6-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb: Machame Route

The climb begins in the town of Moshi, which is located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. There is a private transfer waiting for you at Kilimanjaro International Airport, which will take you to a lodge in Moshi. After checking in, you will meet your professional guides who will give you an in-depth pre-trek briefing covering the Machame Route, safety measures, equipment checks, altitude climbing, and other important aspects of high-altitude trekking. You can also spend the afternoon relaxing, visiting the local markets, or learning about the rich heritage of the Chagga people. After a nice dinner, get ready for the Tanzanian wilderness and make sure you get some rest.

• Activities: Airport transfer, pre-trek briefing, cultural exploration
• Accommodation: Lodge in Moshi

Meals: Dinner

On the second day, the routine starts with an appetizing breakfast. Thereafter, they will start the day with a lovely drive towards the gate (1,800 m / 5,905 ft) where you will be doing the registration. The guided trek also begins with a 5-6 hour hike which covers 11km within the Machame Trails Rainforest. You will see wildlife such as blue monkeys and various birds that represent the rich biodiversity of the national parks of Tanzania. The trek is a bit demanding, but steady. Porters are they to carry your gear for comfort. You will arrive at Machame Camp (2,835 m / 9,301 ft), which is located within the misty zone and offers glorious views of the heath misty forest. Tent setting is done by the crew on-site, and by the time they are done, a warm meal will be ready. This marks the first night of this camping safari.

• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Distance: 11 km
• Altitude Gain: 1,035 m
• Accommodation: Tented camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

We will hike for 4-5 hours and cover 5 kilometers today. Your guides will take you through the marvelous views of Shira Plateau and Kibo Peak while reaching Shira Cave Camp (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). They will make sure to explain the majestic scenery that characterizes the trails on the Machame Route, and point out the unusual flora like giant lobelia that the Tanzanian wilderness boasts. It is key that you are at camp before noon, as that will allow you time to rest or check out the Shira Cave. Dinner will be served after you have completed exploring. You will get to sleep while looking at the stars, which will help prepare your brain for the fulfilling adventures that await you tomorrow.

• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Distance: 5 km
• Altitude Gain: 915 m
• Accommodation: Tented camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This critical day of the trek has a 7-8 hour walk (10 km) and includes climbing to Lava Tower, which is 4,600 m (15,092 ft) high. “Climb high, sleep low” is the guiding phrase here, and it very much helps in high-altitude treks. The nature view is above Kibo Peak, and it goes from moorland to alpine desert. After lunch at Lava Tower, the hikers need to descend to Barranco Camp (3,976 m/ 13,044 ft) located in the beautiful Barranco Valley below the stunning Barranco Wall. Your guides prepare you with advice for the upcoming day’s climb, and a warm dinner gives energy to face the challenges of this adventure travel journey.

• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
• Distance: 10 km
• Altitude Gain/Loss: +850 m, -624 m
• Accommodation: Tented camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Begin by gaining some elevation by climbing the Barranco Wall for 1-2 hours; the wall offers views of Kibo Peak and glaciers. Trek 9 km to Barafu Camp (4,673 m / 15,331 ft), which serves as a base for future summits. This portion of the walk takes 6-7 hours and passes through the Karanga Valley and alpine desert, where hints of Mawenzi Peak can be seen. Arrive by midday so you have enough time to rest, hydrate, and prepare for the summit attempt, which occurs at midnight. Guides walk every climber through the summit day protocols, which detail pacing, layering, and more. Dinner is served early, ahead of what climbers look forward to, the moment of climax for the climber, which is the Kilimanjaro summit.

• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: 9 km
• Altitude Gain: 697 m
• Accommodation: Tented camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your African adventure reaches its zenith in the wee hours of the morning, around noon. Guided by headlamps, you will navigate steep scree slopes to Stella Point (5,756 m / 18,885 ft) at sunrise, where the crater rim reveals breathtaking glacier views. You will ascend 5 km to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft), the Roof of Africa, between 6-8 hours. To celebrate your summit success, you will Uhuru Peak, where you will enjoy 360 views of the Tanzanian wilderness. Snap some pictures, then descend 12 km over 5-7 hours to Mweka Camp (3,068 m / 10,065 ft), traversing through a mixture of moorland and rainforest. Rest assured, this is the last of your high-altitude trekking journey for the month.

• Hiking Time: 11-15 hours (6-8 hours ascent, 5-7 hours descent)
• Distance: 17 km (5 km ascent, 12 km descent)
• Altitude Gain/Loss: +1,222 m, -2,827 m
• Accommodation: Tented camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Post-Trek Options

Afterwards, you will be able to take a hot shower and enjoy dinner. The day will conclude with a relaxing night in a hotel in Moshi. If you fancy, you can augment your adventure by using a relaxing camping safari in the national parks of Tanzania, such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, or Tarangire. This unmoderated wildlife safari offers spectacular views. Furthermore, you can choose to decompress on the immaculate beaches of Zanzibar and discover the heritage of the Maasai. Our team will design these extensions according to your liking, weaving ease into excitement.