Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climb, 6 or 7 Days

Machame is one of the most scenic routes on Kilimanjaro. It climbs from the rainforest on the southern side of the mountain, crosses the Shira Plateau, passes Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall, and reaches the summit from Barafu Camp. You sleep in mountain tents, and our cook and porters set up camp each day.

Choose the 6-day climb, or add a seventh day. On the 7-day climb you spend an extra night at Karanga Valley camp, which splits the long day before the summit into two short, relaxed days and gives you more time to acclimatise.

Your climb includes two nights bed and breakfast at a hotel in Arusha, before and after the mountain.

Accommodation

Day	Overnight	Meals
Day 1	Machame Camp, 3,000 m (mountain tent)	Lunch, dinner
Day 2	Shira Camp, 3,750 m (mountain tent)	Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3	Barranco Camp, about 3,950 m (mountain tent)	Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4	Barafu Camp, 4,673 m (mountain tent)	Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5	Mweka Camp, 3,100 m (mountain tent)	Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6	Hotel in Arusha	Breakfast, lunch

Good to know

7-day option: an extra night at Karanga Valley camp, about 4,000 m, between Barranco and Barafu.
Best time to climb: all year, except April and May, the rainy season.
If you are very tired or it is late after the summit, you camp at Millennium Camp, 3,950 m, instead of Mweka Camp. This adds about an hour to the last day.
Arrive in Arusha at least one day before the climb.

Included and Excluded

Airport transfers
Transport to and from the mountain gate
2 nights bed and breakfast at a hotel in Arusha
Professional, experienced mountain guides
Guide, porter and cook salaries and their park fees
All park fees
Rescue fees
Overnight stays in mountain tents
Mess tent with table and chairs for groups of 2 or more
All meals on the mountain: large portions of fresh, healthy food
Clean, purified drinking water
Crisis management and safety procedures
Fair and ethical treatment of porters

Tanzania visa
Tips for the guides, cook and porters
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone and drinks
Meals not listed in the itinerary

                    Highlights of the Safari
                     Rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and glaciers in one climb
 Lunch at Lava Tower, 4,600 m, to help you acclimatise
 Climb the Barranco Wall, with views of Kibo's southern glaciers
 Sunrise over Mawenzi from Stella Point, 5,756 m
 Stand on Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m, the roof of Africa
 Optional 7th day at Karanga Valley for better acclimatisation

                

Itinerary

Drive from Arusha to Machame Gate, at 1,800 m on the edge of the forest. After registration, walk 4 to 5 hours, climbing gradually through lush rainforest to a ridge between two streams, then on to Machame Camp, just above the forest at 3,000 m.

Elevation: 1,800 m to 3,000 m
Walking time: 4 to 5 hours
Overnight: Machame Camp

Climb a steep ridge through moorland to about 3,600 m, heading straight towards the peak. The path then turns left into a gorge and rises more gently to Shira Camp, at 3,750 m on the Shira Plateau west of Kibo.

Elevation: 3,000 m to 3,750 m
Walking time: about 4 to 5 hours
Overnight: Shira Camp

Walk up the ridge towards Kibo. After about 4 hours you reach Lava Tower, about 4,600 m, at the foot of the Great Western Breach, for lunch. Then descend into the Barranco gorge to camp. You end the day only slightly higher than you started, which helps your body acclimatise.

Highest point: about 4,600 m at Lava Tower
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours
Overnight: Barranco Camp, about 3,950 m

Climb the Barranco Wall, a steep 1 to 2 hour scramble of about 300 m. Follow the Kibo South Circuit, with views of the southern glaciers on a clear day, down into Karanga Valley and up its eastern wall to Karanga Camp, about 4,000 m, for lunch. Then climb about 3 hours to Barafu Camp. On the 7-day climb you stop at Karanga Camp for the night and continue to Barafu the next day.

Elevation: about 3,950 m to 4,673 m
Walking time: 7 to 8 hours
Overnight: Barafu Camp

Wake at about 23:30, put on all your warm clothing, have a hot drink and set off at midnight. A rocky ridge turns into loose scree, climbed in zigzags. After about 7 hours you reach Stella Point, 5,756 m, on the crater rim, often at sunrise over Mawenzi. Walk about an hour around the rim to Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m. Descend 3 to 4 hours to Barafu for a rest and a meal, then about 4 more hours to Mweka Camp.

Summit: Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m
Walking time: 7 to 8 hours up, 7 to 8 hours down
Overnight: Mweka Camp, 3,100 m

Walk about 3 hours down through the forest to Mweka Gate. Our vehicle waits to take you and the crew back to your hotel in Arusha.

Walking time: about 3 hours
Overnight: hotel in Arusha

Frequently Asked Questions

Call or WhatsApp us on +255 738 122 879, email info@kasajetoursafrica.com, or send the enquiry form on this page. We confirm availability and the price for your dates and group size.

We pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. On the first day of the climb we drive you to the park gate, and after the descent we drive you back to your hotel. Two hotel nights with breakfast are included.

Day 1: Machame Camp, 3,000 m (mountain tent); Day 2: Shira Camp, 3,750 m (mountain tent); Day 3: Barranco Camp, about 3,950 m (mountain tent); Day 4: Barafu Camp, 4,673 m (mountain tent); Day 5: Mweka Camp, 3,100 m (mountain tent); Day 6: Hotel in Arusha.

Airport transfers, Transport to and from the mountain gate, 2 nights bed and breakfast at a hotel in Arusha, Professional, experienced mountain guides, Guide, porter and cook salaries and their park fees, All park fees, Rescue fees, Overnight stays in mountain tents, Mess tent with table and chairs for groups of 2 or more, All meals on the mountain: large portions of fresh, healthy food, Clean, purified drinking water, Crisis management and safety procedures, Fair and ethical treatment of porters.