12 Days Private Kilimanjaro Machame Route and Zanzibar Holiday

Altitude: Approximately 1,800 m to 2,835 m
Distance and time: Around 35 km / 22 miles by road, 45–60 minutes; approximately 11 km / 6.8 miles trekking, 5–7 hours
Attractions: Mountain rainforest, tall trees, moss-covered branches and forest birds
Accommodation: Mountain camping at Machame Camp

After collecting you from your Moshi hotel, our team drives to Machame Gate for registration and the final preparations for your climb. Our guide then leads you into the rainforest at a steady pace, allowing time for lunch, water breaks and the first photographs of your journey.

The trail climbs through thick vegetation, with muddy sections possible after rain. At Machame Camp, our crew prepares dinner while you settle into your tent and enjoy the satisfaction of completing your first mountain day.

Destination:

Machame Gate To Machame Camp

Overnight:

Machame Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Approximately 2,835 m to 3,750 m
Distance and time: Approximately 5 km / 3.1 miles trekking, 4–6 hours
Attractions: Heather-covered slopes, rocky ridges, Shira Plateau and views towards Kibo
Accommodation: Mountain camping at Shira Cave Camp

After breakfast, our guide leads you uphill as the thick forest gradually gives way to shorter vegetation and open mountain slopes. Although today’s distance is shorter, the rising altitude and rocky ground make a measured pace important.

We pause along the trail so you can catch your breath and appreciate how much the landscape has changed since yesterday. At Shira Cave Camp, our team welcomes you with a warm meal, followed by time to rest and prepare your clothing for the colder evening.

Destination:

Machame Camp To Shira Cave

Overnight:

Shira Cave Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Approximately 3,750 m to 4,600 m at Lava Tower, descending to about 3,900 m
Distance and time: Approximately 10 km / 6.2 miles trekking, 6–8 hours
Attractions: Lava Tower, open volcanic terrain, mountain valleys and giant groundsels
Accommodation: Mountain camping at Barranco Camp

We leave Shira after breakfast and guide you across increasingly open ground towards Lava Tower. Today introduces a higher section of the mountain before we descend to sleep lower, giving your body more time to adjust during the itinerary.

Our guide manages the pace and breaks according to how you feel, with time to appreciate the volcanic landscape along the way. The descent towards Barranco brings a change of scenery, and our camp team prepares dinner beneath the slopes of the Barranco Wall.

Destination:

Shira Cave To Lava Tower To Barranco Camp

Overnight:

Barranco Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Approximately 3,900 m to 3,995 m, with additional ascent and descent along the trail
Distance and time: Approximately 5 km / 3.1 miles trekking, 4–5 hours
Attractions: Barranco Wall, rocky mountain paths, Karanga Valley and views towards Kibo
Accommodation: Mountain camping at Karanga Camp

This morning, our guide helps you negotiate the Barranco Wall, where some sections require using your hands for balance. We take the climb carefully, allowing space between trekkers and pausing where the trail safely permits.

Beyond the wall, the route crosses uneven slopes before dropping into Karanga Valley and climbing towards camp. Arriving with time to rest gives you a chance to enjoy lunch, organise your equipment and appreciate another stage completed.

Destination:

Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Overnight:

Karanga Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Approximately 3,995 m to 4,673 m
Distance and time: Approximately 4 km / 2.5 miles trekking, 3–4 hours
Attractions: Alpine desert, exposed volcanic slopes and views towards Mawenzi
Accommodation: Mountain camping at Barafu Camp

After breakfast, we continue towards Barafu across a dry, rocky landscape with little vegetation. Our guide keeps the pace steady, helping you conserve energy for the longer effort ahead.

At camp, we review your summit clothing, headlamp, water arrangements and the planned departure time. An early dinner and a period of rest give you time to prepare mentally and physically before our team wakes you for the summit attempt.

Destination:

Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Overnight:

Barafu Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Approximately 4,673 m to 5,895 m, descending to about 3,100 m
Distance and time: Approximately 17 km / 10.6 miles trekking, 12–18 hours overall
Attractions: Stella Point, the crater rim, Uhuru Peak and high mountain views
Accommodation: Mountain camping at Mweka Camp

Our summit attempt usually begins around midnight, with our guides leading you slowly over steep, loose ground towards Stella Point. If your condition and the weather allow, we continue along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, where a brief pause offers time to recognise the effort behind every step.

We then guide you back to Barafu for food and a short rest before continuing down towards Mweka Camp. This is a demanding day, and our team remains focused on your condition throughout; reaching the summit is always subject to the guide’s safety assessment.

