Tanzania · Trekking

7-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak from Arusha

7 Days Round trip from Kilimanjaro Airport Rd Hard pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Summit Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa
02 Trek the famous Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route
03 Watch a magnificent sunrise during the final ascent toward the summit
04 Cross diverse landscapes from rainforest and moorland to alpine desert
05 Take in picturesque mountain scenery and summit views along the South Circuit

Embark on an adventurous trek to summit Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route, commonly known as the Whiskey Route. Hike through montane forest, moorland, semi-desert, and alpine desert as you make your way toward Africa's highest point. Tackle steep trails, scree, and high-altitude terrain en route to Stella Point and the summit. Along the way, enjoy picturesque landscapes and a magnificent sunrise on your final ascent to Uhuru Peak.

At Stella Point, stop for a short rest, and you will be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises you are ever likely to see.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Arusha, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Arusha and Trek Briefing

After arrival at the airport, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. After check-in, you will have a tour briefing and equipment check. If you are missing any gear, the guide will take you to rent the necessary items. Once everything is arranged, you can rest before the next day's adventure.

Accommodation at Outpost Lodge.

Day 02

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, which takes about 45 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame, located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
Depart from the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. The trail can be muddy and slippery at lower elevations, so gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here.
Continue a short distance until you reach Machame Camp.

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft

Distance: 11km/7mi

Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

Meals: LD

Day 03

Machame Camp to Shira 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 until you arrive at Shira Camp.

Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft

Distance: 5km/3mi

Walking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Meals: BLD

Day 04

Shira Camp via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

From the Shira Plateau, continue to the east, 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" (elevation 4650m/15,250ft).
Shortly after the tower, come to the second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier.
Then, walk down to Barranco Camp. Although you end the day at nearly the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft

Distance: 10km/6mi

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

Meals: BLD

Day 05

Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

After breakfast, leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall (elevation 4250m/13,900ft), through the Karanga Valley (elevation 4050m/13,250ft), to the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.
Continue up to Barafu Camp. You will have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
Here, we make camp with views of the summit in the distance.

Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4700m/15,350ft

Distance: 9km/6mi

Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: BLD

Day 06

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and Down to Mweka Camp

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), continue your way 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, stop for a short rest, and you will be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
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 the continent of Africa.
From the summit, begin the descent by continuing straight down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel on the way down.
Arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy your last evening on the mountain.

Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft

Down to 3090m/10,150ft

Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Meals: BLD

Day 07

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate and Transfer

After breakfast, continue the descent down to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. It can be wet and muddy at lower elevations, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be enough to wear, but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy.
Meet your driver, who will be waiting for you at Mweka Gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or to Kilimanjaro Airport.

Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

Distance: 10km/6mi

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

Meals: B

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kilimanjaro Airport Rd 4 cities · 7 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents
2 nights' accommodation
Professional, experienced mountain guides
All park fees
Rescue fees
All meals while on the mountain
Arrival and departure transfers
Guides, porters, and cook
Quality mess tents with tables and chairs
Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
Clean, purified drinking water
Crisis management and safety procedures
Fair and ethical treatment of porters
Sleeping mattress

What's Not Included

Tanzania visa: $50 per person on arrival
Personal expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
All extras not included in the itinerary
Meals not listed above
Optional tours (short safari after your climb, etc.)
Tips and any items of a personal nature

