7 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route
Duration
7 Days
Max People
20
Min Age
12+
Pickup
Airpot
Overview
If Marangu is the “Coca Cola” route, then the Machame Route is the “Whiskey” route. It is the second most popular and one of the most scenic routes on the mountain. All climbers sleep in tents (tents are included) and meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside.
It is done over 7 days, so acclimatization is easier, and the success rate is fairly high. It is for physically fit people with some hiking experience. Descent is down the Mweka trail staying at the Mweka or Millenium camp the final night on the mountain.
Kilimanjaro + Safari Combo Discount: Save $50/person when you book a Kilimanjaro Trek and Safari (5 days or more).
All our Kilimanjaro treks are offered as private trips, starting on any day. We also offer group departures on select dates.
Included/Excluded
- All accommodations per itinerary
- All meals per itinerary
- All tours and entrance fees per itinerary
- All transportation and transfers per itinerary
- Round-trip Kilimanjaro Airport transfers (shared)
- National Park gate fees
- Camping fees
- Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
- Salaries for all crew members
- Rescue fees (as required by national park)
- Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
- Oximeters
- Emergency Oxygen (2L canister)
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not listed
- Beverages and alcohol
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff
- Optional tours
- Single room supplement
- Personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)
- Tips for guides, porters, and cooks (budget $450-650/person)
- Sleeping bags and personal gear
- $50 for single tent
- Low season discount in April/May
Tour Plan
Drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (30-45 minutes). The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We depart the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
-- Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft
-- Distance: 11km/7mi
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Machame Camp
After breakfast we leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.
-- Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi
-- Walking Time: 4-5 hours
-- Habitat: Moorland
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Shira Camp
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 southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth" (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
-- Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
-- Distance: 10km/6mi
-- Walking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Barranco Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
-- Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Karanga Camp
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
-- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
-- Distance: 4km/2mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Barafu Camp
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrived at Mweka Camp and enjoyed our last evening on the mountain.
-- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
-- Down to 3090m/10,150ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
-- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
-- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Mweka Camp
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrived at Mweka Camp and enjoyed our last evening on the mountain.
-- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
-- Down to 3090m/10,150ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
-- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
-- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Mweka Camp
Tour Map
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.
Be the first to review “7 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route”