7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

• After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, which takes about 50 minutes, passing through the villages of Machame on the lower slopes of the mountain.
• After reaching Machame Gate, there will be a registration session before you begin hiking through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery during the rainy season. Continue a short distance until you reach Machame Campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.

Machame Gate 1,800Mt to Machame Campsite 3000Mt
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 Hours
Habitat: Rainforest

• Breakfast is served at 7:30 am. After breakfast, depart 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 and moorland until the ridge ends.
• The route then turns west onto a river gorge. Enjoy time to rest before dinner and an overnight stay at Shira Campsite.

Machame Campsite 3000M to Shira Campsite 3840Mt

Elevation Distance: 7Km
Hiking Time: 4-5 Hours
Habitat: Heath and Moorland

• Breakfast is served at 7:30 am at Shira Campsite. Depart for Barranco Campsite, continuing east up a ridge via the junction toward the peak of Kibo.
• As you walk, your direction changes to the southeast toward Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after reaching the second junction, which brings you near Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4600Mt, descend downhill to Barranco Campsite at an altitude of 3950Mt.
• Although you end your day at nearly the same elevation as where you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help prepare you for the summit session.

Elevation 4600Mt
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 6-7 Hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• After breakfast, leave Barranco and continue along a steep ridge, passing the Barranco Wall, to Karanga Valley Campsite.

• Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Karanga Camp before completing your ascent to the base campsite at Barafu Campsite and reaching the junction that connects with Mweka Trail. After this point, you only have 15-20 minutes to complete your hiking day.
• At this stage, you will have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Lunch will be served here, followed by an afternoon at leisure to rest, enjoy an early dinner, and prepare for the summit session, which takes place at midnight, right after the clock changes. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this campsite.

Elevation 4600Mt
Distance: 4Km
Hiking Time: 2-3-5 Hours; it is a shorter day, but by no means easy hiking
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Between the end of day 5 and the beginning of day 6 at midnight, dress in enough layers of clothing to get ready for the final ascent to the summit.
• Head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,747Mt. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
• At Stella Point, stop for a short rest and be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrise views you are ever likely to see. From Stella Point, it takes about one hour to reach the summit.
• At Uhuru Peak, you will have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and on the continent of Africa. Faster hikers may see the sunrise from the summit.
• After your time at Uhuru Peak, descend straight downhill to Mweka Hut Campsite. You will take a short rest at Barafu for lunch before continuing to Mweka Campsite, situated in the upper forest. Your last dinner on the mountain will be served late in the day, followed by a well-earned sleep.

Distance: Ascend to Uhuru Peak 5Km, descent to Barafu Camp 5Km, and from Barafu Campsite to Mweka Campsite 11Km
Hiking Time: 11-12 Hours
Habitat: Arctic Moorland and Forest

• After your last breakfast on the mountain, served in the morning, leave Mweka Camp and descend downhill through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. At lower elevations, the trail can be wet and muddy.
• From the gate, your vehicle will meet you at Mweka Gate and drive you back to a hotel in Moshi for a hot shower, leisure dinner, and an overnight stay.

Distance: 10 Km
Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours
Habitat: Rain Forest