Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Your 7 Day Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route adventure kicks off at the Machame Gate, where you’ll complete the necessary registrations and meet your team of experienced guides and porters. The first day’s hike takes you through the enchanting rainforest, known for its lush greenery and vibrant flora. The trail, spanning approximately 11 kilometers, winds upward, setting a gradual pace for your ascent. Your initial stop for the night is the Machame Camp, nestled at an elevation of around 3,000 meters.

Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll continue your ascent, gradually leaving the rainforest behind and entering the open moorland zone. The day’s trek, which covers around 5 kilometers, leads you to the Shira Camp. Situated at an altitude of approximately 3,800 meters, this camp provides a fantastic viewpoint for admiring the surrounding landscapes.

Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Today’s trek offers a unique combination of challenges and awe-inspiring scenery. You’ll ascend to Lava Tower, reaching an elevation of about 4,600 meters. This higher point contributes significantly to your acclimatization process. Subsequently, you’ll make your way to the Barranco Camp, positioned at around 3,960 meters. The total distance covered on this day is approximately 10 kilometers.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Your journey continues with a challenging climb up the Barranco Wall, a thrilling and memorable segment of the route. After conquering the wall, you’ll trek to the Karanga Camp, perched at an elevation of about 4,035 meters. The day’s hike encompasses roughly 6 kilometers.

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

You’ll embark on a relatively shorter trek, around 4 kilometers, as you make your way to the Barafu Camp. This high-altitude campsite, situated at approximately 4,600 meters, marks your last stop before the summit attempt. The terrain becomes more alpine and rugged, with stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Day 6: Summit – Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and back to Mweka Camp

This day is the pinnacle of your journey, both in terms of challenge and reward. Your summit attempt begins in the early hours, with a steep and demanding ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, just before the break of dawn. After celebrating your achievement, you’ll descend to the Mweka Camp, nestled at an altitude of about 3,100 meters. This is a long and challenging day, covering a total distance of approximately 18 kilometers.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

The final day of your Machame Route Kilimanjaro Trek takes you from the Mweka Camp to the Mweka Gate, descending through the lush rainforest zone. The journey spans about 10 kilometers and offers a different perspective of the mountain. Upon reaching the Mweka Gate, you’ll receive your summit certificates and express your gratitude to your dedicated guides and porters.

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Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp

• Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking Time:3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

8 Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via Lemosho Route: We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead). Upon arrival at the trailhead, we eat lunch, then commence through an undisturbed forest which winds to the first campsite.

Day 2: Forest Camp to Shira Camp 1

• Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 11,500ft
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

We continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.

Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 to Moir Hut

• Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800 ft
• Distance: 14 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

We explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

Day 4: Moir Hut to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

• Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 13,000ft
• Distance: 7 km
• Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
• Habitat: Semi Desert

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. 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.

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

• Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
• Distance: 5km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

• Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
• Distance: 4 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

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

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow 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.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 8: Mweka Camp to Moshi

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

After breakfast, we 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 continue for another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the hotel in Moshi. End of 8 Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via Lemosho Route.

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