6-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climb to Uhuru Peak at Sunrise

Elevation: 1200m to 1700m to 3000m.
Distance: 13 km.
Hiking time: 5-7 hours.
Habitat: Montane forest.

• After breakfast, our vehicle will transport you from the hotel to Machame Gate.
• Here, you will complete the required registration procedures before starting the trek through the rainforest to Machame Camp, where the tents will already be set up for you.
• Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Elevation: 3000m to 3800m
Distance: 5.3 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland.

• After breakfast, leave the camp and continue ascending, crossing small valleys and steep rocky ridges covered with heather plants to the western side of the mountain, where the camp is situated.
• At this camp, you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of Mount Meru, Shira Plateau, Kibo Peak, and the sunset, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Elevation: 3800m to 3950m.
Distance: 10km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Moorland.

• This is a long and important acclimatization day, so you will have an early breakfast before continuing east to the junction leading to Lava Tower Rock at 4600m for acclimatization.
• You will have lunch at Lava Tower, and afterwards continue down to Barranco Camp.
• The camp is located in the bottom valley below Barranco Wall, where you will stop for dinner and overnight.

Elevation: 3900m to 4673m.
Distance: 10 km.
Hiking time: 9 hours.
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

• On this day, the trek up to Barafu Ridge Campsite is tough because of the altitude. The walk takes a few hours despite the short distance, but it is steep and therefore requires a slow pace to avoid fatigue.
• You will trek across an alpine desert, and there is a good chance that a strong, cold wind will be blowing from Kibo Peak and its ice.
• You will have dinner at an elevation of 4620 meters, then rest until midnight when you begin your summit attempt.

Distance: 15km
Hiking time: 10-12 hours
Habitat: Desert and ice.

• Wake at midnight for a light breakfast, then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise.
• The trail is a series of switchbacks up steep scree, or possibly snow, leading to Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM.
• At this point, you will have views of the fabled crater and its glaciers in front of you.
• Then, after about 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows, you will reach Kilimanjaro's true summit, Uhuru Peak. Here, you will spend some time taking photos, depending on how you feel.
• After your summit activities are complete, you will descend back to Barafu Campsite for lunch, rest, and to collect your equipment, then continue down through the moorland and heath zone to Mweka Campsite.
• Dinner and overnight at Mweka Campsite.

Elevation: 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 10km
Descending time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane forest.

• Today is your last day on the mountain.
• After breakfast, you will descend to Mweka Park Gate, walking through the montane forest.
• This descent will take 3-4 hours.
• At the gate, you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle for the transfer back to the hotel for your certificate presentation and a well-deserved celebration.