Machame Route

Machame Route

6 Day Machame Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha / Moshi – Machame Gate – Machame Camp (5,400ft – 9,400ft, 11 km, 5 – 7 hrs)

After breakfast we drive from Arusha / Moshi to the Machame Gate. After finishing park formalities including obtaining permits and weighing of packs, we will leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp for dinner & overnight.

Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira 2 (9,400ft – 12,500ft, 5 km, 4-6 hours)

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley 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 overnight at the Shira Camp 2.

Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (12,500ft – 13,000ft, 10 km, 6 – 8 hrs)

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards 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 now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and 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.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (13,000ft – 15,000ft, 9km, 8 – 10 hrs)

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 which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the 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 the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day  5: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Hut (15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down – 10,000ft), 5 km ascent / 12 km descent, 7 – 8 hrs ascent / 4 – 6 hours descent)

In the midnight we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (if 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 make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. 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.

Day 6: Mweka Camp – Arusha / Moshi (10,000ft – 5,400ft, 10 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down 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. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Arusha / Moshi.

7 Day Machame Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha / Moshi – Machame Gate – Machame Camp (5,400ft – 9,400ft, 11 km, 5 – 7 hrs)

After breakfast we drive from Arusha / Moshi to the Machame Gate. After finishing park formalities including obtaining permits and weighing of packs, we will leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp for dinner & overnight.

Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira 2 (9,400ft – 12,500ft, 5 km, 4-6 hours)

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley 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 overnight at the Shira Camp 2.

Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (12,500ft – 13,000ft, 10 km, 6 – 8 hrs)

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards 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 now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and 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.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp (13,000ft – 13,100ft, 5 km, 4 – 5 hrs)

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall (Also called ‘breakfast’ by porters), to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization, dinner and overnight and Karanga Camp.

Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (13,100ft – 15,300ft,  4 km, 4 – 5 hrs)

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the 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 the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 6: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Hut (15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down – 10,000ft), 5 km ascent / 12 km descent, 7 – 8 hrs ascent / 4 – 6 hours descent)

In the midnight we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (if 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 make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. 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.

Day 7: Mweka Camp – Arusha / Moshi (10,000ft – 5,380, 10 km, 3 – 4 hrs)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down 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. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Arusha / Moshi.