6-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route to Uhuru Peak

Trekking Time: 5-7 hours / Distance: 9 km / Altitude Gain: 1300 m

• A one-hour drive will take you to Machame Gate (1,800 m above sea level), where we will complete National Park registration formalities.
• You will meet your cook and porters and begin your trek to the top of 'The Roof of Africa'!
• Your climb starts steadily, following the trail to the west of Makoa Stream into dense, ever-changing rainforest. The trail is sometimes muddy and slippery.
• Approaching Machame Camp (3,100 m), the path emerges onto alpine moorland with beautiful views of the Western Breach.

Trekking Time: 5-7 hours / Distance: 9 km / Altitude Gain: 740 m

• The trail continues northeast and heads towards Shira Camp, bringing you out of the forest and up a steep boulder ridge leading to the Shira Plateau.
• From here, you will be able to take in the stunning views Kilimanjaro has to offer, including Mount Meru in the west with its breathtaking sunsets.
• We camp at Shira Camp, where you will have an excursion of the area, hiking at higher altitudes to assist in your acclimatization.

Trekking Time: 6-7 hours / Distance: 11 km / Altitude Gain: 110 m

• The trail to Barranco Camp, taking 6-7 hours, is extremely beautiful and starts with a gentle incline towards Kibo.
• You will reach a ridge marked by a rock named the Shark's Tooth (4,400 m) and go south, crossing shallow valleys to Lava Tower (4,600 m).
• We will gradually descend to Barranco Camp, with its great views of the icy Western Breach and the Barranco Wall, better known as the 'Breakfast Wall'. This is an acclimatization day following the 'walking high, sleeping low' rule of mountaineering.

Trekking Time: 6-7 hours / Distance: 9 km / Altitude Gain: 750 m

• The day starts with a not-too-technical trek up Barranco Wall (200 m high), which, although steep, only requires hand-and-feet climbing for a few stretches.
• The top of the 'Breakfast Wall' has attractive vistas of Kibo and the surrounding landscape.
• We will then follow the trail with many up-and-down sections across small streams and then cross the Karanga River to the Karanga campsite (3,930 m). This is just a short day of trekking to help with acclimatization.
• Continuing our eastward traverse to Barafu Camp, we meet the crossroads with the Mweka Route.
• A further hour's climb up a steep and rocky lava ridge will bring us to Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit of the mountain, and from here you will be able to view the summit from a number of different angles.
• The terrain at Barafu Camp is inhospitable and has very little vegetation; it often snows at this point and, in the rainy season, can be blanketed. We will set up camp, rest, and enjoy a hearty meal before heading to bed - the summit is just a further 1,188 m, which we will start to attempt at midnight.

Trekking Time: 6-7 hours / Distance: 5 km / Altitude Gain: 1195 m

• Waking up at 23.00 hrs, you will have a light snack and hot drink before starting your 5 km trek to the summit. This is the most exhausting day of your climb, with an overall trekking time of approximately 16 hours.
• This section of your climb is the coldest, with temperatures ranging from -5°C to -10°C.
• We will head northwest, following the trail up an increasingly steep valley on the edge of scree fields. You will pass the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers towards Stella Point (5,672 m).
• You are now on the southern rim of Kibo, where you will have spectacular views as the sun rises.
• Just a further hour's climb will bring you to Uhuru Peak - congratulations, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro, the 'Roof of Africa'. You will be surrounded by awe-inspiring ice cliffs and magnificent views of Mawenzi Peak and beyond.

Summit (5,895 m) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m)

Trekking Time: 5-6 hours / Distance: 9 km / Altitude Loss: 2795 m

• We will start our descent to Stella Point and then get back on the trail to Barafu Camp, where you will have a short rest before heading to Mweka Camp (3,100 m). It is a 9 km trek, and en route you will be able to take in the spectacular views of the plains of Kilimanjaro.
• This is not a difficult route, taking just 4-5 hours. The trail takes you down a rocky scree path (remember to go 'Pole pole') through moorland and then into beautiful forest habitat. We will share our last meal on Mount Kilimanjaro, and you will have a very well-deserved sleep.

Trekking Time: 4-5 hours / Distance: 10 km / Altitude Loss: 1300 m

• You will start your day with breakfast and then singing and celebrations with your porters before descending 1300 m to Mweka Gate, considered an easy day's climb, with it taking just a few hours to get to the gate.
• On arrival at Mweka Gate, you will receive your Gold Summit Certificate, a token for you to take home to remember one of the biggest adventures you have experienced.
• You will continue on a short walk to Mweka Village, where you will be transferred back to your hotel for a refreshing hot shower, dinner, and perhaps even a Kilimanjaro beer!