Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route
The Machame is a beautiful and popular Kilimanjaro route.The Machame route is the busiest of the seven Kilimanjaro routes, with about 50% of Kilimanjaro climbers using it each year. It's also one of the most scenic Kilimanjaro routes. It offers breathtaking views and a rich variety of terrain throughout. The route approaches from south and has a high success rate, especially for climbers who choose the seven-day option.
ITINERARY, PRICE, INCLUDE & EXCLUDE :
Arrival:
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.
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Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800 m/5,905 ft) - Machame Camp (3,000 m/9,842 ft)
Hiking Time: 9 km taking 5-7 hours
Terrain: Mountain forest, heather and moorland zone
Your trek to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro will start at the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gates. Here you will meet you guide and porters, who will be your family for the next week!
When your registers, packed and ready to go, your guide will lead you through a winding trail through the rainforest to your first camp, Machame Camp, where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000 m/9,842 ft) – Shira Camp (3,500 m/11,483 ft) Hiking Time: 7 km taking 7 hours Terrain: Heather and moorland
In the morning you will leave the glades of the rainforest and make your way passed a valley along a rocky ridge to the end of the ridge. Your path leads you to a river gorge where you will make camp for the night.
Here at Shira Camp some groups will stay an extra night to acclimatise, you however, will press on in the morning to the next camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Shira Camp (3,500 m/11,483 ft) - Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) - Barranco Camp (3,960 m/12,992 ft) Hiking Time: 10 km taking 6-8 hours Terrain: Heather and moorland
Today you will see many different things on your hike upwards! From the Shira Plateau you will make your way towards Kibo Peak. On your way you will pass the Lava Tower followed by the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4,876 meters. You will then descend to the Barraco Camp where you will have dinner and camp for the night.
This day is important for acclimatisation. Even though you camp at a similar elevation to your previous night, you will have reached a great height today!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,960 m/12,992 ft) – Barafu Camp (4,640 m/15,223 ft)
Hiking Time: 8 km taking 8 hours
Terrain: Heather, moorland and alpine desert zone
Today is a day full of breathtaking views. In the morning you will ascend the Barranco Wall before trekking across rock and ridges to the Karanga Valley. Here you will be met with breathtaking views of the Western Breach and southern glacier. From there, having completed the Southern Circuit and seen every angle of the summit, you will continue to your next campsite, the Barafu Camp.
Some choose to spend an extra day in the Karanga valley area to further acclimatise.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Barafu Camp (4,640 m/15,223 ft) - Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,341 ft) - Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft)
Hiking Time: 19 km taking 13-15 hours
Terrain: Alpine desert, snow, heather and moorland
Today is the day! You’ll awake before midnight to start your 6 hour assent. The climb will take you past the final waypoint, Hans Meyer point (5,888 m/19,318 ft) after which you will reach the summit of Uhuru Peak. You have finally done it! You have reached the highest point on in Africa at 5,895m/19,341 ft. This achievement will be tough to top, that’s for sure.
After a moment of basking in your triumph you will start your descent down past Barafu Camp to to Mweka Camp. Here you will enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and some well-earned sleep.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,171 ft) – Mweka Gate (1,680 m/5,512 ft)
Hiking Time: 10 km taking 3-4 hours
Terrain: Heather, moorland and montane forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
6 days Machame price per person(USD)
| 1 pax | 2-4 pax | 4-7 pax | 8++ pax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ 1860 | $ 1780 | $ 1690 | $ 1600 |
DAY 1: MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP
•Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
•Distance: 11 km
•Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
•Habitat: Rain Forest
The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP
•Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
•Distance: 5 km
•Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
•Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.
DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP TO LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP
•Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
•Distance: 10 km
•Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
•Habitat: Semi Desert
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP
•Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
•Distance: 5 km
•Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
•Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.
DAY 5: KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
•Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
•Distance: 4 km
•Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
•Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.
DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA HUT
•Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to
10,000ft)
•Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
•Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
•Habitat: Arctic
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portionof the trek.
At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP TO MOSHI
•Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
•Distance: 10 km
•Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
•Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi.
7 days Machame price per person(USD)
| 1 pax | 2-4 pax | 4-7 pax | 8++ pax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ 2270 | $ 2060 | $ 1950 | $ 1840 |
PRICE INCLUDES
Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
2 nights of accommodation in Moshi.
Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate.
Park entry fees.
Camping fees.
Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees.
18% VAT on tour fees & services.
4 Season mountain tents.
Double layered Sleeping Mats.
Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters. 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain.
Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek.
Hot water for washing.
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO).
Government taxes.
Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter. Emergency first-aid kit.
PRICE EXCLUDES
Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
Travel insurance.
Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 70 for the entire trek. Flights.
Laundry (Available at hotel).
Personal items and toiletries.
Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain).