7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

• Meet your tour guide and travel from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park gate. The journey passes through the village of Machame, located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
• Walk through the rainforest on a winding trail leading up to a ridge.
• Continue hiking until you reach Machame Camp.

Elevation (ft): 5,400 ft to 9,400 ft

Distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5-7 hours

Habitat: Rainforest

• After breakfast, leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a small valley as you walk along a steep, rocky, snow-covered ridge. The route then turns west toward a river gorge.

Overnight stay and dinner at the Shira campsite.

Elevation (ft): 9,400 ft to 12,500 ft

Distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Moorland

• Leave Shira Camp and continue eastward to a ridge, passing a junction near Kibo Peak. As you continue, the route changes direction toward the Lava Tower, also known as the "Shark's Tooth".
• Reach the second junction, which leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft.
• Continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000 ft with your Kilimanjaro hiking guide.
• Stop for a much-needed rest, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Elevation (ft): 12,500 ft to 13,000 ft

Distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

• After breakfast, leave Barranco Hut and continue hiking along a steep ridge that leads to the Karanga Valley campsite.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Elevation (ft): 13,000 ft to 13,100 ft

Distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

• After breakfast, leave Karanga and reach the junction that connects Karanga with the Mweka Trail.
• Continue up to Barafu Hut. At this point, you will have completed the South Circuit, which offers panoramic views of the summit from different angles. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Elevation (ft): 13,100 ft to 15,300 ft

Distance: 4 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

• Start your trek around 2:00 a.m. for the summit, heading between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers.
• Head northwest and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim, the most challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), stop for a short rest and witness a mesmerizing sunrise. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way during your 1-hour ascent to the summit.
• Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and on the continent of Africa. Enjoy soaking in the beautiful views from the top of the mountain.
• Begin the descent straight to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, so mist and rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and then retire for the day.

Elevation: 15,300ft to 1345ft (and down to 10,000ft)

Distance: 5 km ascent and 12 km descent

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent and 4-6 hours descent

Habitat: Alpine desert

• Have breakfast and continue the descent to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
• Board a vehicle that will drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.

Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft

Distance: 10 km

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Rainforest