8-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

Arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by our transfer driver and taken to the Key Hotel in Moshi Town. The rest of the day will be free. Relax at the pool or explore the small town of Arusha. Later today or tonight, you will meet our operations team, who will brief you on what lies ahead.

After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge and taken to Kilimanjaro National Park. While your guide is registering, you can watch the mountain team preparing - it is always impressive what, and particularly how, everything is carried up the mountain. Once this is all packed up, your adventure will begin; after a few minutes, you will be deep within the forest with ancient trees, ferns, mosses, and black and white colobus monkeys frolicking in the treetops. After 5 - 6 hours, you will reach Machame Camp, situated just above the forest line at 3000 m. Arriving here, the porters will already have set up your tents, and warm water for washing will be ready.

After an early morning start, the path steepens and the vegetation changes into a moorland with shrubs such as hardy Ericas. Today's stage is shorter than the previous day, and by mid-afternoon, you will arrive at the campsite on the Shira Plateau. From the camp, you will have breathtaking views of the mountain and the evening light on the rock face and glacier of Kibo as the sun sets.

Today will be a day of ups and downs. You will ascend almost 700 m but descend again after reaching the imposing Lava Tower (4640 m). This will help with acclimatization, as you will reach a height of over 4500 m. You will move through different vegetation zones. After reaching Lava Tower, the path traverses Barranco Valley, dotted with the weird-looking senecios. Barranco Camp is reached after 6 - 7 hours. Considered the most beautiful camp on the mountain, the camp is situated just below the imposing Barranco Wall. Rest and refuel tonight.

The first section of today's route is to scale the 'Barranco Wall'. Use your hands and feet. Safety is paramount, and you will be secured if necessary, but it looks more daunting than it is. The trail continues with many up-and-down sections, crossing a few streams, winding and climbing, and stopping for lunch in the Karanga Valley. After lunch, there will be another 2 - 3 hours of climbing before you reach Barafu Camp (4640 m). Tonight, drink lots of fluids, try to eat, and go to bed early to rest enough before tomorrow's summit trek.

You will be woken in the midnight hours with a cup of tea and a biscuit. Dressed warmly and equipped with a headlight and your daypack, you will set off in the darkness. After 5 - 7 hours of 'pole pole', you will reach the crater's rim at Stella Point. Another one to two hours of going slowly along the crater's edge and you will arrive at the summit - Uhuru Peak (5895 m). Looking down over the surrounding landscape below in the early morning light will make you feel on top of the world. You have now reached the 'Roof of Africa'. The descent should be easy but dusty, as the volcanic ash will now have defrosted. Returning on the same route, you should arrive at Barafu Camp within a few hours, where the porters are waiting with food and tea. After resting for an hour or two, you will continue to Mweka Camp (3080 m) for your overnight stay.

Last day on the mountain. After breakfast, the crew will celebrate your achievement with a traditional song for their farewell ceremony. You will present them with their tips. Setting off and descending into the moist green forest, reaching the gate should take about three hours. Back at the Meru View Lodge in the Usa River, hot showers and cold beers wait. There you can revive yourself and celebrate your achievement.

After breakfast, you can continue on a safari (optional) or will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport.