Hiking Tour via Machame Route in Kilimanjaro

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400m) and transported to the Machame Village. In the village, you can purchase mineral water and will be provided with a packed lunch.

Depending on the road conditions, you will either drive from the village to the Machame gate, or if not possible, you will embark on a muddy 3 km walk that takes about 1 hour to complete.

Upon registering at the gate office, you will begin your ascent and enter the rainforest almost immediately. Expect the trail in the forest to become very soggy, muddy, and slippery due to the high chance of rain.

A lunch stop is scheduled about halfway through the trek, and you will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Your porters will have set up your tent ahead of your arrival.

In the evening, the porters will boil drinking and washing water, while the cook prepares dinner before you retire to your tent for the night.

Night temperatures at this campsite can drop to freezing point.

After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your ascent, leaving the rainforest and entering the heathland moorland vegetation. You will traverse many streams and trek over a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau, leading to Shira Camp (3840m).

At this campsite, you will be situated next to a stream with a stunning view of the Western Breach and its glaciers to the East.

Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up before your arrival, and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water. You will enjoy evening snacks followed by dinner prepared by our chef.

Expect a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

After an early morning breakfast, you will depart from the moorland environment and transition into the semi-desert and rocky landscape. Following a 5-hour walk to the east, you will reach the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches will be served at the Tower, and hikers can choose to climb the massive Lava Tower if weather conditions permit.

At this stage of the hike, it is common for hikers to start experiencing altitude-related effects such as headaches and shortness of breath.

After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 680m descent offers hikers a significant advantage in acclimatizing to the high altitude conditions.

The descent to the camp typically takes about 2 hours to complete. The camp is nestled in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (known as the "Breakfast Wall").

Drinking and washing water will be provided, and dinner will be served as hikers enjoy the sunset views.

Following an early morning breakfast, it is time to tackle the Great Barranco Wall!

Despite its initial intimidating appearance, hikers often find this Class 2 hike to be more manageable than expected.

Upon reaching the top of the Wall, you will be rewarded with a view of Heim Glacier and will find yourself above the clouds.

The trail continues to meander up and down in the Karanga Valley, making it an excellent day for acclimatization.

After breakfast, you will depart from Karanga Camp (3959m) and follow the trail that merges with the Mweka Route, the path used for the final two days of descent.

Continuing your hike for about an hour, you will arrive at Barafu Hut. This serves as the last water point for the porters as there is no available water at Barafu Camp (4550m).

The term "barafu" translates to "ice" in Swahili, and this camp is situated on a rocky, exposed ridge. Due to the windy and rocky conditions, it is essential for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before nightfall.

An early dinner will be provided to allow hikers to rest before their summit attempt later that night. Your guide will provide a detailed briefing on preparing for the summit push.

It is recommended to get some rest and sleep early by 19:00 to prepare for the challenging summit night ahead.

Your guide will wake you up around 23:30 to have tea and biscuits before commencing your summit attempt.

The route takes you northwest as you ascend over stone scree, a mentally and physically demanding part of the climb for many hikers. After approximately 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m) on the crater rim, where you can witness a breathtaking sunrise.

Continuing for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail, you will finally reach Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point of Mt. Kilimanjaro, marking a significant lifetime achievement. Spend a brief period at the summit capturing photos and savoring the moment with tea before beginning the descent back to Barafu Camp, which typically takes around 3 hours.

Upon returning to camp, you can relax, bask in the sun, and enjoy a warm lunch. Following the meal, the descent to Mweka Hut (3100m) commences. The Mweka Trail guides you through scree and rocks, transitioning from moorland to the rainforest zone. Expect fog and rain in the upper rainforest where Mweka Camp (3100m) is situated.

Conclude your day with dinner, washing up, and a well-deserved rest at the campsite.

After enjoying a satisfying breakfast, your team will host a lively celebration filled with dancing and singing on the mountain. This is the moment when you will express your appreciation by presenting tips to the guide, assistant guides, chefs, and porters.

Following the festivities, you will embark on a three-hour descent back to Mweka Gate. The National Park mandates hikers to sign their names to obtain certificates of accomplishment.

Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) will be awarded green certificates, while those who conquered Uhuru Peak (5895m) will receive gold certificates.

Then, you will trek for about an hour (3 kilometers) to Mweka village where you'll be driven back to your hotel in Moshi.