8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek with acclimatization

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet our Shiri Adventures representative and transfer to the hotel included in the rate. The hotel provides all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening, there will be a briefing with your Kilimanjaro guides, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

The guides and mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's entrance: Machame Gate (1,800 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Machame Camp (3,010 m). The trekking route includes passage through the rainforest, where tropical showers are highly probable, so we recommend you take not only spare clothes but also your raincoat.

This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended that you heed the following instructions from this point on:

• Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine.
• Drink over 4 litres of bottled water daily, little by little and frequently.
• Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor before the trip in case of potential allergies.

• At night, you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude. Because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any altitude sickness symptoms.

• ELEVATION: 1,800 m to 3,010 m
• HIKING TIME: 5-6 hours
• DISTANCE: 5 km
• DIFFICULTY: Medium

• HABITAT: Rainforest

After breakfast, you will start trekking up to the second high-altitude camp, Shira Camp (3,845 m). On this day, you will emerge from the rainforest and, for the first time, be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. Physically, the trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and some rest, after which the group will go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude. Back down at Shira Camp, you will be served a hot dinner.

Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude, done to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp:
Change in Elevation: Machame Camp (3,010 m) - Shira Camp (3,845 m)
Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,845 m) - Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,120 m)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours

• ELEVATION: 3,010 m to 3,845 m
• HIKING TIME: 4-5 hours
• DISTANCE: 5 km
• DIFFICULTY: Low
• HABITAT: Moorland

After breakfast, you will leave Shira Camp (3,845 m) and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has many ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but to successfully acclimatize to the altitude, you have to spend at least 1-2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be taken.

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness. The next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a straightforward hiking trail.

Note: If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following the road instead of the porters' trail. In this case, you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.

• ELEVATION: 3,845 m to 4,630 m
• HIKING TIME: 6-8 hours
• DISTANCE: 11 km
• DIFFICULTY: Medium
• HABITAT: Moorland

Early wake-up, breakfast, and the start of summiting Barranco Wall. We recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds from other groups. Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp, you will be offered a warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you will complete the ascent to Barafu Camp (4,640 m), where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before the night summit attempt.

• ELEVATION: 3,960 m to 4,640 m
• HIKING TIME: 8-10 hours
• DISTANCE: 11 km
• DIFFICULTY: High
• HABITAT: Alpine desert

Departure from Barafu Camp (4,640 m) at night and the start of summiting Kilimanjaro: Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Technically, the climb is relatively simple; however, the most challenging part is the high altitude. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental condition. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Barafu Camp and, after a 2-hour rest, continue your descent to Millennium Camp (3,820 m).

Note: Don't forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.

• ELEVATION: 4,640 m to 5,895 m - 5,895 m to 3,820 m
• HIKING TIME: 8-12 hours
• DISTANCE: 15 km
• DIFFICULTY: High
• HABITAT: Arctic

The camp is situated in a tropical rainforest. When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduced altitude and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park's exit: Mweka Gate (1,640 m). After your descent, the whole group will congratulate you and offer you a chance to share your opinions in the guestbook about the climb. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you with a transfer back to the hotel.

Change in Elevation: Millennium Camp (3,820 m) - Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
Hiking distance: 12 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

• ELEVATION: 3,820 m to 1,640 m
• HIKING TIME: 4-5 hours
• DISTANCE: 12 km
• DIFFICULTY: Low
• HABITAT: Rainforest

Wake up and have breakfast with the team. You have options today. You can go for a massage at the hotel, sit by the pool, play golf, or visit the local market before transferring back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. If you have chosen one of our quality safaris, you will start that journey today.