Tanzania · Trekking

8-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek with Uhuru Peak Sunrise

8 Days Round trip from Moshi Hard pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Summit Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5895 meters
  • 02 Trek the famous Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route
  • 03 Watch a magnificent sunrise on the final ascent via Stella Point
  • 04 Camp amid Kilimanjaro's dramatic landscapes, from rainforest to alpine desert

Embark on an adventurous trek to summit Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route, commonly known as the Whiskey Route. Hike through lush rainforest, alpine desert, and dramatic high-altitude landscapes as you acclimatize along the way. Tackle steep trails and scree to Stella Point on Kibo's crater rim, then continue to Africa's highest point for magnificent sunrise views. This 8-day climb combines challenging trekking with breathtaking glaciers, scenic camps, and the support of an experienced mountain crew.

Tackle steep trails and scree to Stella Point on Kibo's crater rim, then continue to Africa's highest point for magnificent sunrise views.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Hard
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Machame
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Moshi to Machame Gate and Trek to Machame Camp

  • You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning after breakfast and head towards Machame Gate, an easy 45-minute drive from Moshi.
  • At the gate, you will be registered by the National Park authorities. Once everything is prepared, you can begin your trek into the lush rainforest. There is a possibility of spotting Black-and-White Colobus monkeys on the way to Machame Camp, which takes about 5 to 6 hours to reach.
  • You will spend the night just above the forest line at 3010 meters.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

2
Day 02

Machame Camp to New Shira Camp

  • Today, the trail will be somewhat steeper than on day one, but it is a shorter stretch, and you should reach your destination by early afternoon.
  • After some rest, you have the option to hike further to Shira 2 Camp for beautiful views of the Shira Plateau. Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania, can be seen in the distance.

The night will be spent at New Shira Camp.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

3
Day 03

Lava Tower Acclimatization and Barranco Valley Descent

  • Today, you will ascend about 700 meters to the striking and rugged Lava Tower before descending again to Barranco Camp. This gives your body a good chance to acclimatize for the following days, as you will reach an altitude of over 4600 meters.
  • As you enter the afro-alpine desert near Lava Tower and then descend back into the lush green Barranco Valley, the landscape changes dramatically along the route. Barranco Camp is situated just below the imposing Barranco Wall and is reached after about 6 to 7 hours of trekking. This camp is considered by many to be the most beautiful and scenic on Kilimanjaro.

You will be treated to a hearty dinner before getting into your sleeping bag for some well-deserved rest.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

4
Day 04

Climb the Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp

  • Today, you will tackle the steepest part of this route - the famous Barranco Wall, also known as the 'Breakfast Wall'. It is not as complicated as it looks, and your guide will assist you through this passage in just a little more than an hour.
  • At the top of the Barranco Wall, you can get a glimpse of the southern glaciers of Kibo and take a short rest before continuing towards Karanga Camp. This camp is located less than 100 meters higher than Barranco Camp, which gives your body more time to acclimatize to the altitude.
  • After lunch at the camp, you have the option to make a short round trip towards Barafu Camp for further acclimatization, or you can simply relax at camp.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

5
Day 05

Karanga Camp to Barafu Summit Camp

  • The trail you take today passes once again through striking alpine desert expanses and leads you to your final camp before the summit hike - Barafu Camp. This camp is reached after about 3 to 4 hours and sits at an altitude of 4640 meters.
  • You will have some time to relax before the evening meal is served.
  • After dinner, you are advised to get as much sleep as possible before attempting the climb tomorrow.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

6
Day 06

Sunrise Ascent to Stella Point and Crater Camp

  • In the early morning, you will begin the most challenging part of the ascent as the sun rises. You should reach Stella Point, the crater rim of Kibo, after about 5 to 7 hours of strenuous climbing up scree and ash paths.
  • From Stella Point, you will continue towards the highest camp on Kilimanjaro - Crater Camp - which is situated at an altitude of 5730 meters.
  • From here, there are breathtaking views of the surrounding glaciers.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

7
Day 07

Uhuru Peak Summit and Descent to Mweka Camp

  • The first sunlight marks the start of your final ascent towards the summit. It will be a slow and arduous climb of about 2 hours before you reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak, which rises to 5895 meters.
  • From the peak, you will be able to see the surrounding summits, glaciers, and landscapes lit up by the warm morning sun - a truly unforgettable experience.
  • After a short break and the mandatory summit pictures, you will return to Barafu Camp, where the rest of the climbing crew will await you. Here, you will have some time to rest, and a much-needed warm meal will be served.
  • Afterwards, you will continue your descent to Mweka Camp (3080m), which takes about 3 hours. At Mweka Camp, you will have an evening meal followed by a well-deserved deep night's sleep.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

8
Day 08

Farewell Ceremony and Return to Moshi

  • After breakfast, you will be invited to take part in the traditional farewell ceremony with your mountain crew from Kilinge Adventures before the final leg of your climb leads you back through the lush rainforest.
  • Then, a gentle descent of up to 3 hours takes you to Mweka Gate, where your driver will meet you and bring you back to your hotel in Moshi. The rest of the day is yours.
  • You may relax and stay by the pool, celebrate your accomplishment with a couple of drinks, or simply doze away contentedly.
Machame Gate rainforest, Lava Tower and Barranco Valley, Stella Point crater rim, Uhuru Peak sunrise

Where this trip takes you

Machame Gate rainforest, Lava Tower and Barranco Valley, Stella Point crater rim, Uhuru Peak sunrise

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Moshi 4 cities · 8 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Park fees, camping fees, and rescue fees
  • 18% VAT on tour fees and services
  • Professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters
  • 3-season mountain tents
  • Double-layered sleeping mats
  • Transportation to and from the mountain gate
  • Wages of professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters
  • Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek
  • 3 meals daily while on the mountain
  • Pre- and post-trek accommodation at the Weru Weru River Lodge (or alternative) on a bed and breakfast basis
  • Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA) and the Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
  • Supplemental oxygen and pulse oximeter
  • 10% discount on meals at selected restaurants in Moshi Town

What's Not Included

  • Local and international flights
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Laundry services
  • A portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$150 per toilet + toilet tent)
  • A doctor for the group
  • Tips to the mountain crew

Know before you go

  • Private airport transfers are available for an extra cost of $20 per vehicle.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Moshi, Tanzania
Tour start
Moshi, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 8 days finish where they began, in Moshi.

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