6-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek to Uhuru Peak for New Year

The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

We now 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. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. Continue a short distance until we reach Machame Camp.

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rainforest 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 now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and an overnight stay at Shira Camp.

Continue to the 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 now continue down to Barranco Camp at an altitude of 13,000 ft. Here, we rest, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight. Although 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.

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 hit the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.

We continue up to Barafu Camp. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different 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 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), you will stop for a short rest and be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see, weather permitting. 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 now descend, continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want 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.

After breakfast, we descend to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be plenty to wear, but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy.

From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka Village and drive you back to the hotel in Moshi.