Destination:

Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

Overnight:

Mweka Campsite

  public camp site

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Approximately 3,100 m to 1,640 m, followed by the drive to Moshi
Distance and time: Approximately 10 km / 6.2 miles trekking, 3–4 hours; around 25 km / 15.5 miles by road, 45–60 minutes
Attractions: Forest trails, lower mountain vegetation and the closing moments of your climb
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Moshi

After breakfast, our guide leads you through the forest on the final descent to Mweka Gate. We take care on damp steps and muddy sections, especially while your legs are still tired from the summit day.

At the gate, we complete the park formalities and provide time to thank the mountain crew before our driver transfers you to Moshi. A hot shower, a comfortable bed and an unhurried evening offer a welcome change after six nights of camping.

Destination:

Millenium Camp To Mweka Gate

Overnight:

Panama Garden Resort

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: From approximately 900 m in Moshi to near sea level in Zanzibar
Distance and time: Around 45 km / 28 miles to the airport, 1–1.5 hours; approximately 1–1.5 hours for a direct flight
Attractions: Aerial views when visibility allows and your first afternoon on the island
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Zanzibar

Our team collects you from your Moshi hotel and transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your booked flight to Zanzibar. We coordinate the pickup with your flight schedule so there is time for check-in without rushing your morning.

On arrival, our Zanzibar representative welcomes you and arranges the transfer to your selected hotel. The rest of the day remains relaxed, allowing you to settle in and enjoy the feeling of having the mountain behind you and several island days ahead.

Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Overnight:

Tembo House Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Near sea level, with low inland elevations at the spice farm
Distance and time: Approximately 2–4 km / 1.2–2.5 miles of walking in Stone Town; around 5–7 hours for both visits, excluding longer hotel transfers
Attractions: Historic streets, carved doors, local markets, spice plants and tropical produce
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Zanzibar

Our guide introduces you to Stone Town through its narrow streets, explaining the buildings, trading history and everyday life that give the town its character. We allow time for photographs and questions rather than treating the walk as a hurried series of stops.

We then continue to a spice farm, where a local guide introduces the plants behind familiar kitchen ingredients. The visit brings a practical connection between Zanzibar’s history and the flavours of the island before we return you to your hotel.

Destination:

Stone Town Zanzibar

Overnight:

Tembo House Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Sea level
Distance and time: Approximately 6 km / 3.7 miles from Stone Town to Prison Island by boat, commonly 20–30 minutes; around 5–7 hours for the combined excursion
Attractions: Giant tortoises, island history, sandy shores and time beside the ocean
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Zanzibar

We transfer you to the departure point for your boat excursion to Prison Island, where our guide introduces its history and resident giant tortoises. There is time to explore at a comfortable pace while following the site’s wildlife and visitor rules.

We continue towards Nakupenda when tides and sea conditions allow, leaving time to enjoy the sandbank and swim where conditions are suitable. Our team coordinates the return journey around the day’s marine conditions, so the order and timing of visits may change.

Destination:

Prison Island

Overnight:

Tembo House Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Low coastal elevations, returning to sea level at Jambiani
Distance and time: Approximately 1–2 km / 0.6–1.2 miles of guided forest walking; allow roughly 5–7 hours for the day, depending on hotel location
Attractions: Red colobus monkeys, forest vegetation, mangrove habitat and Jambiani’s coastline
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Zanzibar

We begin with a guided visit to Jozani, where the focus is on observing the forest and looking for red colobus monkeys without disturbing them. Our guide explains the surroundings as you follow the designated paths, with wildlife sightings depending on the animals’ movements.

Afterwards, we continue to Jambiani for a gentler afternoon beside the coast. We leave time for a beach walk and a relaxed lunch stop, with swimming opportunities depending on the tide and local conditions.

Destination:

Jozan Forest Tours

Overnight:

Tembo House Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Altitude: Sea level
Distance and time: No scheduled touring distance; a full day at leisure
Attractions: Beach walks, ocean views and time to enjoy your hotel
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Zanzibar, according to the confirmed booking

Today belongs to you, with no early excursion or long transfer interrupting your rest. Enjoy breakfast slowly, walk along the beach or simply settle into a shaded spot with time to appreciate the journey.

Our team remains available if you would like to discuss an optional activity, with any extra arrangements priced separately. Keeping this final programme day open gives your holiday a relaxed finish after the effort and excitement of Kilimanjaro.