Itinerary

1. Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

   • Full board at Machame Camp, the climb starts from Machame Gate (1830m), and we walk through the lush lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Slowly gaining altitude while enjoying the diverse flora and fauna of the rain forest, you will arrive at the first Machame Camp, situated at 3000m above sea level. If it is a clear day, we may get our first closer look at the glaciated dome of Kibo if the evening clouds permit. 

   Rise (ft): 1,800m to 2835m
   Stretch: 11 km
   Hiking time: 5-6 hours
   Climatic habitat: Montane forest/rainforest

2. Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

   • Full board Shira Cave Camp. A shorter day climbs up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as a picnic site and continues up a gentler ascent through the lower alpine moorland, which is known for beautiful wild alpine flowers. The most spectacular views of Kibo Peak can be seen from Shira Camp.

   Rise (ft): 2835m to 3,750m
   Stretch: 5 km
   Hiking time: 5-6 hours
   Climatic habitat: Moorland

3. Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

   • On day three, hikers walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the western breach; after a hot lunch at the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600m), we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley (3,950m).

   Rise (ft): Shira Cave Camp 3,750m to Barranco Camp 3,900m
   Stretch: 10 km
   Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
   Climatic habitat: Moorland
   Shelter: Barranco Camp

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga camp

   • A steep climb up the eastern wall leads hikers just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo; the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley. Finally, we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.

   Rise (ft): Barranco Camp 3,900m to Karanga Camp 3995m
   Stretch: 6 km
   Hiking time: 3.5 to 4 hours
   Climatic habitat: Moorland
   Shelter: Karanga Camp

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   • A steep climb out of Karanga and an easy path on compacted scree with wide views through this empty and dry landscape up to Barafu Camp. The two awesome peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi can be seen from Barafu Camp.
   • After a hot lunch at the camp, the remainder of the day is spent resting as we prepare for the final ascent before an early night summit walk.

   Rise (ft): Karanga camp 3995m to Barafu Camp 4,673m
   Stretch: 4 km
   Hiking time: 3-4 hours
   Climatic habitat: Alpine Desert
   Shelter: Barafu Hut Camp

6. Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

   • Hikers wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. Hikers will begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree that has some well-graded zig-zags, and a slow but steady pace will take us to the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. Hikers will rest there for a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.
   • Those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to the main peak, 5,895m, which is the highest point in Africa! After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment, hikers descend to Barafu amazingly fast. And we stop at Barafu Camp for some refreshments, and we continue to descend to reach Mweka Camp.

   Rise(ft): Barafu Camp 4,673m to Uhuru Peak 5,895m (Via Stella Point 5756m)
   Stretch: 4.3 km ascent to Stella Point
   Stretch: 5km Barafu to Uhuru Peak ascent.
   Hiking time: 6-7hours ascent/7-8 hours descent
   Climatic habitat: Alpine Desert
   Shelter: Mweka Camp

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

   • Half board, a gentle walk, takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. After lunch, hikers drive back to Moshi to your hotel, and this will be the end of the hiking Kilimanjaro 7 days via the Machame route.

   Rise (ft): Mweka camp 3,100m to Mweka Gate 1,640m
   Stretch: 10 km
   Hiking time: 4 -5 hours
   Climatic habitat: Montane forest