6-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

• Meet your tour guide and start the drive to Machame Gate. The drive from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
• We now leave 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.
• We continue a short distance until we reach Machame Camp.

Elevation (ft): 6,000 ft / 1,830 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m.

Distance: 11 km.

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.

Habitat: Montane Forest.

Camp: Machame Camp.

• After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.

Elevation (ft): 10,200 ft / 3,100 m to 12,600 ft / 3,840 m.

Distance: 9 km.

Walking Time: 4-6 hours.

Habitat: Moorland.

Full Board Shira Cave Camp.

• Today we walk on a gentle ascent with panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach.
• After a hot lunch at the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m), we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley (3,950 m).

Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950 m): 5-7 hours walking.

12,600 ft / 3,840 m to 12,700 ft / 3,860 m.

Distance: 15 km.

Walking Time: 5-7 hours.

Habitat: Semi-desert.

Full Board Barranco Camp.

• After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall (4,250 m / 13,900 ft), through the Karanga Valley (4,050 m / 13,250 ft) to the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.
• We continue up to Barafu Camp. You 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.

Barranco Camp to Barafu Hut Camp (4,600 m): 6-8 hours.

4,000 m / 13,000 ft to 4,700 m / 15,350 ft.

Distance: 9 km.

Walking Time: 6-8 hours.

Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Full Board at Barafu Camp.

• Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Reitzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
• At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise 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 on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
• From the summit, we begin our descent by continuing straight down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down.

We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Elevation (ft): 4,700 m / 15,350 ft to 5,895 m / 19,343 ft, down to 3,090 m / 10,150 ft.

Distance: 6 km up / 13 km down.

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

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.

• After breakfast, we continue the descent down to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be plenty to wear, but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy.
• Our vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka Gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.
• Day of departure: transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.

Elevation (ft): 3,090 m / 10,150 ft to 1,680 m / 5,500 ft.

Distance: 10 km / 6 mi.

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours.

Habitat: Forest.

Meals: B.