6 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Machame Route

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP

Your adventure begins with a one-hour drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, passing through Machame Village, located at the base of the mountain. At the gate, we will complete registration and obtain permits before starting the hike. The trail takes you through dense rainforest, home to monkeys, birds, and lush vegetation. You will have a packed lunch and be provided with 3 liters of drinking water for the hike.

After 5 to 6 hours, we will reach Machame Camp, where you will enjoy hot drinks, followed by dinner, and then rest for the night.




Elevation:) 1,800m (5,900ft) → 2,900m (9,540ft

Distance: 11 km (7 miles)

Hiking Time: 5–6 hours

Vegetation Zone: Rainforest

Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2

MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP TO ALTITUDE GAIN

After an early breakfast, we leave Machame Camp and begin a steep climb towards the Shira Plateau. As we gain altitude, the landscape changes from rainforest to moorland, with stunning views of Mount Meru in the distance. We will arrive at Shira Cave Camp around noon, have a hot lunch, and rest until 4:00 pm. In the late afternoon, we will take an acclimatization walk, which helps our bodies adjust to the higher elevation.




After the walk, we return to camp for hot drinks and an early dinner before resting for the night.




Elevation:) 2,900m (9,540ft) → 3,820m (12,520ft)

Distance: 7 km (4.4 miles)

Hiking Time: 4–5 hours

Vegetation Zone: Moorland

Difficulty: Moderate to steep

Day 3

SHIRA CAVE TO LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP

This is a critical acclimatization day. We begin the day with a gradual ascent towards Lava Tower (4,600m), where we will stop for an hour to allow our bodies to adapt to the altitude. At Lava Tower, we will have a hot lunch before descending to Barranco Camp (3,950m), passing through the beautiful Senecio Forest. The descent helps the body acclimate, increasing our chances of reaching the summit.




Upon arrival at Barranco Camp, we will have hot drinks, followed by dinner and rest.




Elevation: 3,820m (12,520ft) → 4,600m (15,130ft) → 3,950m (13,000ft)

Distance: 10 km (6 miles)

Hiking Time: 6–8 hours

Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

Difficulty: Challenging

Day 4

BARRANCO CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP Via KARANGA CAMP

We start the day by climbing the famous Barranco Wall—a steep but fun climb that does not require technical skills. Once at the top, we continue on an undulating trail to Karanga Camp, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we continue hiking to Barafu Camp (4,673m), the final stop before the summit attempt.




Upon arrival, we will rest, have an early dinner, and prepare our gear for the summit attempt at midnight.




Elevation: 3,900m (13,000ft) → 4,673m (15,300ft)

Distance: 10 km (6 miles)

Hiking Time: 7–8 hours

Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

Difficulty: Challenging

Day 5

BARAFU CAMP SUMMIT (UHURU PEAK)TO MWEKA CAMP

We begin the final push to the summit at midnight. The steep and challenging climb takes about 7 hours, reaching the summit around sunrise (6:30 am). At Uhuru Peak (5,895m), you will experience breathtaking views and take memorable photos. After celebrating, we descend to Barafu Camp (3 hours) for a short rest and lunch, then continue down to Mweka Camp (4 hours).




Elevation: 4,673m (15,300ft) → 5,895m (19,341ft) → 3,100m (10,000ft)

Distance: 18 km (11 miles)

Hiking Time: 14 hours total

Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert → Moorland

Difficulty: Very difficult

Day 6

MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE

The final day is a relaxing descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you will receive a summit certificate. From there, we drive back to Moshi, where you will enjoy a small celebration and receive feedback from your guide.




Elevation:3,100m (10,000ft) → 1,600m (5,600ft)

Distance: 10 km (6 miles)

Hiking Time: 3–4 hours

Vegetation Zone: Rainforest

Difficulty: Easy