Overview
The 6-day Machame Route is a scenic yet physically demanding camping trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, renowned for its diverse landscapes and favorable acclimatization profile. Beginning at Machame Gate, the trail ascends steeply through dense montane rainforests to the open moorlands of the Shira Plateau, before utilizing the "climb high, sleep low" principle on day three as trekkers push up to Lava Tower (4,600 m) and descend to Barranco Camp. After scrambling up the thrilling Barranco Wall, the 6-day itinerary bypasses an overnight stay at Karanga Valley to head straight to Barafu Camp, setting up a grueling midnight push to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) via Stella Point. Following a swift descent down the Mweka Route, trekkers complete a ~62 km trek that, while tougher than longer options due to the condensed push from Barranco to Barafu, offers breathtaking vistas from the volcanic peaks down to the lush forest below.
Tour Features
Hut Camping
This is a camping route
Private Tour
This safari is arranged privately for your group.
Solo Travelers
Suitable for solo travelers.
Customizable
This itinerary can be customized.
Children Policy
Minimum age accepted is 12 years and above.
Start Date
This safari can start on any day.
Highlights
Arrive in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Moshi Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (2835m)
Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Camp (3610m)
Shira Cave (3610m) to Barranco Camp (3900m)
Barranco Camp (3900m) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1640m) to Moshi.
Depart Tanzania
Your Safari Map
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Safari Itinerary
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day. Hotel check in start at 12:00 PM.
Meals:No meals included
Accommodation
Park View Inn
One hour’s drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.
Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi Approx.
Time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Machame camp
Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.
Distance covered: 5.4km / 3.4mi Approx.
Time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Shira camp or shira cave
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.
Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi Approx.
Time taken: 8 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Barranco Camp
Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last stop for fresh water before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp.
Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi Approx.
Time taken: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Barafu camp
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi Approx.
Time taken: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation
Millenium camp
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower. Overnight at Park View Inn. Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi Approx.
Time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Included
Accommodation
Park View Inn
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some gift shops before heading to the airport. Hotel check out is at 10:00AM.
Meals: Breakfast Included
Tanzania