8-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climb with Uhuru Peak Sunrise

You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you will meet your guide, who will brief you on your upcoming trek and carry out an equipment check to ensure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day.

• Height (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
• Distance: 11 km
• Climbing Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitation: Rain Forest

Drive from Moshi/Arusha to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate, passing through the village of Machame, which is located at the base of the mountain. From the park gate, begin walking through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. Continue a short distance until you reach Machame Camp.

• Height (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
• Distance: 5 km
• Climbing Time: 4-6 hours
• Habitation: Moorland

After breakfast, leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a little valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the ridge ends. The route then turns west onto a river gorge. Overnight at the Shira campsite.

• Height (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
• Distance: 10 km
• Climbing Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitation: Semi Desert

From the Shira Plateau, continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo. As you continue, the direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after the tower, come to the second junction that leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

Continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here, rest, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight. Although you end the day at nearly the same height as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

• Height (ft): 13,000ft to 15,000ft
• Distance: 9km
• Climbing Time: 8-10 hours
• Habitation: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge, passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then leave Karanga and join the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. Continue up to Barafu Hut.

At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here, make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

• Height (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
• Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
• Climbing Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
• Habitation: Arctic

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), continue your way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Head in a northwesterly direction 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 (18,600 ft), stop for a short rest and, weather permitting, be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, begin your descent, continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite and stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will need gaiters and trekking poles 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.

• Height (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
• Distance: 10 km
• Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitation: Rain Forest

After breakfast, continue the descent down to Mweka Park Gate to receive your certificates. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka Park Gate and drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.

Your package includes departure day services. Enjoy breakfast and morning sightseeing in the city, or join us for safaris. If you are returning home, our driver will bring you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to catch your flight.