7-Day Machame Route
OVERVIEW
THE CLASSIC WAY TO CLIMB.
Machame has earned its reputation for a reason.
Beginning in lush rainforest on Kilimanjaro’s southern side, the route climbs through dramatically changing landscapes before traversing beneath Kibo and approaching the summit from Barafu.
The seven-day version gives the mountain more time.
More time to acclimatize.
More time to recover between demanding sections.
More time to look up and remember where you actually are.
Along the way you’ll cross the Shira Plateau, climb toward Lava Tower, tackle the Barranco Wall and eventually step into the darkness from Barafu for the final push to Uhuru Peak.
The summit is 5,895 metres.
Getting there is the interesting part.
DAY 01 / MACHAME GATE → MACHAME CAMP - START BENEATH THE TREES.
Your climb begins at Machame Gate on Kilimanjaro’s southern side.
After registration and final preparations, meet your mountain crew and enter the rainforest.
The trail climbs steadily beneath a dense canopy where moss hangs from trees and the air feels almost tropical.
Depending on conditions, you may spot blue monkeys or black-and-white colobus among the forest.
Take it slowly.
There’s no prize for reaching camp first.
Arrive at Machame Camp later in the day, where your tents and dinner will be waiting.
Day one complete.
The mountain has officially begun.
OVERNIGHT
Machame Camp
ALTITUDE
Approx. 3,000 m
MEALS
Lunch · Dinner
DAY 02 / MACHAME CAMP → SHIRA CAMP - ABOVE THE FOREST. INTO THE OPEN.
Leave the rainforest behind as the trail climbs into heath and moorland.
Vegetation becomes lower and the views begin stretching farther across northern Tanzania.
Continue upward over rocky ridges before reaching the Shira Plateau.
On a clear afternoon, Kibo rises dramatically ahead while Mount Meru may be visible behind you.
Arrive at Shira Camp and settle in.
The forest already feels very far below.
The summit does not.
OVERNIGHT
Shira Camp
ALTITUDE
Approx. 3,840 m
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 03 / SHIRA → LAVA TOWER → BARRANCO - CLIMB HIGH. SLEEP LOWER.
Today matters.
Continue east into increasingly stark alpine terrain as the route climbs toward Lava Tower at approximately 4,600 metres.
You’ll feel the altitude.
That’s part of the process.
Move slowly, hydrate and let your guide monitor how you’re responding.
After reaching the Lava Tower area, descend toward Barranco Valley.
Although tonight’s camp is not dramatically higher than where you started this morning, you’ve spent part of the day at greater elevation.
This classic climb-high, sleep-low profile supports acclimatization.
Arrive at Barranco Camp beneath Kibo’s southern face.
Tomorrow’s wall is already waiting.
Try not to stare at it too much.
OVERNIGHT
Barranco Camp
ALTITUDE
Approx. 3,950 m
HIGHEST POINT
Approx. 4,600 m
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 04 / BARRANCO → KARANGA - UP THE WALL. INTO THE VALLEY.
Begin the morning with one of Machame’s most famous sections.
The Barranco Wall.
From camp it can look alarmingly vertical.
Once you’re on it, the route becomes a steady scramble through rock ledges and switchbacks rather than technical climbing under normal conditions.
Your guides will help where necessary.
Take your time.
At the top, stop.
Turn around.
The view you’ve just earned is one of the great moments of the route.
Continue across a series of ridges and valleys before descending into Karanga Valley and climbing toward camp.
Today’s shorter distance helps prepare your body for the increasingly high altitude ahead.
OVERNIGHT
Karanga Camp
ALTITUDE
Approx. 4,035 m
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 05 / KARANGA → BARAFU - THE AIR THINS. THE SUMMIT GROWS.
Leave Karanga and continue upward through the high alpine desert.
There is little vegetation now.
Just rock, sky and Kibo.
Eventually, reach Barafu Camp.
This is summit base camp.
Eat.
Hydrate.
Prepare your layers, gloves, headlamp and summit equipment.
Your guide will explain the plan for the night and check that everything is ready.
Then rest.
Outside the tent, the mountain waits.
Sometime around midnight, you’re going to start climbing it.
OVERNIGHT
Barafu Camp
ALTITUDE
Approx. 4,640 m
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Early Dinner
DAY 06 / BARAFU → UHURU PEAK → MWEKA CAMP - WALK INTO THE NIGHT.
Wake around midnight.
It’s cold.
It’s dark.
And this is the day you’ve been walking toward.
Begin the slow climb from Barafu toward the crater rim.
For several hours, life becomes remarkably simple.
Breathe.
Step.
Breathe.
Step.
Follow the glow of headlamps climbing through the darkness.
Eventually, reach Stella Point at approximately 5,756 metres.
The hardest climbing is largely behind you.
The sun begins appearing across the horizon as you continue around the crater rim.
Then the sign appears.
UHURU PEAK
5,895 M
The highest point in Africa.
Take your photographs.
Hug somebody.
Cry if that’s what happens.
But before leaving, put the camera down for a moment.
Look around.
You walked here.
Then begin the long descent.
Return past Barafu before continuing much farther down toward Mweka Camp.
By evening, there’s oxygen in the air again.
Your legs will appreciate it.
OVERNIGHT
Mweka Camp
SUMMIT
5,895 m
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 07 / MWEKA CAMP → MWEKA GATE - DOWN TO EARTH.
After breakfast, begin the final descent through increasingly lush vegetation.
The alpine world disappears.
Trees return.
The air warms.
Eventually, the rainforest surrounds you again.
Continue down to Mweka Gate, where you complete the mountain formalities and meet your transfer vehicle.
Successful summit climbers receive their Kilimanjaro certificates.
Then it’s back toward Arusha or Moshi.
Seven days ago, you looked up at Kilimanjaro.
Today you get to look back at it.
Different feeling entirely.
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch
END POINT
Mweka Gate → Arusha / Moshi
$2,450
READY TO GO HIGHER?
Includes
- Professional mountain guide
- Porters and mountain cook
- All Park fees
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All meals on the mountain
- Drinking water
- Summit certificate
Excludes
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips for guides, porters and cooks
- Personal trekking equipment
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Sleeping bag unless arranged