Best 6 days Machame route Itinerary

The tour starts with a pick up from your accommodation at 8am and drive to the Machame Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park (approximately 45 min drive from Moshi town). Here we will process your park fees and the fees for the crew before you will start your ascent. Day 1 trekking takes you through the montane forest ecosystem of the national park, your guide will show you a variety of fauna and flora including a high chance of seeing the Black and White colobus monkey. You will reach the camp (as you will always go at your own pace so the time varies!) where you will be welcomed with hot water for washing and a nice cup of tea! If you have time and energy there is the option to do a short hike, which offers you extra acclimatization, to a point 100m higher from the camp before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.

This day’s hiking time is much shorter as it is a much steeper route. Following breakfast at 7:30am you will start your heading out of the forest and heading into the moorland area of the national park. From here you can have a great view of your summit so far and even Mt Meru on a clear day. After a short break for lunch you will start to ascend the undulating rocky ridge of the Shira plateau. Once reaching camp you will again be welcomed by your team of porters and chef with hot water before dinner and overnight. Optional extra 30min hike to Shira Camp 2 (100m extra altitude) where you can see evidence of buffalos that previously came to find calcium here and have a great view of the Shira cathedral (where the 3rd peak of the mountain collapsed millions of years ago).

The day start soon after breakfast, you will leave camp to start your ascent to the Lava Tower Rock. We won’t lie, this will be quite a tough hike and may be the first time you experience altitude sickness due to the higher elevation. It gives you a good opportunity to adjust to the climate at this altitude and the great thing is that, following lunch at the big rock, you get to descend down to Barranco Camp where you will have dinner and overnight

On Day 4, trekkers undertake one of the most challenging sections of the Mount Kilimanjaro climb, ascending from Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,600 meters). This 9-kilometer hike typically takes around 7 to 8 hours, with the highlight being the infamous Barranco Wall. The initial part of the day involves a steep climb up this rock face, requiring some scrambling but providing stunning views of the surrounding landscape. After conquering the Barranco Wall, the trail meanders through the Karanga Valley, offering a mix of gradual inclines and descents. After a brief lunch stop at Karanga Camp, trekkers continue toward Barafu, the base camp for summit night. The landscape becomes increasingly barren as the altitude rises, with wind and cold temperatures becoming more noticeable. At Barafu Camp, hikers prepare for the final ascent to the summit, taking in the expansive views and resting before the midnight start. This day is a critical step toward the summit of Kilimanjaro, testing endurance and acclimatization, while also offering breathtaking vistas and a sense of accomplishment as the journey nears its climax

The final ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro begins at midnight, offering a challenging yet exhilarating experience. The climb from Barafu Camp (elevation 4,645 meters) to Uhuru Peak (elevation 5,895 meters), the highest point in Africa, covers a distance of approximately 5 kilometers and can take between 7 to 8 hours due to the steep, rugged terrain and high altitude. Climbers typically reach Stella Point (elevation 5,756 meters) at dawn, catching a stunning sunrise, before continuing to Uhuru Peak for breathtaking views and a sense of accomplishment. After a brief celebration at the summit, trekkers descend back to Barafu Camp, then proceed further down to Mweka Camp (elevation 3,080 meters), covering a total descent of nearly 2,827 meters and taking an additional 4 to 5 hours. The day's journey is both arduous and rewarding, encompassing approximately 20 kilometers of climbing and descending through varied landscapes.

Our descent from Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,800 meters) covers about 10 kilometers and takes approximately 3-4 hours. Descending through the rainforest, we reflect on our incredible journey as we reach the gate. Here, we receive certificates of accomplishment, celebrating the successful completion of our 6-day Machame route climb on Kilimanjaro.