7 Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mount in Africa is a challenging experience. The Machame route is one of the most popular route because it gives you impressive views and landscapes and shows a large variety of habitats. For a better acclimatization and for your safety we recommend a 7 days climb. The climbers will be sleeping in tents and be guided by experienced and well trained guides.
Day 1
After breakfast, we will pick you from your hotel and we will drive towards the Chagga village of Machame (about 2hours from arusha), starting point of this trek.
This day will be a 4 to 6 hours walk in a dense forest of rubber and ficus trees, giant ferns and begonias.
Slowly, the vegetation changes with the altitude. The tropical forest is replaced by herbs and heather moor lands. Your camp will be next to the Machame Hut (3050m).
Dinner and night in camp. Clients can help setting their own tents.
Day 2
This day will be a 5 to 6 hours walk to reach Shira Camp (3700 m). If it is a clear day you will have a superb view on the Uhuru Peak.
The trail is meandering through a savannah of tall grass, volcanic rocks and heather. Then come the first giant groundsels that stand like the guardians of a pristine territory.
The trail in steep slopes runs through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves and streams before reaching the camp
Dinner and night in camp.
Day 3
Leaving Shira Camp, the trail points towards Kibo Peak.
The climb is regular until the Lawa Tower at 4570m. The descent to Barranco Hut brings you on the edge of huge canyon.
There is no vegetation during the climbing but it will be found again in Barranco Valley.
After a 6 hours walk and a passage at 4600m (essential for acclimatization), a camp will be install at Barranco Hut (3950m) for the night.
Dinner and night in the camp.
Day 4
This day will be a short one: we descend into the start of the Great Barranco and then exit on the southern slopes of Kibo. We then follow an undulating path on the south side of Uhuru Peak to our camp in the Karanga Valley (4000m). You can see the Heim and Kersten glaciers.
We reach camp in time for a late lunch and have the afternoon free to rest and explore, with views of the Southern Icefield.
Dinner and night in camp.
Day 5
Today we make a steady climb across a rugged volcanic wilderness, with patches of vegetation, including giant lobelias.
We will set our camp near the Barafu Hut (4600m), with Kibo rising above us and stunning view on the Mawenzi Peak, the easternmost summit of Kilimanjaro.
This will be our base for the final climb to the summit.
Dinner and night in camp.
Day 6
Departure is around midnight with temperatures weather between -10°C and -15°C. The final climb is on the frontal zone. The trail is meandering to the foot of the glaciers Ratzel and Rebman.
The slope is steep and you will feel an unreal atmosphere in the middle of the hanging glaciers.
After a 6 hours walk, at the crack of dawn, you will reach the crater rim, between the Stella and Hans Meyertips.
Still one hour to go on the crest of the volcano, sometimes snowy, to reach the summit: Uhuru Peak (5895m)
Then, you will regain strength at Barafu camp before starting the descent toward Mweka Hut, that you will reach after a 3 to 4 hours walk.
A challenging but rewarding trekking day.
Day 7
We trek down for 5 hours through beautiful rainforest to the road head – the final leg of our Kilimanjaro ascent journey.
We will say goodbye to our guide, staff and the porters who have helped us during the past week and Your guides will give, to all of those who made it to the summit, the official Kilimandjaro diploma.
A car will be waiting for you to transfer you back to Arusha or to Kilimanjaro airport.
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
A transfer back to the airport (or hotel) can be arranged for an extra cost.