8-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Machame Route to Uhuru Peak

• If you have chosen our airport pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to meet you and take you to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha so you can relax after your flight.

• Your Kilimanjaro guide will meet you at the hotel for a gear check and climb briefing. It is a good opportunity to interact and get to know each other before your hike.

• In the morning, we depart from our base hotel at approximately 8:00 AM for Machame village, where you begin the trek.

• From the park entrance gate at Machame, you will walk for about two to three hours through a dense forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other tropical vegetation.

• A stop for a picnic lunch will be made halfway to this evening's campsite.

• As you continue your ascent, you will find that the tropical forest gives way to tall grasses and giant heather.

• You will be walking on a ridge, with the Semira stream to your left and the Weru Weru to your right. Depending on the pace of the climbers, arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

• Your camp is set up near some old metal huts that were once used for shelter. This initial stage of the climb is tranquil and relatively easy. There is no point in rushing to get to camp, as there is little to do there. Guides tend to recommend a slow ascent, even at this stage, for gradual acclimatization.

• Do not try to keep up with your porters, who will usually move ahead. Instead, take the time to admire the beauty of the rainforest.

Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

• On this and subsequent mornings, the wake-up call is at around 6:00 AM.

• You will be greeted with a steaming cup of tea or coffee and, weather permitting, a fabulous view of Uhuru Peak.

• Today's trek takes you up a steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather.

• You will encounter giant groundsels as you hike through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams.
  Lunch will be taken just below the Shira Plateau, about three to four hours from Shira Camp.

• The hike to the next campsite takes approximately six hours, and you should arrive between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

• Most climbers tend to pace themselves, walking slowly and resting about every half-hour.

Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

• The entire Shira Plateau greets you this morning with sweeping vistas across to Meru and the Shira Needles.

• A steady walk takes you up to the pass at Lava Tower (15,000 ft), where you stop for lunch.

• After crossing the Bastains stream, you will begin to descend towards Barranco Camp.

• The descent takes you along an immense canyon called Grand Barranco.

• Along the way, you will see numerous waterfalls, fed by streams coming from the mountain and converging here to form the Umbwe River.

• Your camp is set at almost the same altitude as the night before.

• Today's trek lasts for about six hours, and arrival at camp is between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM.

Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert

• This morning, you begin your hike to Barafu Camp via Karanga Camp, which is at the same altitude as Barranco Camp.

• You will encounter a bit of a climb at Barranco Cliff and spend the rest of the trek going up and down the mountain slopes for most of the way to camp. The climbing is not considered difficult, and you should arrive in time for lunch at approximately 1:00 PM, having trekked for about four hours.

• In the afternoon, you have to hike in the Karanga Valley, where giant senecios and lobelia grow.

• You then continue with the scenic climb to Barafu, mostly on a moraine, with Mawenzi Peak towering majestically to the right and Kibo Peak overhead, seemingly just out of reach. The alpine desert terrain encountered at this point is mostly a mineral environment with few lichens and mosses.

• Climbers arrive at Barafu Camp at around 3:30 PM. Those who choose to ascend the peak will go to bed early this night, as the next day is the longest one.

Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 15,000ft
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 8-10 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• You will be awakened at midnight and, after a light breakfast, start climbing at around 1:00 AM. It is at this stage that the climb becomes much more difficult. Here, very few people will avoid suffering from altitude sickness in some form or another, so climbers should carry as little as possible on this portion of the climb. Temperatures will range from -4° to 5° Fahrenheit.

• Making your way up a path flanked by the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers, you will climb for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater, between Stella and Hans Meyer points.

• Another hour of climbing brings you to the summit. Uhuru stands at 19,340 feet and is the highest point on the continent of Africa. The track around the edge of the crater is rocky and icy. Concentrate on your feet and follow your guide very closely for this portion of the journey.
  The descent is no easier than the ascent.

• You will reach Kibo Hut after about three hours, around 11:30 AM. Climbers will be allowed to rest and have some refreshments before continuing to Mweka Camp for the night.

• Arriving at camp at around 5:00 PM, you will have trekked a total of thirteen hours today.

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

• On the final day of the journey, climbers descend from Mweka Camp to the base.

• The descent to the gate will take approximately 4 hours, and climbers usually arrive before noon.

• Upon arrival at the gate, climbers will be rewarded with certificates attesting to their success in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and will then be transferred back to the base hotel.

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

• Your trip to Tanzania is now over. After a good night's rest at your hotel, breakfast will be ready according to your request, while scheduled check-out in most hotels is at 10:00 AM.