Day 1:  Machame Gate (1,800m/5,900ft) to Machame Camp (2,835m/9355.5ft)

Distance:  11km / 7 Miles

Hiking time: 5 – 7 hours

Ascent: 1035m / 3416ft

Max. altitude: 2835m / 9356ft

Habitat: Montane forest

Accomodation: Tent

Meals included:  Lunch / Dinner

This morning you will begin your journey with a transfer to the Machame Gate.  After registration, begin climbing along a winding trail through beautiful and lush forest.  Since this is the zone which experiences the most rainfall on the mountain you should be prepared for afternoon showers.  These can make the trail slippery at times!  The climb is steady, gradually easing as you approach camp at Machame Hut.  The camp is located on the edge of the forest and giant heather zones. 

Overnight Machame Camp.

Day 2:  Machame Camp (2,835m/9355.5ft) to Shira Camp (3,750m/12375ft)  

Distance:  5km / 3Miles

Hiking time: 4 – 5hours

Ascent: 915m / 3020 ft

Max. altitude: 3750m /12375ft

Habitat: Moorland

Accomodation: Tent

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today we begins with a climb up a steep ridge to reach a small cliff known as Picnic rock to the jagged rim of the Shira Plateau.  Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones.  It filled with lava when Kibo erupted and its rim has been eroded by weather and volcanic action. Once on the plateau the trail becomes gentler as you continue your climb to Shira Camp.  On a clear day there are excellent views of Kibo, the summit cone of Kilimanjaro, and the jagged rim of the Shira Plateau.  Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. 

Overnight Shira Camp 

Day 3:  Shira Camp (3,750m/12,375t) to Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,870ft) via Lava Tower (4,600m/15,180ft)

Distance:  10km / 6Miles

Hiking time: 6 – 7hours

Ascent: 850m / 2805ft

Max. altitude: 4600m / 15180ft

Habitat: Moorland

Accomodation: Tent

Meals included: Breakfast /  Lunch / Dinner

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours (7 km). This tower is a 300 feet high volcanic plug.  From Lava Tower we begin our steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants which actually look like trees, scenecios.  This is good practice for your descent from the summit in a few days’ time and will take around 2 hours (3km).  Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit night.  Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.

Overnight Barranco Camp

Day 4:  Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,870ft) to Barafu Camp (4,673m/15,421ft) via Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,860ft)

Distance:  10km / 6Miles

Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours

Ascent: 773m / 2551ft

Max. altitude: 4673m / 15421ft

Habitat: Moorland

Accomodation: Tent

Meals included: Breakfasy / Lunch / Dinner

After breakfast, leave Barranco Camp and climb the Barranco Wall, an impressive scramble with fantastic views back towards camp.  The porters climbing the wall are also an impressive sight.  From the top, at 4,200m/13860ft, follow an undulating path around the mountain side.  On a clear day there are spectacular views of Kibo and Mount Meru.  After descending into the Karranga Valley take a short steep path to Karranga Camp where you will eat lunch.  Walking time to here is approximately 3-4 hours(6km).  After lunch climb steadily to Barafu, Swahili for ice!  Camp is on the ridge below the summit cone and the walk will take around 3 hours(4km).  After dinner and a summit briefing, rest in preparation for the summit climb.

Evening of rest at Barafu Camp, depart for the summit in the early hours

Day 5:  Barafu Camp (4,673m/15,421ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,453.5ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,230ft)

Distance:  14 – 17.5km / 9 – 11Miles

Hiking time: 11 – 14 hours

Max. altitude: 5895m / 19454ft

Accomodation: Tent

Habitat: Alpine Desert / Moorland / Montane Forest

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the early hours of the morning you will begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak, taking approximately 6-8 hours (5km). It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes.  Just when you think you’ve had enough of climbing in the dark the sun will rise and you will be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi.  At Stella Point (5,756m/18995ft) you join the crater rim.  From here, climb less steeply to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.  From the summit the descent will take you down to Mweka Hut (3100m/10230ft), with lunch served at Barafu Camp on the way, taking about 5 – 8 hours.  If you’re too tired to descend all this way, there is an alternative option to camp slightly higher at Millennium Camp/high camp (3995m/13184ft). (walking distance is about 14 – 17.5 kilometers).  

Overnight at Mweka Hut or Millennium Camp

Day 6:  Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,230ft) to Mweka Gate (1,800m/5,940ft) 

Distance:  10km / 6Miles

Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours

Descent: 1460m / 4818ft

Habitat: Montane forest

Accomodation: Tent

Meals included:  Breakfast / Lunch 

Descend to the gate through lush forest, looking for monkeys along the way.  From Mweka Gate we will transport you to your accommodation for a well-earned hot shower!

Alternative Route:  Machame Route 7 Days/6 Nights

In order to increase your chances of reaching the summit at high altitudes, it is always advisable to take extra time on the mountain to acclimatise where possible.  Of course, this needs to be balanced with budget and time available.  If possible Above the Rim Tours advises their clients to take an extra day.  On the Machame route this would make the climb 7 days, and allows you to split the climb from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp over 2 days, spending a night at Karranga Camp (3995m/13184ft). You would therefore spend day 4 going from Barranco Camp to Karranga camp, arriving in time for lunch.  In the afternoon you can rest and undertake a short acclimatisation walk.  Day 5 would have you climbing from Karranga Camp to Barafu, again reaching camp in time for lunch.  After your summit briefing you will have more time to rest and prepare for the long night ahead.  This extra day can significantly increase your chances of reaching the summit.  From Barafu your route would remain the same as the usual 6 day itinerary.