Home Treks Mount Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route

Day by Day Itinerary: 

Day 1: Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by a Adventure Makers Tanzania representative and transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure – rest in your room, relax in the manicured gardens with a good book, enjoy a swim in the pool or explore Arusha and the surrounding areas on one of our day tours, the choice is yours.

Overnight – Ilboru Safari Lodge, Arusha

Day 2: Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame Route 

After breakfast you will depart Arusha and drive to the village of Machame located at the base of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Standing at 5,895m high, it is known as the Roof of Africa. The road from the Machame village to the Machame gate can become very muddy and at certain times of the year may be impossible for vehicles to pass. In this instance, you will complete the 3km walk on foot and upon arrival at the Machame Gate you will sign in, complete your registration and other formalities before beginning your trek with your team of Guides, Chefs and Porters.

You will enter the rainforest and continue up a winding trail up a ridge and have the opportunity to see black and white colobus monkeys and exotic birds before arriving at the Machame Camp in the late afternoon.

Starting Point: Machame Gate 1,640m

End Point: Machame Camp 2,835m

Walking Time: 5-7 Hours approx.

Overnight – Machame Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro  

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame Route 

Today you will leave the rainforest behind you and continue through the gentle moorland up a steep rocky ridge to the Shira Plateau where you will be able to see Kilimanjaro’s great western breach and its stunning glaciers and at certain times of the year, its extensive ice curtains. You will continue your hike to Shira Camp where you will spend the night. This is an exposed campsite and you will notice the temperature drop, often below freezing, during the night.

Starting Point: Machame Camp 2,835m

End Point: Shira Camp 3,850m

Walking Time: 4-6 Hours approx.

Overnight – Shira Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro  

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame Route 

From the Shira Plateau you will continue east up a steep and rocky trail to Lava Tower. At 3,901m high, this chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred meters high and the trail passes right below. You will then descend to the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp where you will be rewarded with beautiful landscape and spend the night. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, today is an important acclimatisation day.

Starting Point: Shira Camp 3,850m

Via: Lava Tower 4,600m

End Point: Barranco Camp 3,900m

Walking Time: 6-8 Hours approx.

Overnight – Barranco Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro 

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame Route

For clients trekking the Machame Route in 7 days today is an acclimatisation day with a short but steep hike from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp where you will spend the night.

Today you will continue your ascent along a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall and the Helm Glacier to the Karanga Valley Camp and on to Barafu Camp. You have now completed the Southern Circuit and the Barafu Camp is located on a narrow, rocky ridge with no barriers to block the wind but offers views of the summit from many angles. You can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is and from now, all eyes are on the summit.

Tonight you will enjoy an early dinner and retire to your tent where you will prepare for your hike to the summit later tonight. At 11:30pm you will be woken with tea or coffee and a snack before making your way into the night.

Starting Point: Barranco Camp 3,850m

End Point: Barafu Camp 4,680m

Walking Time: 8-10 Hours approx.

Overnight – Barafu Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame Route

You will continue your trek into the early hours of the morning and the route from Barafu Camp to the summit is mentally and physically, the longest and most challenging day of the entire trek. You will pass the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers before reaching Stella Point at 5,756m which is located on the Crater rim in time to watch the sun rise from the Roof of Africa, a once in a lifetime experience. Here you will rest and take in the magnificent beauty around you. You will continue the snow covered trail to Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895m. Temperatures near the summit can range from -23 degrees Celsius in the morning to just below freezing during the night. Upon arrival at the summit you will have the opportunity for a short rest and celebrate a successful climb. Note: faster climbers will see the sun rise from the summit at Uhuru Peak.

From the summit you will now make your descent to Barafu Camp where you will enjoy some well-deserved rest before continuing your descent into the moorland and then the forest before reaching Mweka Hut where you will spend your final night on the mountain.

Starting Point: Barafu Camp 4,680m

Via: Uhuru Point 5,895m

End Point: Mweka Camp 3,100m

Walking Time: 11-14 Hours approx.

Overnight – Mweka Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame Route 

After a leisurely breakfast you will continue your descent to the Mweka Gate where successful climbers receive their summit certificate. Your vehicle will be waiting for you and will drive you to Arusha where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Starting Point: Mweka Camp 3,100m

End Point: Mweka Gate 1,640m

Walking Time: 3-5 Hours approx.

Overnight – Ilboru Safari Lodge, Arusha 

Meals – Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8: Arusha

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals – Breakfast