7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek via the Machame Route from Moshi

• Meet your tour guide at your accommodation in Moshi and drive to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. The drive takes about 50 minutes and passes through the village of Machame, located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
• Arrive at the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here.
• Continue a short distance to reach Machame Camp.

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

• Have breakfast, then leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a small valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the ridge ends.
• The route then turns west into a river gorge.
• Arrive at Shira Camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

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

• From the Shira Plateau, continue to the east ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo.
• As you continue, the direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth."
• Reach the second junction, which leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.
• Continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Have dinner and spend the night here.
• Although you end the day at nearly the same elevation as where you started, this day is crucial for acclimatization and helps your body prepare for summit day.

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

• Have breakfast, then leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge, passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite.
• Arrive at Karanga Camp, have dinner, and stay the night here.
• This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Have breakfast, then leave Karanga and head to the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.
• Continue up to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
• Arrive at Barafu Camp, set up camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for summit day.
• The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Wake up early in the morning, around 2:00 am, and hike to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.
• Head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
• At Stella Point (18,600 ft), stop for a short rest and watch the magnificent sunrise.
• Walk on the snow from Stella Point and ascend to the summit.
• Arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
• Descend straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel on the way down.
• Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
• Enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

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

• Have breakfast, then continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
• The lower elevations can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will be useful.
• From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village.
• Drive back to your hotel in Moshi.

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