8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek via Machame Route to Uhuru Peak

• Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be greeted by our transfer driver and taken to a nice and comfortable hotel in Arusha.
• The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure - relax at the hotel pool or explore the town of Arusha. In the late afternoon, you will meet one of our Kilimanjaro team members, who will brief you on your upcoming trek.

• The drive from Arusha to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The journey passes from Arusha into the Kilimanjaro region and through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
• We leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest 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. We continue a short distance until we reach Machame Camp.

Elevation (m): 1800 m to 3000 m
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

• After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest 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.

Elevation (m): 3000 m to 3840 m
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

• From the Shira Plateau, we 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 4900 m. We now continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3900 m.
• Here we 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.

Elevation (m): 3840 m to 4600 m at the tower, then 3900 m
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert

• After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge, passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Elevation (m): 3900 m to 3995 m
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• After breakfast, we leave Karanga and head to 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 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.

Elevation (m): 3995 m to 4673 m
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Very early in the morning, between midnight and 2 am, we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. We 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 (5766 m), we stop for a short rest and, weather permitting, will 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 now make our descent, continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch.
• You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going 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.

Elevation (m): 4673 m to 5895 m (and down to 3100 m)
Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent

• After breakfast, we continue the descent down to 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 Gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha.
• After breakfast, you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport, or you can opt to extend your trip with a safari or a beach holiday on Zanzibar.

Elevation (m): 3100 m to 1640 m
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest