On this 7 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route trekking holiday you will be met by a representative from Realm Africa Safaris™ in Arusha who will brief you about your entire trip.
7 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route
What to expect:
Duration: 7 days 6 nights
Best time to travel: all year round
Detailed Itinerary (Day by Day)
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport from your home country.
Transfer To Arusha Town (own cost & arrangement) We can assist at EXTRA Cost.
Accommodation: We recommend staying in Arusha (See: Why we don’t Like to stay in Moshi)
Our recommended accommodation in Arusha is Outpost Lodge. If The Outpost Lodge is not available on the required dates, we generally recommend one of the following hotels:
If you wish to upgrade your accommodation in Arusha, the following are our recommendations:
Day 01: Arusha to Machame Village (The hiking starts today)
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (ASL 1400m) and driven to Machame Village. On arrival at the village, you will be handed drinking water and a packed lunch. From the village, depending on the road conditions, you will either continue driving 3 kilometres or walk to the Machame Gate (1490m).
At the gate, the porters will organize and pack all your belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park Authorities (TANAPA). You will then begin your ascent into the rainforest. During this section of the hike, you should expect rain, mud, and mist. Also, be on the lookout for some wildlife, including Colobus monkeys! About halfway up the trail, you will have a lunch break and you will reach the Machame Camp (ASL 2980) in the late afternoon or early evening.
You will then be reunited with the team of porters and chef, who move ahead of you to set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival. After washing up, a hot dinner will be served. Caution: Tonight, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared with all your warm mountain gear. (See: Packing List for Kilimanjaro)
What to expect today:
- Hiking route: Machame Gate (1490m ASL) – Machame Camp (2980m ASL).
- Hiking time: ±7 hours.
- Distance:± 18 kilometres.
- Habitat: Montane forest.
Day 02: Ascend from Machame Camp (ASL 2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m)
After breakfast, you will embark on the day’s ascent leaving the rain forest and entering the heathland moorland vegetation. You will cross many streams and walk over a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau that leads to Shira Camp (ASL 3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef.
*Caution: Tonight, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared with all your warm mountain gear.
What to expect today:
- Hiking time: ±6 hours
- Distance:± 9 kilometres
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 03: Shira (ASL 3840m) – Lava Tower (ASL 4630m) – Barranco camp (ASL 3950m)
After breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi-desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will become face to face with the Lava Tower (ASL 4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.
After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (ASL 4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (ASL 3950m). The ASL 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the sun setting.
What to expect:
- Hiking time: ±7 hours
- Distance: ± 15 kilometres
- Habitat: Semi-desert
Day 04: Barranco Camp (ASL 3950m) – Karanga Camp (ASL 3950m)
After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimidating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. This is an ideal hiking day for acclimatization.
What to expect:
- Hiking time: ±4 hours.
- Distance: ± 5 kilometres.
- Habitat: Alpine desert.
Day 05: Karanga Camp ( 3959m ASL) – Barafu Hut (4600m ASL)
Breakfast; thereafter you will leave Karanga Camp (3959m ASL). The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m ASL). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night.
What to expect:
- Hiking time: ±2 hours.
- Distance: ±4 kilometres.
- Habitat: Alpine desert.
Day 06: Summit Attempt
Your guide will wake you up at about 23:30HRS for a cup of tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During today’s ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6-hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m ASL), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2-hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m ASL). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3-hours.
At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch under the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m ASL). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.
What to expect:
- Barafu camp (4600m ASL) – Uhuru Peak (5895m ASL) – Mweka (3100m ASL).
- Hiking time: ±8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, ±7 hours to descend to Mweka.
- Distance: ± 7-kilometre ascent and 23-kilometre descent.
- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.
Day 07: Mweka camp (3100m ASL) – Mweka Gate (1980m ASL)
After biting into your well-deserved breakfast, your hiking team and crew will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for 3-hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park Authorities require all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m ASL) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m ASL) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (a journey of about3 kilometres). You will be served a hot lunch on arrival, and then you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.
What to expect:
- Hiking time: ±3 hours
- Distance: ± 15 kilometres
- Habitat: Forest.
Top recommended places to treat yourself to after a successful Hike/descent from Africa’s tallest free-standing mountain – Mt Kilimanjaro.
If you wish to upgrade your accommodation in Arusha, the following are our recommendations:
We don’t publish fixed tour rates as our safari prices differ based on the number of persons traveling, and the type of accommodation – budget, mid-range to luxury.
Includes & Excludes as mentioned below:
What is included in the price:
- Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents.
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides.
- All Park fees.
- Rescue fees.
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees.
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs.
- Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food.
- Clean, purified and safe drinking water.
- Crisis management and safety procedures.
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters.
What is NOT included in the Price:
- Pre & Post tour accommodation in Arusha.
- Visa Fees.
- Any government imposed increments on park fees/taxes.
- Accommodation on the arrival night and on the last day of descent.
- International flights (from/to home).
- Tips (tipping guideline US$10 pp per day).
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.).
- Optional Tours (short safaris after your 07 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route climb etc).
Consider adding some of the following suggestions to your 7 days climbing Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route
ADD 03 Days to your 7 days Climbing Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route
With three (03) EXTRA Days added to your 7 days Climbing Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route, you will be able to visit Tarangire National Park located only 02 hours Arusha Town. This park is popular for large herds of Elephants, buffalos and sometimes impressive sightings of the elusive leopards.
See Sample Itinerary: 3 Days Tarangire Camping Safari