What to bring

Solid hiking boots - Boots should have high ankle support with a solid Vibram®, or equivalent, sole. Gore Tex®, or other waterproofing, is recommended for wet days as well as added insulation. Be sure to break your boots in at least 4 weeks prior to departure. Additionally, bring a spare set of laces.
Sun glasses - Your sunglasses should have 100% UV protection and should reduce glare as well as visible light. The frames should be lightweight with a wrap-around design for enhanced grip and staying power. Additionally, side shields are recommended to block peripheral light.
Day pack - The most important things to look for if you need to purchase one are size (30L is good), hydration pack compatibility, hip and chest straps, internal frame, good padding on shoulder straps, and water bottle holders.
Water/windproof jacket - Your water/windproof jacket is your outer water-repellent layer. Gore Tex, seam-sealed, is recommended, as well as a hood for added warmth.
Water/windproof pants - Your water/windproof pants will be worn on summit day as well as on rainy afternoons. These pants are essential for warmth and should be Gore Tex lined and have lower leg zips.
Water/windproof mittens or gloves - These are used for extreme temperatures and primarily worn on summit day. Be sure your gloves or mittens have a wrist cord as well as a reinforced palm to maintain grip during wet conditions. A removable liner is essential for drying, washing, and replacing.
2 large duffel bags - One will be left at the hotel in Arusha to store non-essential gear while on the mountain, such as clean clothes for changing when off the mountain and for onward travel, and the other is for carriage by the porters while on the mountain.
2 pairs of synthetic warm-weather trekking socks - These socks are for trekking in the warmest part of the day since they are made of a Coolmax® fabric. Coolmax® wicks moisture, dries quickly, and breathes well, keeping your feet dry and preventing blisters.
4 pairs of heavier synthetic or wool blend socks - Your wool socks are ideal for around camp when the temperature drops, as well as on cold mornings. Merino wool is very comfortable and dries quickly with fewer odors than synthetic blends.
2 pairs of long underwear tops - This will be your base layer for colder mornings, evenings, and days when the temperature drops considerably. The material is lightweight, tight-fitting, moisture-wicking, and comfortable.
2 pairs of long underwear bottoms - This will be your bottom base layer for colder mornings, evenings, and days when the temperature drops considerably. The material is lightweight, tight-fitting, moisture-wicking, and comfortable.
Warm pants - These pants are ideal for evenings around camp and cold days on the trail. Typically made of lightweight fleece and Wind Pro material, these pants should offer added warmth in case of cold nights or high winds on the summit.
Fleece top - This Polartec® 200 weight top will provide added warmth during the evenings as well as on cold morning starts. Please look for fleece material and stay away from cotton sweatshirts. Ideally, this item is worn over the thermal base layer and underneath your water/windproof jacket.
2 pairs of shorts/pants for hiking - These convertible shorts/pants will be what you hike in every day. They should be made of a lightweight, quick-drying nylon material. Some come with UPF protection and mosquito protection.
2 pairs of long- or short-sleeve shirts for the trail - Your trekking shirt is what you should wear early in the climb in warmer climates. The shirt is moisture-wicking, lightweight, and designed for multi-day hikes.
Mid-layer top - This shirt is a long-sleeve version of the one provided above. The long-sleeve trail shirt offers added warmth, more protection from the sun, and an additional layer for evenings and early morning starts.
Warm hat - This fleece or wool hat is ideal for evenings and will be valuable in the event of cold weather and temperatures on the summit. The hat should be tight-fitting with minimal loose ends.
Lightweight gloves - Fleece gloves are essential. Look for gloves that are Polartec® 200 weight with a leather-reinforced palm. For more protection, windproofing is available and will add an extra layer of warmth.
Balaclava - The balaclava provides added warmth on summit day and during colder evenings. The balaclava should be made of synthetic or wool material, lightweight, and close-fitting.
Sun hat - Your sun hat should be worn at the lower camps and should provide ample coverage for the face. A full-brimmed hat is good for added shade and increased sun protection. Additionally, a neck scarf should also be considered to protect the back of the neck.
Waterproof breathable gaiters - Your gaiters should be lightweight and durable. Look for Gore Tex lined gaiters with the ability to fit over your boots. Velcro or adjustable sides for easy access are recommended.
Down jacket - An 800-fill down jacket will add much-needed warmth for cold evenings as well as the added layers for summit day. Down is recommended for its compressibility and is comfortable around camp in the early nights on the climb. Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, Marmot, and North Face are brands the guides wear.
Head lamp - Petzl® and Black Diamond® make several models of small and efficient headlamps. Look for ones that have multiple lighting levels, LED bulbs, and use AAA batteries.
Camp shoes (Teva, Crocs, sandals) - These are great for around camp after a long day on the trail. These can also be used for creek crossings that may be higher than the boot. Flip-flops work well in warmer climates but are not as effective during cold nights.
Hydrator - Hydrators are ideal when hiking for several hours because they enable you to drink slowly and frequently. 2-3 litres is a good size and should fit easily into your pack. All Camelbaks® come with a bite valve, or on/off switch, as well as a large access port for filling. You must bring a neoprene sleeve for the hose to prevent freezing.
Bug spray - DEET-based products work well, and we find that the spray-on versions last longer and are less messy. 4-6 ounce repellents that are perspiration- and splash-resistant are great.
Sun screen - 30 SPF or higher is recommended, as well as waterproof and sweatproof protection. 8 ounces will be plenty, and we typically carry one with 45+ SPF for our faces and a 30 SPF for other exposed areas. Banana Boat, REI, Kinesis, and All Terrain are good options.
2 wide-mouth water bottles - A 1-liter water bottle is essential for hydrating at lunch, around camp, and refilling throughout the day. Stay away from glass and heavy metals, and look for lexan® for durability.
Pillow - A Thermarest® pillow that compresses down or folds into itself is ideal. A good benchmark for size and weight is 18 x 14 inches and 9 ounces total.
Dry bag - A 20-liter+ dry bag is great for ensuring your personal items are safe in case of rain. Cameras, wallets, money, and any other valuables can be kept dry at all times.
Pack cover - The pack cover is an additional item we recommend everyone carry in case you encounter heavy rains. The pack cover should have a drawstring cord and elastic edges to fit firmly over your bag. A 40-liter cover will work well on any day pack.
Trekking poles - Collapsible poles are great for steep downhill terrain and assistance uphill. If you have knee problems, they reduce the impact on your joints by 20-30%. A nice soft foam grip will help prevent blisters, and poles with an aluminium shaft are durable and lightweight.
Camp towel - The camp towel should be made of a polyester-nylon blend that dries quickly and compacts tightly in your pack. The large size (50 x 27 inches) is a good size and can be used to wash up at the end of the day. Stay away from house or beach towels.
Camera
Paperback book
Journal with pen or pencil
Personal first aid kit (band-aids, moleskin or second skin, ibuprofen, aspirin)
Hand sanitiser
Sani-wipes
Hand and feet warmers (2x) - Gel/air-activated are best
Bandanna
Cell phone with solar charger, e.g. Solar Monkey charger, since tri- and quad-band phones work on Kilimanjaro
Flavoured chocolate/energy bars for snacks
A supply of rehydrate sachets
2 extra garbage bags for waterproofing and separating dirty laundry
Earplugs
iPod or MP3 player
Pocket knife
Water-flavoring to mask the iodine taste in the purified water