7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Trek through dense rainforest on the scenic Machame Route
• 02 Pass the Lava Tower and the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest
• 03 Climb the iconic Barranco Wall during a key acclimatization stage
• 04 Watch a magnificent sunrise over Mawenzi Peak from Stella Point
• 05 Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa

Embark on a thrilling 7-day journey to Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route, one of the mountain's most scenic and popular trails. Trek through dense rainforest, cross steep ridges and open moorlands, pass volcanic formations such as the Lava Tower, and climb the iconic Barranco Wall as you acclimatize for the summit. The adventure culminates in a midnight ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, with a magnificent sunrise over Mawenzi Peak from Stella Point. Descend through misty upper forest to Mweka Gate and celebrate your achievement.

Near Stella Point (18,900 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 7 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

1

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 dense rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach Machame Camp.

2

Day 02

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp Across the Plateau

• 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.

3

Day 03

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower and Barranco Camp

• We continue east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower, a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We then descend to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at a higher altitude benefits acclimatization.

4

Day 04

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp via Barranco Wall

• We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. We cross hills and valleys from the top of the Barranco Wall until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb leads us up to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

5

Day 05

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp on the Southern Circuit

• We leave Karanga and reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section of Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many angles. Here we make camp, rest, and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this position.

6

Day 06

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and Down to Mweka Camp

• 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. Near Stella Point (18,900 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.
• From the summit, we descend and continue straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The rocky trail can be hard on the knees, so trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

7

Day 07

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, where a vehicle will meet us and drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

The route

Where you'll travel

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
• 5 breakfasts
• 6 lunches
• 6 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 seven-day Machame Route, also known as the "Whiskey" Route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame's appeal 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 the 7-day Machame Route climbing Kilimanjaro trekking and hiking trails 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

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Moshi, Tanzania

Tour start

Machame, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.