The Best of Machame Route in 6 Days: Your World's Summit Guide

Day 1 · Machame Gate to Machame Camp

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   Mount Kilimanjaro

   Passing by

   On Day 1, you will drive for about 45 minutes from Moshi to Machame Gate, passing through the village of Machame. After departing from the park gate, you'll hike through the rain forest on a winding trail. The elevation will increase from 1830m (6000ft) to 3050m (9950ft) over a distance of 11km (7mi), taking approximately 5-6 hours. The habitat during this hike is montane forest, and you'll enjoy lunch and dinner before overnighting at Machame Camp.

Kilimanjaro's Machame Camp.

Day 2 · Machame Camp to Shira Camp

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   Mount Kilimanjaro

   6 min Admission not included

   On Day 2, after breakfast, you'll leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path. You'll cross a valley along a steep rocky ridge, then turn west onto a river gorge until you reach the Shira campsite. The elevation will rise from 3050m (9950ft) to 3850m (12,600ft) over a distance of 5km (3mi), with a hiking time of 4-5 hours. The habitat changes to moorland, and you'll be provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner before overnighting at Shira Camp.

Kiimanjaro's Shira Camp.

Day 3 · Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

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   Mount Kilimanjaro

   6 hours Admission not included

   Day 3 begins with a hike from Shira Camp, continuing east up a ridge while passing the junction towards Kibo. You'll change direction southeast towards the Lava Tower, also known as “Shark’s Tooth,” at an elevation of 4650m (15,250ft). After this, you'll descend to Barranco Camp, ending the day around the same elevation as when you started. This day is crucial for acclimatization. The elevation will go from 3850m (12,600ft) to 4000m (13,000ft) over a distance of 10km (6mi), taking about 5-6 hours. The habitat will be semi-desert, and you'll have breakfast, lunch, and dinner before overnighting at Barranco Camp.

Kilimanjaro's Barranco Camp.

Day 4 · Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

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   Mount Kilimanjaro

   8 hours Admission not included

   On Day 4, after breakfast, you'll leave Barranco and tackle the steep Barranco Wall, reaching an elevation of 4250m (13,900ft). After this challenging ascent, you'll traverse through the Karanga Valley at 4050m (13,250ft) before continuing your hike to Barafu Camp. This segment completes the South Circuit, offering stunning summit views along the way. The elevation will rise from 4000m (13,000ft) to 4700m (15,350ft) over a distance of 9km (6mi), taking 6-8 hours of hiking. The habitat will be an alpine desert, and you'll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner before overnighting at Barafu Camp.

Kilimanjaro's Barafu Camp.

Day 5 · Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

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   Mount Kilimanjaro

   7 min Admission not included

   Day 5 is the most challenging, starting very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am) as you head towards the summit. You'll navigate between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, ascending through scree to reach Stella Point on the crater rim. This stretch requires mental and physical endurance, but the reward is a breathtaking sunrise. From Stella Point, you'll continue to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5895m (19,340ft). After summiting, you'll descend to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The elevation changes from 4700m (15,350ft) to 5895m (19,340ft) and then down to 3090m (10,150ft), covering 5km (3mi) up and 13km (8mi) down, with a total hiking time of 10-13 hours. You'll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner before overnighting at Mweka Camp.

Kilimanjaro's Mweka Camp.

Day 6 · Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Hotel

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   Mount Kilimanjaro

   3 min Admission not included

   On the final day, you'll have breakfast before descending to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. The descent can be wet and muddy at lower elevations, so gaiters and trekking poles are advisable. After completing the 10km (6mi) hike down from 3090m (10,150ft) to 1680m (5500ft), taking 3-4 hours, you will be greeted by the Monkey Adventures vehicle at Mweka Gate for your return drive to the hotel in Moshi, which takes about 60 minutes. You'll have breakfast before concluding your trek.