6-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Machame Route with Uhuru Peak Sunrise

Our mountain guides and support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning for a pre-climbing briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's entrance at Machame Gate (1,800 m). After the quick formalities of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will begin trekking to Machame Camp (3,010 m). The route passes through the rainforest, so we recommend bringing spare clothes and your rain gear.

After breakfast, leave the rainforest glades and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, the trail passes through heather and open moorlands, then crosses a large river gorge to Shira Cave Camp for lunch. After some rest, there will be a chance to do a short acclimatization walk before dinner and your overnight stay.

From the Shira Plateau, continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo. As the trek continues, the direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, called the Shark's Tooth. Shortly after the tower, you will come to the second junction, which leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4,876 m / 15,997 ft.

You will then continue to Barranco Hut at 3,860 m / 12,664 ft. Here, you can rest, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight. Although you end the day at nearly the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Wake up early for breakfast and begin the ascent of Barranco Wall. We recommend leaving camp as early as possible to avoid crowds from other groups. Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and takes around an hour. After the climb, you can rest and take photos of the Kibo volcano.

You will then begin a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which includes numerous ascents and descents along the route, but do not worry - our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp, you will be served a warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you must ascend to Barafu Camp (4,640 m), where a hot dinner will be served. It is best to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before the night summit attempt.

Continue to the summit very early in the morning, between midnight and 2 am. You will head northwesterly and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5,685 m / 18,652 ft), you will stop for a short rest and, weather permitting, be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises you are ever likely to see.

From Stella Point, you will encounter snow on your 2-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you will reach the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers may see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day, so you will want clothing for both extremes.

From the summit, descend straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Gaiters and trekking poles will be helpful for the loose gravel on the way down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

After breakfast, descend to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, conditions can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be enough to wear, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing handy. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka Gate and drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.