8-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climb with Acclimatization Profile

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 make sure 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

The drive from Moshi/Arusha to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate passes through the village of Machame, which is located at the base of the mountain. We leave the park gate and walk through the rainforest 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. We continue a short distance until we reach Machame Camp.

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

After breakfast, we leave the rainforest glades and continue on an ascending path, crossing the 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, where we continue to 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, 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 16,000ft. We then continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here, we rest, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight. Although you end the day at 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: 9 km
• Climbing Time: 8-10 hours
• Habitation: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge, passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then we leave Karanga and take the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many angles. Here, we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Very early in the morning, between midnight and 2 am, we continue to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You 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 (18,600 ft), you will 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, we descend straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, 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, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

The path leads steeply downhill on a mostly wet and slippery trail through the dense cloud forest to Mweka Gate. From there, transport will take you back to your hotel or lodge.

Enjoy breakfast and morning sightseeing in the city, or join us for one of our Safari Adventures. If you are returning home, our driver will take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to catch your flight.