7 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route

You’ll meet our Mangokili Adventures driver at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), and he’ll take you to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you’ll meet your guide. He or she will talk to you about your upcoming hike and check your gear to make sure you have everything you need for the mountain. You can rent the gear you forgot on this day.
Spend the night at the Park View hotel or the Lindrin lodge. There is no extra cost for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Machame route gate and hike to Machame Camp. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Moshi or Arusha to the park’s Machame route gate. The trip goes through Machame, which is a village on the lower slopes of the mountain.

We leave the park gate and walk up a ridge on a trail that winds through the rain forest. The trail can be muddy and slippery at lower elevations. This is a good place to use gaiters and trekking poles. From the Machame route gate, we go a short way until we reach the Machame Camp.

Height: 1830m (6000ft) to 3050m (9950ft) Distance: 11km (7mi)
— The hike takes 5 to 6 hours.
— The forest is a montane forest.

After breakfast, we leave the rain forest glades and continue on a path that goes up. We cross the valley on a steep, rocky ridge. Now, the path goes west along a river gorge until we reach the Shira campsite.

— Height: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft
— Distance: 5km/3mi
— Walking Time: 4-5 hours
— Habitat: Moorland

From the Shira Plateau, we keep going east along a ridge, past a junction, and up to the top of Kibo. As we keep going, our direction changes to the south-east, towards the “Shark’s Tooth” Lava Tower, which is 4,650m (15,250ft) high.
Shortly after the tower, we come to the second fork, which leads to the Arrow Glacier.
Now, we keep going downhill toward the Barranco Camp. Even though you end the day at about the same height as when you started, this day is very important for getting used to the altitude and will help your body get ready for summit day.

— Height: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
— Distance: 10km/6mi
— Walking Time: 5–6 hours
— Habitat: semi-desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue along a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction with the Mweka Trail.
— From 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft in height.
— 5km/3mi in distance.
— It takes 3–4 hours to hike
— It lives in an alpine desert

We keep going toward the Barafu Camp. You have finished the South Circuit, which gives you a lot of different views of the summit. Here, we set up camp, rest, eat dinner, and get ready for the day we’ll reach the top.
— From 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft in altitude.
— 4km/2mi in distance.
— It takes 3–4 hours to hike
— It lives in an alpine desert

We keep going to the top between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers between midnight and two in the morning. You head northwest and climb up through a lot of loose rock to get to Stella Point on the edge of the crater.

This is the hardest part of the trek for both your mind and body. At Stella Point, you’ll take a short break and get to see the most beautiful sunrise you’re likely to ever see. Those who hike faster may be able to see the sunrise from the top.

From Stella Point, it could snow all the way to the top, which is an hour away. When you reach Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the whole continent of Africa!

From the top of the mountain, we head straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping for lunch at Barafu. For the loose gravel on the way down, you might want gaiters and trekking poles. We get to Mweka Camp and spend our last night on the mountain having fun.

— Height: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
— Down to 3090m/10,150ft
— Distance: 5km/3mi up, 13km/8mi down
— Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up, 5-6 hours down
— Stone scree and an ice-covered peak are their homes

After breakfast, we keep going downhill until we reach the Mweka Park Gate, where you can get your summit certificates. It can be wet and muddy at lower elevations. Helpful items include gaiters and trekking poles. Most likely, shorts and t-shirts will be enough to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
From the gate, Mweka Village is another hour away. At Mweka Village, a car will pick you up and take you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha (about 30 minutes). Remember to give your guides and porters tips.
— From 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft in height.
— 10km/6mi in distance.
— It takes 3–4 hours to walk there.
— It’s in a forest.

Stay at the Park view hotel or the Lindrin lodge. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included in the price.

After the Kilimanjaro trek, you have the rest of the day to relax before your flight home. Depending on what time your flight leaves, you could go to Moshi town and buy some souvenirs before going to the airport. If you want to see more, you can add Zanzibar and other things to your trip to Tanzania.