Tanzania · Trekking

6-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

6 Days Round trip from Machame Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Walk through the dense rainforest on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes
02 Cross the Shira Plateau through heather and open moorlands
03 Use the acclimatization day via Lava Tower and Barranco Camp to prepare for the summit
04 Witness a magnificent sunrise from Gilman's Point over Mawenzi Peak
05 Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa

Trek the Machame Route, one of Tanzania's most popular ways to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. This 6-day ascent takes you through breathtaking scenery, from lush rainforest and alpine meadows to the snow-capped summit zone of Africa's highest mountain. Known for its scenic beauty and strong acclimatization profile, the route is best suited to more experienced hikers or travellers with high-altitude hiking or backpacking experience.

At Gilman's Point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will ever see coming over Mawenzi Peak.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Machame Gate to Machame Camp through Rainforest

The drive from Moshi to Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes.
The journey passes through the village of Machame, located on the mountain's lower slopes. After leaving the park gate, we walk through the dense rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach Machame Camp.

Day 02

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp

We leave the rainforest glades and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge.
On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to reach Shira 2 Camp.

Day 03

Shira Camp to Lava Tower and Barranco Camp

From the Shira Plateau, we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo.
As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth."
Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction, which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft.
We then continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000 ft. Here, we rest, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight.
You end the day at the same elevation as when you started; this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Day 04

Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley and Barafu Camp

Today's route includes scaling the Barranco Wall using 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 is another 2-3 hour climb before you reach Barafu Camp (4,640 m). Tonight, drink plenty of fluids, try to eat, and go to bed early so you are well rested for tomorrow.

Day 05

Midnight Summit Push to Uhuru Peak

We begin our push to the summit early in the morning, around midnight. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent but short breaks.
At Gilman's Point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will ever see coming over Mawenzi Peak.
Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
After taking in the plains of Africa and your accomplishment, we descend to Horombo Hut.
Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 06

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate and Return to Moshi

On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates.
At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.
From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village.
A conveyance will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

Where this trip takes you

Machame rainforest, Shira Plateau moorlands, Gilman's Point sunrise over Mawenzi Peak

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Machame 3 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Guide
Park fees
Tax
Meals according to the itinerary
Gate transfer
Crew wages
Fair and sustainable salary crew wages
Environment fees
During the climb, you will sleep in tents
4 breakfasts
5 lunches
5 dinners
Drinking water
Guide
Porters
Cook

What's Not Included

Flights
Items of a personal nature
Laundry services
Tips to the mountain crew

Know before you go

The Machame Route is one of Tanzania's most popular routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It is known for its scenic beauty and high success rate. The route takes six days to complete and involves moderate to difficult hiking.

The 6-day Machame Route Kilimanjaro climb, also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Its draw lies in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered difficult, steep, and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore, this route is better suited for more adventurous travellers or those with some high-altitude hiking or backpacking experience.

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. The path leads hikers through the rainforest to Shira Plateau, where many of Kilimanjaro's routes converge. The route then turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka Route.

Logistics