through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. The begin and end the day at the same elevation is not a problem, the time spent at higher altitude (Lava Tower) is very beneficial for acclimatization.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Barranco camp

4. 4Barranco Camp (3953m/13,044 ft) to Karanga Camp (3972m/13,106 ft)⌄

   Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert The day starts by descending into the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then from the base start climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall the trail cross hills and valleys until descend sharply into Karanga Valley (Karanga River) the last water point. Then start climb up to Karanga Camp, arrive there for lunch, later in the afternoon do a shorter acclimatization walk.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Karanga Camp

5. 5Karanga Camp (3972m/13,106 ft) to Barafu Camp (4646m/15,331 ft)⌄

   Distance: 4 km/2 miles Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert From Karanga Camp the route passes the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail, continue up to the rocky section until Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Arrive at the camp, rest and followed by early dinner and prepare for the summit. When the weather gets clear, the view of two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can seen her.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Barafu Camp

6. 6Barafu Camp (4646m/15,331 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5895m/19,341 ft)⌄

   Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 7-8 hours Habitat: Arctic Uhuru Peak (5895m/19,341 ft) to Mweka Camp (3100m/10,065 ft) Distance: 12 km/7 miles Hiking Time: 4-6 hours Habitat: Rain Forest Start in the midnight begins the push to the summit, the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The journey will be spending in the wind and cold weather. Ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking some short breaks. Arrive Stella Point (18,900 ft) at sunrise. Then from Stella Point continue to Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa). Spend a short time on the summit taking photographs before start descent back to Barafu Camp, which takes about 3 hours. Arrive Barafu Camp, rest then wake up for a branch and continue descending down to Mweka Camp for dinner, wash, and overnight.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Mweka camp

7. 7Mweka Camp (3100m/10,065 ft) to Mweka Gate (1630m/5,380 ft)⌄

   Distance: 10 km/6 miles Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Rain Forest On this last day, after breakfast continues the 3 hours descent to Mweka Gate and sign out to the national park authority, collect the summit certificates. A vehicle will be waiting at Mweka gate and transfer back to the hotel in Moshi.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch

   Overnight: K's hotel in Moshi