8 Day Kilimanjaro – Machame Route
From: $ 1,800

DAY 1: ARUSHA AIRPORT TO HOTEL

When you arrive at Arusha airport our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. You can settle in and explore the local area before getting a good night’s rest.
All meals are included.

DAY 2: HOTEL TO MACHAME HUT (2,800m)

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Trekking distance: 11km
After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our drive to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1,640m), which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Upon arrival at the gate we sign in and begin hiking for about 4-5 hours to reach Machame Hut (2.800m).

DAY 3: MACHAME HUT (2,800m) TO SHIRA CAMP (3,800m)

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Trekking distance: 5km
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the mountain forest and continue our trek on an ascending path, crossing the valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until we arrive at Shira Camp (3,800m).

DAY 4: SHIRA CAMP (3,800m) TO LAVA TOWER (4,630m) TO BARRANCO CAMP (3,900m)

Trekking Time: 7-6 hours
Trekking distance: 10km
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, nicknamed the ‘Shark’s Tooth’. We then come to the second junction which leads us to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4,800m. We then continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3,900m; here we will rest, enjoy dinner and stay overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation you started at, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP (3,900m) to KARANGA CAMP (3,995m)

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Trekking distance: 5km
After breakfast we leave Barranco Camp and hike up a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall. We stop at the Karanga Valley campsite; this is intentionally a short day to allow for acclimatization.

DAY 6: KARANGA CAMP (3,995m) TO BARAFU CAMP (4,673m)

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Trekking distance: 4km
After breakfast we leave Karanga hiking to the junction connecting the Mweka Trail and 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 will set up camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen and enjoyed from this stop point.

DAY 7: BARAFU CAMP (4,673m) TO SUMMIT (UHURU PEAK, 5,895m) TO MWEKA HUT (3,068m)

Trekking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 2-4 hours descent
Trekking distance: 5km ascent / 12km descent
We will get up very early in the morning (midnight) and continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Heading in a northwesterly direction and ascending through heavy gravel, we will reach our rest stop at Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
At Stella Point (5,756m) we 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, we may encounter snow all the way on our 1 hour ascent to the summit. Then we reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and on the continent of Africa. Faster hikers can see the sunrise from the summit.
After savouring the moment, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu Camp for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest; thus, mist and/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 8: MWEKA HUT (3,068m) TO MWEKA GATE (1,640m)

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. We will enjoy a tasty lunch and drive back to the hotel in Arusha.

DAY 9: ARUSHA TO YOUR NEXT DESTINATION

Today we say goodbye to tour guide and fellow hikers. You will be transferred to the airport for your ongoing journeys.