Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Sample review text. Replace this with a real guest review of their climb: the route, the guides and porters, the camps, how acclimatisation went and what reaching the summit felt like.
Kilimanjaro
Machame Route
Kilimanjaro's most popular route, with varied scenery and a gradual climb that helps you acclimatise.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Machame Route · 7 Days
Package Overview
Machame is one of the most popular routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain at 5,895 metres. It climbs through rainforest, heath and moorland into alpine desert, and its "climb high, sleep low" profile helps your body adjust to the altitude.
Our mountain crew of guides, cooks and porters looks after you all the way from the gate to Uhuru Peak and back.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate to register with the park. Your climb begins on a trail through lush rainforest, arriving at Machame Camp (about 3,000 m) in the late afternoon.
Day 2 Machame Camp to Shira Cave Camp
Leave the forest behind and climb a steeper ridge through heathland to the Shira Plateau. Camp near Shira Cave (about 3,750 m), with views of the summit on a clear evening.
Day 3 Shira to Lava Tower and Barranco
An important acclimatisation day: climb to the Lava Tower (about 4,600 m) for lunch, then descend to Barranco Camp (about 3,950 m) to sleep lower than you climbed.
Day 4 Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp
Scramble up the famous Barranco Wall using your hands for balance, then follow a trail of ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp (about 3,995 m). A shorter day to rest and acclimatise.
Day 5 Karanga to Barafu Camp
A short hike into the alpine desert to Barafu Camp (about 4,673 m), your base for the summit. Rest, eat early and prepare your gear for the night ahead.
Day 6 Summit Day: Uhuru Peak
Set off around midnight for the long, steady climb to Stella Point on the crater rim and on to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) for sunrise over Africa. Then descend all the way to Mweka Camp (about 3,100 m).
Note: Summit night is cold and demanding. Your guides set the pace and monitor everyone's health throughout.
Day 7 Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
A final walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Transfer back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
What's Included
Included
- Kilimanjaro National Park fees
- Professional mountain guides, cook and porters
- Quality mountain tents and camping equipment
- All meals and drinking water on the mountain
- Transfers to and from the park gate
- Summit certificate
Not Included
- International flights and visa
- Travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking
- Sleeping bag and personal climbing gear
- Hotel nights before and after the climb
- Tips for the mountain crew
Reviews of This Trip
5.0 · 1 review
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