8 Days Kilimanjaro Trek Machame Route

At a glance

8 Days Kilimanjaro Trek Machame Route is a 8 days private experience in Moshi, Tanzania, operated by Kilimanjaro Bucketlist Expedition. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 44 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $3,950 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Private transportation, Pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Dedicated support crew.

Quick facts

Duration

8 days

Group

Private tour — only your group

Languages

German, English, Italian, French, Spanish

Pickup

Hotel pickup included

Confirmation

Instant confirmation

Ticket

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Cancellation

Free cancellation (see policy)

Overview

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival – Arusha

   On your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport KIA with a code JRO, our guide will meet you and drive to your hotel in Arusha.
   
   You will get a chance for a briefing about your trek to Kilimanjaro and check on your pack list.

2. Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

   In the morning around 08:00 it will be a pickup time. Our guide will be at the hotel, ready to pick you up to the Kilimanjaro gate and start your trek. The drive from Arusha to the Machame Gate takes about 60 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.
   
   Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
   Distance: 11 km/7 miles
   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest

3. Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

   After waking up and having a breakfast our guide will take a lead for you to another camp. Leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira Camp.
   
   Elevation: 9,950 ft to 12,600 ft
   Distance: 5.3 km/3 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Heath & Moorland

4. Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

   In the morning after waking up and having a breakfast our guide will take a lead for you to another camp. Continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.
   
   Elevation: 12,600 ft to 15,190 ft
   Distance: 7 km/4 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Semi Desert
   Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
   Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
   Distance: 3 km/2 miles
   Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
   Habitat: Semi Desert

5. Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   In the morning after waking up and having a breakfast our guide will take a lead for you to another camp. Begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.
   
   Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
   Distance: 5 km/3 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert

6. Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   You will be waking up in the morning and having a breakfast, our guide will take a lead for you to another camp. Leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.
   
   Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
   Distance: 4 km/2 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert

7. Day 7: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

   Waking up around midnight. Our guides will take a lead for you on the way to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
   From the summit, we make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful.
   
   Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
   Distance: 5 km/3 miles
   Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
   Habitat: Arctic
   Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
   Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
   Distance: 12 km/7 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest

8. Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Arusha

   On the last day, our guides will take a lead for the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka gate and drive us back to the hotel in Arusha.
   
   On the next day it will be a departure day. Depends on your flight departure time we will take you from your hotel and transfer to airport for a departure to your home or another destination.

Meeting point

Good to know

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Frequently asked questions