7-Day Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route to Uhuru Peak

Altitude: 1,800 m - 3,010 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 6 hours

• Start your day early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910 m) to the Machame Park Gate. You will receive a packed lunch box at the gate, and the guide advises you to bring bottled water, available to purchase at Springlands Hotel in Moshi.
• Register at the gate office, then begin your ascent by entering the rain forest. There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which can make the trail very soggy, muddy, and slippery. In the evening, the porters will boil drinking and washing water, and the cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to freezing point at Machame Camp.

Altitude: 3,010 m - 3,840 m

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

• Rise early at Machame Camp and, after breakfast, climb for about an hour to the top of the forest, where you will be met with a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. You will then walk for another 2 hours.
• Enjoy a short lunch and rest.
• Continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau. By now, you will be able to see the Western Breach and its stunning glaciers to the east. You are now due west of Kibo, and after a short hike, you will reach Shira Camp at 3,840 m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be even colder than the previous one, with temperatures dropping well below freezing.

Altitude: 3,840 m - 3,960 m

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

• See how the route now turns east, exposing you to a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4,630 m after about 5 hours of walking. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4,630 m). This will be the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point that some climbers start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches.
• After lunch, descend again by almost 680 m to the Barranco camping area. After reaching the high altitude of 4,600 m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. The descent to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours, and you will have great opportunities to take beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for dinner and your overnight stay at Barranco Camp.

Altitude: 3,960 m - 4,035 m

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 5 hours

• Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast and hike up the Barranco Wall, which takes about an hour.
• Continue on to Karanga Camp, which translates to "Peanut Camp." This path has varying ascents and descents, making it a perfect way to enjoy your afternoon hike while acclimatizing to your new surroundings.

Altitude: 4,035 m - 4,640 m

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 5 hours

• Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1,345 m up, and you will make the final ascent the same night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge.
• Prepare your equipment, ski sticks, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries - make sure that you have a spare set available. To prevent freezing, it is wise to carry your water in a thermal flask.
• Go to bed at about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep, but remember not more than 5 hours of sleep.

Altitude: 4,640 m - 5,895 m - 3,090 m

Hiking distance: 17 km

Hiking time: 15+ hours

• Rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, shuffle off into the night. Head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through the heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella Point is, for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging part of the route.
• Stop for a short rest at Stella Point (5,685 m) and be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see, weather permitting. From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue.
• Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life.
• Walk back to Barafu from the summit, which takes about 3 hours. Here, you will have a well-earned but short rest because you need to collect the rest of your gear before heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.

Altitude: 3,090 m - 1,650 m

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

• Continue down after breakfast from Mweka Gate into Mweka village, normally a muddy 1-hour walk. From Mweka village, you will be driven to Springlands Hotel, where you will be served a delicious hot lunch and have the chance to take a long-overdue hot shower.
• Overnight at Springlands Hotel. At your discretion, tips are recommended and highly appreciated at the end of the trip. Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685 m) are issued green certificates, and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) receive gold certificates.