7 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route

Embark on a 7-day Kilimanjaro trek via the Machame Route. Experience stunning views, diverse habitats, and a rewarding challenge for fit hikers.

Duration: 7 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Arusha - Machame Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - After breakfast, you will be transferred to Machame Gate to sign up, ready for your trek to the roof of Africa. Trek through the rain forest and to Machame Campsite, where we will set up camp for dinner and your overnight stay.

Attitude: 3,000m
Distance: 11km
Time: 5 to 7 hours
Environment: Montane forest.

Machame Camp - Shira Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - After breakfast, we’ll start our walk, leaving behind the rainforest. We’ll continue ascending, traversing a valley and going up a rocky ridge, which is quite steep and covered in heath. We will leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. We’ll pass through heather and open moorlands on the Shira Plateau, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp. Then we’ll turn west to the river’s gorge. We will arrive at Shira Campsite, where we will set up our camp, ready for dinner and our overnight stay.

Altitude change: 3000m to 3850m (+850m)
Distance: 9km
Time: 4-6 hours
Environment: Moorland.

Shira Camp - Lava Tower - Barranco Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - From the Shira Plateau, we will continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast towards the Lava Tower called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we’ll come to the second junction, bringing us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We will now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here, we will rest and enjoy dinner and our overnight stay. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Shira Camp goes from Lava Tower to Barranco Camp.

Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft

Distance: 10km

Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Semi Desert.

Barranco Camp - Karanga Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - After breakfast, we begin the hike with a steep traverse up the Barranco Wall, which is a 257-meter rock face that requires basic scrambling skills to reach the top of the Karanga Valley. The path then follows a series of inclines and declines to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters). You will spend a night at the Karanga camp before continuing to the Barafu camp the following day.

Distance: 7 km

Hiking Time: 7 hours

Habitat: High Alpine Zone.

Karanga camp - Barafu camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - Day five is a short and easy day. The trail starts at Karanga Camp and joins the Mweka trail up to the base camp, Barafu, at 4,680m.

We recommend you use easy hiking to relax and prepare for the summit push.

Distance: 6 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Barafu Camp - Summit - Mweka Hut

Mount Kilimanjaro - Very early in the morning (midnight to 2:00 am), we’ll continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you’ll stop for a short rest and be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
Now, we’ll continue our descent straight down to the Mweka Hut Campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. For the loose gravel going down, you’ll need gaiters and trekking poles. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest. Later in the evening, we’ll enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Elevation ft: 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Distance: 5km ascent / 12km descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Habitat: Arctic.

Mweka - Arusha

Mount Kilimanjaro - After breakfast, we will continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit 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).

From the gate, you will continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will then meet you there and drive you back to your hotel in Arusha.

Mweka Camp to Arusha.
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft.
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

What's Included
  • Tents
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
Additional Information

Our tour offers you the best experience of the Machame route, which is perhaps the most popular climbing route. It is the choice for many people because it provides impressive views and various habitats. Unlike the gradual incline and hut accommodations found on the Marangu Route, the climbers on Machame hike steeper trails for longer distances and sleep in tents. The Machame Route is approximately 62 km (37 miles) from gate to gate. It is designed for physically fit people with some hiking experience.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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(3 Ratings)
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S3689ppmarcc
Jul 16, 2024
FabulousbKilimandjaro - Wonderful expérience! Physicaly and mentaly hard, but we succeed thanks of the excellent support with a special mention for the guide Sebastiaan Shirima and his team.
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Maps698391
Jul 15, 2024
Kilimandjaro trekking: wonderful - We’ve done the ascension of the Kilimandjaro with Sebastian and his team. It was wonderful. They had a great experience to manage this trekking. They’ve been very supportive to help us to succeed ! A wonderful and unique human experience. We recommend Kiwoito for this project. Absolutely.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grandtour20180821708
Jul 15, 2024
Kilimanjaro Climb w/ Sébastian - we climbed the kilimanjaro with Sebastian and his team! it was wonderful!! they were truly professional and supportive! i recommend you this team!
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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