7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

• Connect with your tour guide in Moshi and head to Machame Gate, a drive of about 1 hour. The journey passes through the village of Machame, located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
• After leaving the park gate, walk through dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until you reach Machame Camp.

Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Distance: 11 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

• Wake up, have breakfast, and begin the second day of hiking. Trek uphill past several viewpoints where you can see the plains and forests below, Kibo Peak above, and Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania.
• As you gain altitude, notice the changes in vegetation as the trees diminish in size, giving way to Kilimanjaro's famous high-altitude plants, Senecio Kilimanjaro and Lobelia Deckenii.

Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heath

• Continue east up a ridge, then head southeast toward Lava Tower, a tall volcanic rock formation.
• Descend to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at nearly the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft down 13044ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall.
• Then climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall, cross a series of hills and valleys before descending sharply into Karanga Valley. One steeper climb then leads to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Leave Karanga and reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.
• Continue up the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
• Here, make camp, rest, and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this position.

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Very early in the morning, around midnight, begin the trek to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the hike, and the wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme.
• Ascend in the darkness for several hours, taking frequent but short breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise over Mawenzi Peak.
• Finally, arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
• From the summit, descend straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees, so trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
• Later in the evening, enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft descent to 10065ft
Distance: 18 km/10 miles
Hiking Time: 13-14 hours
Habitat: Arctic

• On the last day, continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect your summit certificates.
• At lower elevations, conditions can be wet and muddy. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka Gate for the drive back to the hotel in Moshi.

Trip ends.

Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest