7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

• Pick up from Moshi and drive for 45 minutes to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, where you will complete all paperwork at the gate.

• Begin the day's trek, passing through the village of Machame on the lower slopes of the mountain. Walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and slippery, so it is advisable to use gaiters and trekking poles.

• Continue trekking for 5-6 hours through the montane forest until you reach Machame Camp at an elevation of 3,050 metres.

Overnight stay at Machame Camp.

• After breakfast, leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route then turns west onto a river gorge.

• Trek for about 4-5 hours until you arrive at Shira Camp, located at an elevation of 3,850 metres.

Overnight stay at camp.

• From Shira Plateau, continue trekking through the semi-desert surroundings towards the east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo. After a while, the direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, also known as "Shark's Tooth".

• Shortly after passing the tower, arrive at the second junction that leads toward Arrow Glacier.

• Continue down to Barranco Camp. Although the day ends at about the same elevation as where it began, this stage is very important for acclimatization and helps prepare the body for summit day.

Overnight stay at Barranco Camp.

• After breakfast in Barranco, set out for a 3-4 hour climb in the alpine desert.

• Climb up the steep Barranco Wall to reach the Karanga Valley and the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.

• Arrive at Karanga Camp, which is at an elevation of 4,050 metres.

Overnight stay at camp.

• After breakfast, continue up to Barafu Camp to complete the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.

• Trek for 3-4 hours until you reach Barafu, located at 4,700 metres above sea level.

• At Barafu, set camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for summit day.

• Set out for the summit between midnight and 2 AM, passing the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.

• Head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This will be the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

• At Stella Point, stop for a short rest and enjoy the view of the magnificent sunrise. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

• From Stella Point, make a one-hour ascent to the summit at 5,895 metres. It is possible to encounter snow during this period.

• Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

• From the summit, begin the descent by continuing straight down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Use gaiters and trekking poles to navigate the loose gravel on the way down.

• Arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy your last evening on the mountain.

• Enjoy your last breakfast on the Machame Route.

• Descend to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.

• Drive for an hour to reach your hotel in Moshi.