Arrival Day

Moshi Town - Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be greeted and transported to Keys Hotel in Moshi town for a briefing and an overnight stay.

Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - The Kilimanjaro National Park gate is just a 1-hour drive from Keys Hotel. After breakfast, you will be picked up and taken to the gate to begin your climb. Upon arrival, your guide will handle the entrance formalities while you observe the various teams and mountain crew preparing for their expedition. Watching them load the different items for the trip is always a fascinating experience. Once everything is ready, your adventure will commence. Today’s destination is Machame Camp, which you should reach in about 5 – 6 hours. Along the way, you will pass through a beautiful rainforest with ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana, and lichen, among other flora. Keep an eye out for the black and white thumbless colobus monkeys. Upon arrival at your campsite, you can relax before enjoying a well-deserved dinner prepared by our cook.

Machame Camp (3010m) – Shira Camp (3845m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Although today’s trek is shorter than yesterday’s, you will still start early, allowing you to reach today’s destination by mid-afternoon. The landscape will change dramatically from the green mountain rainforest to moor and heathland. From your campsite at the Shira Plateau, you will have a stunning view of the mountain range. The glacier of Kibo also lights up as the sun sets.

Shira Camp (3845m) – Lava Tower Hut (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Today is an excellent day for your body to acclimatize for the days ahead. You will climb roughly 700m but will sleep at a level not much higher than the previous night. Starting at Shira Plateau, you will ascend to Lava Tower at around 4640m. After a rest, you will continue through the Barranco Valley to reach the beautiful Barranco Camp. Today’s trek will take approximately 6 – 7 hours, during which you will experience the alpine desert and the Barranco Valley with its small lobelia plants and giant Senecio. After a well-deserved dinner, you will rest in preparation for the next day.

Barranco Camp (3960m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - The first part of today’s route involves scaling the ‘Barranco Wall’ using your hands and feet. Safety is paramount, and you will be secured if necessary, but it looks more daunting than it is. The trail continues with many up and down sections, crossing a few streams, and winding and climbing until you stop for lunch in the Karanga Valley. After lunch, there will be another 2 – 3 hours of climbing before you reach Barafu Camp (4640m). Tonight, drink plenty of fluids, try to eat, and go to bed early to rest before tomorrow’s summit trek.

Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - You will be woken in the midnight hours with a cup of tea and a biscuit. Dressed warmly and equipped with a headlight and your daypack, you will set off in the darkness. After 5 – 7 hours of ‘pole pole’, you will reach the rim of the crater, Stella Point. Another one to two hours of slow progress along the crater’s edge will bring you to the summit – Uhuru Peak (5895m). Looking down over the surrounding landscape in the early morning light will make you feel on top of the world. You have now reached the ‘Roof of Africa’. The descent should be easy but dusty, as the volcanic ash will have defrosted. Returning on the same route, you should arrive at Barafu Camp within a few hours, where the porters will be waiting with food and tea. After resting for an hour or two, you will continue down to Mweka Camp (3080m) for your overnight stay.

Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - After breakfast, you will have a traditional farewell ceremony with your mountain crew. After a short 2 – 3 hour walk through the rainforest, our driver will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate. You will then be transferred back to Keys Hotel for a well-deserved shower, a cold drink, a debrief, and the awarding of your certificate of achievement. The rest of the day is yours to relax and reflect on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Kilimanjaro’s Machame Route boasts some of the most stunning campsites on the mountain. The sunsets at Shira Camp are spectacular, the stargazing at Barranco Camp is awe-inspiring, and the views from Karanga Camp on a clear day are simply extraordinary.

This route is somewhat more challenging due to its steeper ascents and descents, but it is this very challenge that draws trekkers. Many adventurers savor the sense of accomplishment that comes with tackling a more demanding path.

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