7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route

The moment you have been waiting for has finally arrived. With a bang, your day starts with the majestic view of Mount Kilimanjaro. The day begins as you receive your first bite of the African breakfasts accompanied by a cup of coffee. Right after, at 7:00 am, the tour guide picks you up from the specified Arusha hotel. From there you will be traveling to Machame Gate, which is around sixty kilometers from your hotel. The journey to Machame Gate takes approximately an hour, while on the road you can see some breathtaking landscapes of Kilimanjaro’s southwestern slopes. After finishing registration with the park authorities, it is time for your first trek. On this trek you will experience a walk in the beautiful montane forest marveling at the breathtaking view of the canopy. For the next sseveral hours, you can see and hear birds singing, while colobus monkeys swing in their habitat. This part of the trek takes around 5-7 hours to complete. Every minute of it is an amazing experience. After the strenuous trek, ascend to Machame where the guide will assist you in setting up a hot meal. Settle into your tent for a hot dinner under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the forest. Enjoy the start of your Tanzanian adventure!
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Budget - Machame Camp (tent camping)
Key Activities: Travel to Machame Gate, hike in the rainforest, and adjust to the altitude.
Elevation Gain: 1,045m/3,428ft

On day two, wake up at 0630 hours, savor some breakfast, and start hiking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp. The hike is around 5 kilometers and is expected to take around 4 to 6 hours covered by magical views. The Shira Camp sits at an elevation of 3750 m, allowing it to provide an idyllic view of the exotic vivifying Kibo peak. Guides help facilitate this process by escorting you through a series of advanced accommodation points. Their slow pace, also referred to as "pole pole,” ensures each group member's comfort during the trek. Your mountain guides lead during this transition at a pace referred to as “pole pole” (slowly, slowly), while porters set up camp ahead. This is done by having porters prepare the camping site before each trek allowing the guides to control the pace of the transition and make each trek as comfortable as possible for each participant. This moderate day reduces your risk of feeling the negative impacts of high altitudes, while simultaneously, making sure the body is adequately prepared for the altitude. As the middle of the day approaches you will be served a warm lunch at the base of the camp. After lunch you are welcome to stroll through the area and explore the surroundings ranging from volcanoes to exotic flora and fauna. In the evening, you will be served dinner and provided camping spots to enable relaxation before the peak climbed on the subsequent day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Shira Camp (tented camping)
Key Activities: Moorland walk, altitude adaptation
Elevation Gain: 4,598/1,402m

Your walk begins at 7 AM after breakfast, where you head off to Lava Tower. This tower is 4600m in height, and is a wonderful place for adaptation in the alpine desert. This site is also known for long distance hikes of 10 km. Be sure to bring your snacks, as you will need the extra energy. Enjoy paced breaks of 3-4 hours at Barranco which is located at the base of a majestic wall at a height of 3900 meters. Every minute of this hike is filled with fresh insights of Tanzanian’s diverse culture carried by your guides. As day gradually fades, enjoy the fresh mountain breeze with a warm meal and dinner that will leave you speechless!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Budget - Barranco Camp (tented camping)
Key Activities: Alpine trek, acclimatization, descent
Elevation Gain/Loss: 850m up, 700m down (net loss 150m/492ft)

Breakfast is served at 6:30 am. Afterwards, there is a 4-5 hour long trek (5km) to reach Karanga Camp (3,995m/13,107ft) which is then followed by lunch. The first point of interest Barranco Camp is well-known for is the Barranco Wall, which is usually tackled first. This is a one hour long steep frame with gorgeous views of the surrounding nature. Washed up mountain guides help by providing handholds. Afterwards, the trail meanders over warm-up hills and valleys, providing a breather that is needed for comfort. Rests and exploring the streams in Karanga Valley are on offer after lunch and prior to heading to camp that is set quite centrally. This recovery period allows much needed energy to be built on. To round the day off, tents are puled up to shelter these weary adventurers from the nature around.

The next camp for them is Barafu Camp and for them to get there, they need to first have breakfast served at Karanga Camp at 7:00 AM, which is contact- free. After breakfast, a walk for 4 to 5 hours straight should help them reach Barafu Camp and they can stop and rest after having lunch around 12 which should help them acquire the energy needed to get all the way up to 4673m/ 15331ft. While they trek, Kibo Peak will be on display at the horizon, acting as a little reminder of the Uhuru Peak that is further up. Besides the lunch placed right after arriving at the Barafu Camp, they should rest till it is time for them to begin their trek to Uhuru Peak. Right after reaching the pinnacle of the board, a light dinner will be served at 5 PM that should give the most energy. It should also act as the last meal of the day.
While getting ready to commence their trek at midnight, they will be given a little briefing about the trek beforehand where the mountain guides tell them the strategy required to dodge Acute Mountain Sickness. Along with the rest of breakfast, a drink prior to going to sleep should help the body hydrate for the next goal. Not too long after the instruction is over, the dinner will be served and I help in sleeping for a few hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and very light dinner.
Accommodation Options: Budget –Along with the rest of set meals, a little drink which should allow them to get an adequate amount of rest to prepare for the next step and help them mess with prepare to
Key Activities: Alpine trek and act of gaining ready for a summit.
Elevation Gain: 673m/2224ft

Make sure to set your alarm for 11:00 PM. After a light meal, commence your trek to the peak at midnight. This will take between 6–8 hours (4.5km distance). With the help of headlamps and expert mountain guides, reach Uhuru at sunrise (5,895m/19,341ft) while navigating steep scree. You will have ample time to celebrate the approach of the sunrise, alongside the glaciers and the African plains. After taking enough photos, commence your descent towards Barafu Camp. Stop for brunch and then begin the last part of the journey. With a distance of 3-4 hours (7km), you will reach Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,171ft) through moorland. Cal Wednesdays take a break from dancing and enjoy a well-deserved dinner instead.
Meals: Light Meal, Brunch, and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Budget - Mweka Camp (tented camping)
Key Activities: Summit climb, descent
Elevation Gain: 1,222m/4,010ft (to summit); Descent: 2,795m/9,170ft

After breakfast at 7:00 Am, descend 4–6 hours (10 km) to Mweka Gate (1,640m/5,381ft) through lush rain forest, a final chance to enjoy the wilderness experience and spot wildlife like monkeys. Enjoy the hike while watching as monkeys play in the trees. Try to reach Mweka Gate by noon so you can have a packed lunch and receive your summit certificate. After lunch, we will celebrate the successful achievement of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. A 1-hour drive (50 km) returns you to Arusha by early afternoon. I hope you have enjoyed your trip to Tanzania, I know I will remember it forever.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Not included (can be arranged upon request)
Key Activities: Descent, certificate ceremony, return drive
Elevation Loss: 1,460m/4,790ft