6 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame Route

Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate takes about 45 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here.
We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp. Your porters will have pitched your tent on your arrival because they are faster in most cases. Drinking water and washing water will be boiled while the cook prepares dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can sometimes drop to freezing point at the campsite.

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft
Distance: 11km/7m
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west of Kibo onto a river gorge and after a short hike you will arrive at the Shira campsite at 3840m. By the time you get there, you will have covered a distance of 5km in about 6hrs.
The porters will boil drinking and washing water before serving dinner. The night at the camp will be colder than the previous night with temperatures dropping below freezing.

Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 5km/3m
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elevation 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp.
This 2 hours descent to the camp offers great opportunity to take some beautiful snap shots of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable site as you wait for dinner. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 10km/6km
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Another 13km to Barafu hut, estimated walking time of 7hrs. After the night, make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro is.
The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route. Turn left up the ridge and after an hour or so you reach Barafu camp. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice.”

The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at around 1900hrs and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3m up / 13km/8m down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you another 3 hours to Mweka village. Enjoy a hot delicious lunch. Drive back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes) for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations.

Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6m
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest