Machame Gate To Machame Camp

Kilimanjaro National Park - This morning, enjoy a relaxed breakfast at our hotel before departing in our vehicle around 8am, aiming to arrive at Machame Gate (1640 meters) by 10am. Our first task will be to complete the registration formalities before beginning our trek. You’ll also meet your mountain guides, porters, and the rest of the team who will accompany you on your ascent.

Today’s walk starts on a wide track that winds through dense forest, with beautiful tall trees covered in green moss. You’ll also catch a glimpse of Kibo Peak to the east. We expect to reach camp around 5pm, giving you a couple of hours to rest before dinner is served.

Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

Machame Camp To Shira Caves

Kilimanjaro National Park - Today’s stage is short and steep, as we ascend to an altitude of over 3804 meters. Starting early around 8:30am, we aim to reach our camp by 2pm. Along the way, you’ll encounter moorland lobelias and the distinctive dark obsidian rock of Shira Plateau. From Shira Caves, you’ll have time to marvel at natural sights like the ‘Shira Cathedral,’ Klute Peak, and Mount Meru before enjoying dinner around 6pm.

Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heath

Shira Caves To Barranco Camp

Kilimanjaro National Park - Our day begins with breakfast at 7am and departure at 8:30am, as we trek across the stony landscape of Shira Plateau. The vegetation is sparse at first, with just a few hardy lichens. We climb towards the Lava Tower, where we’ll have a picnic lunch around 1pm. After passing the day’s highpoint by the Lava Tower, we descend to Barranco Camp. Once at camp, take time to admire views of the southern face of Kibo and the Heim Glacier. Dinner is served at 7pm.

Elevation: 12,500 ft to 13,044 ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Kilimanjaro National Park - Today, we have breakfast slightly later (7:30am) and depart at 8:30am. The walk is relatively short, about 6km/3 miles, but will still take 4 to 5 hours. The hardest part of the day is scrambling up the near-vertical face of the Barranco Wall. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Heim Glacier. The rest of the walk is easier, as we descend to the gully below and into the cold but beautiful Karanga Valley. We then climb a steep series of zig-zags to reach Karanga Camp (4033 meters). Our overall altitude gain today is only 160 meters.

Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Kilimanjaro National Park - Another short day in terms of distance begins with breakfast at 7:30am and departure at 8:30am. We aim to arrive at Barafu Camp (4556 meters) by 1pm, where we’ll be rewarded with a cooked lunch. Dinner is served at 5:30pm, giving you time to get to bed early. After leaving Karanga, today’s stage climbs steadily through barren, rocky landscape, with the Decken and Kersten glaciers visible to your left. At the end of this valley is Barafu Camp, which you reach after a short, steep scramble and walk.

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

Kilimanjaro National Park - Our schedule for ‘Summit Day’ is different. Rising at 11pm, we have tea and biscuits at 11:30pm before departing at midnight. We begin with a long, tough climb from Barafu (4556 meters) to Stella Point (5756 meters); some of this will be on scree, making the trek more difficult.

From Stella Point, there’s still another 139 meters of ascent and a 45-minute walk to the summit. Our goal is to reach the top (5895 meters) by around 7am, then celebrate, take photos, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After the summit, we return to Barafu (4556 meters) for a couple of hours of rest and brunch before leaving at 1:30pm to descend to Mweka Camp (3100 meters).

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Distance: 5 km / 12 km
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours / 4-6 hours

Mweka Camp To Mweka Gate

Kilimanjaro National Park - On our last day of trekking, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate to collect summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue for another hour to Mweka Village, where a vehicle will meet us to drive back to the hotel in Arusha.

Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

• Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, rescue fees and Value Added Tax (VAT)
• Expert guide, assistant guides, cook and porters
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Four season, 3-person mountain tents
• Transport to and from Arusha to the trail head

• Items of personal nature such as passport, visa, travelers etc.
• Tips for the crew
• And all not mentioned in the itinerary above.

Approaching Kilimanjaro from the south-west, we take the popular Machame Route, with a total trip time of seven days, this is giving us even more acclimatization time and an even better chance of reaching the summit. Lush rainforest and Alpine moorland characterize the Machame Route, a trek which is challenging, make no mistake, despite the extra time given to acclimatize. You will have a private vehicle to take you to and from the mountain.

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