7 Days Summit Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route

On the first day of the trek, your head guide will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to the Machame Gate, which takes approximately 45 minutes from Moshi. After completing the registration process, your trek officially begins. The trail starts in a beautiful and lush forest, known for experiencing the most rainfall on the mountain. Be prepared for possible afternoon showers, which can make the trail slippery. The trek is steady, gradually easing as you approach Machame Camp, situated at an elevation of 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Machame Camp is located on the edge of the forest and giant heather zones, providing a picturesque setting. Today's trek will take approximately 6-7 hours of walking.

Destination: Machame Gate To Machame Camp

Accommodation: Machame Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

After breakfast, you will continue your ascent from Machame Camp. The day's trek is slightly shorter than the previous day and begins with a trek up a steep ridge, leading to a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock. At Picnic Rock, you will be rewarded with excellent views of Kibo, the summit cone of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the rugged rim of the Shira Plateau. Shira is one of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones, and its rim has been eroded and blasted away over time. As you traverse the plateau, the trail becomes more gradual, and you will eventually reach Shira Camp at an elevation of 3,840 meters (12,600 feet). On a clear day, the views from Shira Camp are truly spectacular. Today's trek will take approximately 5-6 hours of walking.

Destination: Machame Camp To Shira Cave

Accommodation: Shira Cave Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Today's trek takes you through the expansive ridgelines of the high desert towards Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower will take approximately 4 hours. Lava Tower itself is a 300-foot-high volcanic plug, and if time and energy allow, you may have the opportunity to scramble to the top and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views. From Lava Tower, you will begin a steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing by impressive synecious, large flowering plants that resemble trees. This descent serves as good practice for your eventual descent from the summit. The day's trek will take 1-2 hours and will end at Barranco Camp, located in a beautiful and sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.

Destination: Shira Cave To Lava Tower To Barranco Camp

Accommodation: Barranco Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

After breakfast, your trek continues with an exhilarating ascent up the Barranco Wall. This scramble provides incredible views back towards Barranco Camp and offers a thrilling experience. Once you reach the top of the wall at 4,200 meters (13,800 feet), you will follow an undulating path around the mountainside. On clear days, you can enjoy spectacular views of both Kibo to your left and Mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karanga Valley, you will ascend a short, steep path to Karanga Camp at an elevation of 3,950 meters (13,000 feet). Today's trek will take approximately 3-4 hours of walking.

Destination: Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Accommodation: Karanga Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Today's trek begins in the morning as you make your way steadily towards Barafu, which translates to "ice" in Swahili. Barafu Camp is located on a ridge below the summit cone, and reaching it signifies the completion of the South Circuit. Throughout the day's trek, you will be treated to varying angles of the summit, offering unique and awe-inspiring views. The walk to Barafu Camp will take around 3 hours, allowing you to arrive in the afternoon and have ample time to rest, relax, and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for the summit trek. From Barafu Camp, you can witness the prominent peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo.

Destination: Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Accommodation: Barafu Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

This is the day you have been waiting for—the final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa. The trek begins in the early hours of the morning, usually around midnight. The ascent to the summit typically takes between 6 to 8 hours, and you will start in darkness. The temperature can be extremely cold at these elevations, so you should be prepared with appropriate clothing. As you continue trekking, the sun will rise, rewarding you with a breathtaking sight of a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point, located at 5,750 meters (18,865 feet), you will join the crater rim. From there, you will make a gentle trek to Uhuru Peak, standing proudly at an elevation of 5,895 meters (19,300 feet). The descent from the summit will lead you straight down to Mweka Hut, with a packed lunch provided along the way. This part of the descent takes about 6 hours. In the evening, you will enjoy a well-deserved dinner and a restful s

Destination: Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

Accommodation: Mweka Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

On this day, you will descend from Mweka Camp through a lush forest. The descent typically takes around 2-3 hours, and you may even encounter playful monkeys along the way. As you continue your descent, you will make your way to the Mweka Gate, where you will complete the necessary paperwork and officially conclude your Kilimanjaro trek. From the gate, you will be transported back to Moshi, where you can relax and celebrate your achievement. You will spend the night at a Lodge (Classic) or Hotel (Premium), enjoying the comfort and amenities provided.