Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi to Machame

   • Pick up from Moshi and drive for 45 minutes towards Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Complete all paperwork at the gate.

   • Start the day's trek, passing through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and slippery, so it is advisable to use gaiters and trekking poles.

   • Continue trekking for 5-6 hours through the montane forests till you reach Machame camp at an elevation of 3050 metres.

   Overnight stay at Machame camp.

2. Day 2: Climb from Machame Camp to Shira Camp

   • After breakfast, 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 onto a river gorge.

   • Trek for about 4-5 hours until you arrive at Shira Camp, which is located at an elevation of 3850 metres.

   Overnight stay at camp.

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

   • From Shira Plateau, continue trekking in the semi-desert environs towards the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. After a while, the direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, also known as 'Shark’s Tooth'.

   • Shortly after passing the tower, arrive at the second junction that goes towards Arrow Glacier. 

   • Continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although the day ends around the same elevation as the starting point of the day, it is very important for acclimatization and will help the body prepare for summit day.

   Overnight stay at Barranco Camp.

4. Day 4: Climb Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   • After breakfast in Barranco, set out for a 3-4 hour climb in the Alpine desert.

   • Climb up a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to reach the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.

   • Arrive at Karanga camp, which is at an elevation of 4050 metres.

   Overnight stay at camp.
   

5. Day 5: Climb from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   • After breakfast, continue up to the Barafu Camp to complete the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.

   • Trek for 3-4 hours until you reach Barafu, which is located at 4700 metres above sea level.

   • At Barafu, set camp, rest, enjoy dinner and prepare for the summit day.

6. Day 6: Climb up to the Summit and back down to Mweka Camp

   • Set out for the summit between midnight and 2 AM, passing the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.

   • Head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This will be the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

   • At Stella Point, stop for a short rest and enjoy the view of the magnificent sunrise. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

   • From Stella Point, make a one-hour ascent up to the summit (5895 metres). It is possible to encounter snow during this period.

   • Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

   • From the summit, begin the descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Use gaiters and trekking poles for navigating through the loose gravel going down.

   • Arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy your last evening on the mountain.

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp to Moshi

   • Enjoy your last breakfast on the Machame Route.

   • Descend down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.

   • Drive for an hour to reach the hotel in Moshi.