7-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek with Uhuru Peak Sunrise

Your first day starts with an early morning press conference, followed by breakfast and then a drive to Machame village (1,490m/4,890ft) from Arusha or Moshi. After checking in with the park management, you will have a hot lunch and begin your ascent by entering the rainforest. Heavy rains often turn the trails on this side of the mountain into mud, so good shoes, gaiters, and hiking poles are beneficial. You will reach Camp Machame in the late afternoon, where the porters will have set up your tent before you arrive. Overnight: Camp Machame (All meals included)

After breakfast, you will climb to the top of the forest for an hour, then begin a 2-hour hike through the gentle moors. You continue walking on the rocky slopes to reach the Shira Plateau. At the Shira Plateau, you can see the western rift of Kilimanjaro with its magnificent glaciers. You are now on the other side of the mountain from Marangu Road and west of Kibo.

You arrive at the Shira Cave campsite after a short walk to the west. You will have a hot lunch at the camp and a relaxing afternoon. In the evening, you will visit Shira Cave to get a glimpse of the history of the cave and the surrounding area. Later in the evening, you will be served a hot dinner before bed. Nights in this exposed camp will be colder, and the temperature will drop below zero. Overnight: Shira Cave Camp (All meals included)

Your hike begins by heading east, where the path becomes steeper through the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro. After a few hours, you cross a rocky landscape to reach the Lava Tower (4,630m/15,190ft). These remnants of Kilimanjaro's volcanic past rise several hundred feet high, and the trail passes directly below.

After lunch at the Lava Tower, you will descend for 2 hours beneath the lower cliffs of the Western Breach, down the Breach Wall to Camp Barranco (3,950m/12,960ft). Camp Barranco is located in a valley below the walls of the Breach and Great Barranco, offering a picturesque sunset while you wait for dinner. On this day, you may experience signs of altitude sickness. Overnight: Barranco Camp (All meals included)

You start your day by going down a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then, you climb the non-technical but steep cliff of nearly 900 feet. From the top of the Barranco Wall, you cross a series of hills and valleys until you descend all the way down to the Karanga Valley. A steeper climb will then take you to Camp Karanga. This is a shorter day for acclimatization. Overnight: Camp Karanga (All meals included)

After breakfast, you leave Karanga and reach the junction with the Mweka Trail. You then continue to Barafu Hut. Here, you have completed the South Circuit, where you can see the top of the mountain from many different angles. Here, you will rest, have dinner, and prepare for the summit day. Two peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo, can be seen from this position. Overnight: Camp Barafu (All meals included)

You will wake up to steaming tea and cookies, then set off at night. Your 6-hour hike northwest through the thick barrier between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most difficult part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685m/18,650ft), you stop to rest briefly and get a chance to watch a special sunrise. You cannot stop for long because it will be extremely difficult to start again due to fatigue and cold. Depending on the season and recent storm activity, you may encounter snow on the remainder of your hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak.

At the top, you can enjoy your accomplishment, knowing you are creating a day you will remember for a lifetime. After a 3-hour descent from the summit back to Camp Barafu, you will have a brief but well-deserved break, gather your gear, and continue down a rocky path through the moorland and into the woods until reaching Camp Mweka (3,100m/10,170ft). This camp is in the high forest, where you may get rain and fog in the late afternoon. Overnight: Camp Mweka (All meals included)

After breakfast, guests will take a short 3-hour scenic walk to the park gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add your details to the register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who have reached Stella Point will receive a green certificate, and those who have reached Uhuru Peak will receive a gold certificate.

From Mweka Gate, you will continue to Mweka Village for a hot lunch with your climbing crew and a small party before returning to your hotel for a hot bath and relaxation. For climbers who must catch a flight, you will return to the office building in Arusha for a quick shower and short rest before being transferred to the airport for your departure flight.