Day 1: Meet at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to hotel.
Day-2: Machame Gate (1830m) - Machame Camp (2835m)
- Distance: 5.5km
- Trekking: 5 to 7 hours
- Environment: Montane forest
Today after a brief stop in Moshi we drive to Kilimanjaro park entrance at Machame, near the Machame village. Here we complete formalities for trekking permits and then start trekking through the forest. Rain is possible in Machame Forest.
Day 3: Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Camp 2 (3840m)
Elevation: 2835 metres - 3850 metresDistance: 9km5 to 6 hours Environment: Moorland You leave Machame camp and climb quite steeply for about an hour. The route then follows a more gentle gradient toward the base Shira Plateau which is actually a the remains of a caldera, or collapsed volcanic crater. Then you traverse up the rocky outcrop before trekking in an easterly direction, to Shira Camp, Shira being one of the three volcanoes of the Kilimanjaro massif.
Day 4: Shira Camp 2 (3840m) to Lava Tower (4640m) - Barranco Huts (3985m)
Elevation: 3840 metres - 3985metres Distance: 12kmTrek: 6 to 7 hours Environment: Moorland Shira camp can be quite cold early morning as you hike away from views of Mt Meru into an arid desert type environment full of lava rock. The route is a steady gentle climb toward Lava Tower. It is not uncommon to start feeling the effects of altitude on Machame Route or any other route with shortness of breath around 4200m. At Lava Tower you break for lunch before descending almost 680m in altitude to Barranco Camp at the base of Barranco Wall. Today you follow the principle of climb high, sleep low.
Day 5: Barranco Huts (3985m) to Karanga (4100m)
- Distance: 7 km
- Hiking Time: 4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Early morning, you will head up the impressive Great Barranco Wall – a climb much easier than anticipated. This will take us to the foot of the Heim glacier along scree and ridges to Karanga Valley (4100m). The afternoon can be spent on an acclimatisation hike, before spending the night at Karanga Valley.
Day 6: Karanga (4100m) to Barafu Huts (4680m)
- Distance: 5 km
- Hiking Time: 3 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
This morning is a short but tough uphill hike due to the altitude. The landscape becomes more barren and rocky with lots of shale, and no vegetation — slow, steady walking is key. Even though it’s short, don’t underestimate it — this stretch is all about conserving energy for the final climb.
You will then join up with your later descent route where you will head left up the ridge for another hour, before reaching Barafu Hut.
Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night, perched on a rocky ridge riddled with rocky outcrops. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with the terrain and location of toilets before dark to avoid any accidents.
Day 7: Barafu (4550m)- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
- Elevation: 4600metres to 5895 metres to 3100 metres
- Highest: 5895 metres Distance: 30kilometres (7kilometres ascent, 13 kilometres descent)
- Trek: 13-16 hours (6 to 8 hours ascent, 7-8 hours descent)
- Environment: Stone scree / ice-capped summit
Rising before midnight, you start your climb in a North westerly direction. The route will take you to Stella Point (5685) on Kibo crater rim. It can take anything from 5 - 6 hours and is physically challenging. After a short rest at Stella before trekking to Kilimanjaro summit, another altitude gain of 200m, taking anywhere from 1-2 hours. After basket in a moment of glory at the summit of Kilimanjaro, you hike down to Barafu and then down towards Mweka hut (3100m).
Day 8: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka (1980m)
- Elevation: 3100 metres to 1800 metres
- Distance: 8 kilometres
- Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
- Environment: Montane forest
This morning is a short 3-hour scenic hike to Mweka. Those climbers who made Stella (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates for your Machame Route climb
Day 9: Depart
Today you are transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home.
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