Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking via Machame Route - 6 Days

Day 1: Moshi (900) - Machame gate (1,490 m) – Machame camp (2,980 m)

Hiking time: is 6 to 7 hours

Distance: About 18 km

Vegetation type: Montana Forest

After early breakfast at your lodge, you will depart Moshi (900 m) and drive to Machame Gate. You will drive to the gate via some local farms of banana, coffee, cassava, potatoes & others. After registration & other park formalities, you will start your ascent & immediately you will reach the rain forest. There will be a possibility of rain as far as the rain forest characteristic is concerned, you will reach your first camp late afternoon. Potters are fast & by the time you reach the camp they will already be there & all set up is done including tents, mess tent etc. When reaching the camp almost every day you will have warm water for washing & boiled water for drinking, you will have coffee or tea with bites before diner, retire to your tent after dinner for your first night on Kilimanjaro (Machame route 6 days program). At that time temperature will have already dropped to a freezing point.

Overnight at Machame Camp.

All meals included.

Day 2: Machame camp (2,980 m) – Shira camp (3,840 m)

Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours

Distance: About 9 km

Vegetation type: Moorland

Wake up early & after breakfast, hike for one hour or more past the forest then another 2 hours on a gentle gradient through moorland habitat. Stop for lunch & some rest before proceeding up to the rocky ridge & the Shira plateau. The western breach with its shinning glaciers will appear in an easterly direction. You’re now on the west side of Kibo & you will soon reach the Shira camp at (3840 m). The same procedures as the previous day will apply soon after reaching the camp. This camp is more open & it can be colder than the first camp.

Overnight at Shira Camp (3,840 m).

All meals included.

Day 3: Shira camp (3,840 m) – Lava Tower (4,630 m) – Barranco camp ( 3,950 m)

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: approx. 15 km

Vegetation type: Semi-desert

After breakfast you will start your third day on Kilimanjaro, you will turn to the east and trekking into a semi-desert & rocky area which surrounds Lava Tower which will take you 5 hours walk to reach (4630 m), probably this will be the toughest day so far. It is at this point where some climbers at the first time feel some sign of breathlessness, mild headache & irritability. You will have lunch & little rest before going down almost (680 m) to Barranco camp after reaching (4630 m) this is a climbing technique of climbing high & sleep low ( best acclimatization). Machame Route 6 Days Decent from Laver Tower to Barranco camp takes almost 2 hours & it offers a great chance of taking some good photos of the eastern breach as well as the Breach Wall. The great sunset can be viewed here while waiting for dinner as this camp stands in a valley just below Breach & The Great Barranco Wall.

Overnight at Barranco Camp. (3,950 m).

All meals included.

Day 4: Barranco camp (3,950 m) – Barafu camp (4550 m)

Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours

Distance: About 12 to 13 km

Vegetation Type: Alpine desert

After the night at the Great Barranco camp, a very imposing sight. Your trekking on Machame Route 6 Days starts by hiking up to what you might see to be an obstacle but in the end, usually turns to be the easiest hike than you expected. Trekking up just below Heim Glacier you will tell how beautiful Kilimanjaro is. The route now will take you down through Karanga Valley over prevailing ridges & valleys and the adjoining Mweka route the most preferable descending route from the summit, to be noted. Take the left side & after an hour or more you will reach Barafu Hut. There will be no water at Barafu, the water will be carried from Karanga which is the last water point on the route. Barafu means ice in Swahili, spending a night at this undesirable place totally unprotected against windstorms, tents are erected on a dangerous ridge which is narrow & stony. Get to know better the terrains of this place before dark in order to avoid accidents. Summit attempt will be tonight, you only have (1345 m) to reach Uhuru peak, get prepared with thermal clothing, ski stick, head lump & camera with extra batteries for your final ascent to the summit. Carry your water in a thermal flask to avoid freezing, go to bed as early as possible (19:00 hrs) try to get much rest & good sleep, be ready for your 5th day of trekking Machame route 6 days “The summit day”.

Overnight at Barafu Camp (4,550 m).

All meals include.

Day 5: Summit Attempt. Barafu camp (4,550 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mewka camp (3,100 m)

Hiking time: 8 hrs to Uhuru Peak, 7 to 8 hrs down to Mweka camp

Distance: About 7 km up & 23 km down.

Vegetation type: Stone scree & Ice capped Summit

This is the summit day of your Machame route for 6 days, your guide will wake you up at 23;30 hrs for tea & biscuit then set out for your final attempt at the summit. You will hike towards the Northwest and trek along heavy scree to approach Stella Point at the crater rim. The route to Stella Point which takes about 6 hours it challenging many climbers mentally & physically. Stella Point stands at (5685 m) here you will stop for some rest while anticipating for amazing sunrise you have ever seen ( if weather permitting). 2 hours walk from Stella Point to Uhuru peak you will likely experiencing snow all around. Weather conditions will determine the time to be spent at the summit. Don’t spend much time here as it will be very difficult to start again due to cold & tiredness. A great accomplishment & a lifetime experience to be remembered & cherished. Afterward walk down to Barafu camp, trekking for about 3 hrs. Have short rest at the camp to gather some strength, collect all your stuff before start descending to Mweka Camp. The way down will take you through three zones, the rocky & scree path, moorland & the forest zone. Mweka camp is in the upper forest therefore mist or rain can be expected any time in the afternoon. Getting to the camp water to wash, coffee/tea will be provided, get rest while waiting for dinner.

Overnight at Mweka Camp (3100 m).

All meals included.

Day 6: Mweka camp (3,100 m) – Mweka gate (1,980 m) – Arusha

Hiking time: 3 hours

Distance: About 15 km

Vegetation type: Forest

After well – deserved breakfast, the crew will have big celebration singing & dancing, this will be a good time to tip them after a well-done job, you can start porters, chef, assistant guide & lastly the head guide. After the celebration, it will take you 3 hrs to reach the Mweka gate. Kilimanjaro National Park Authority will present two types of certificates to climbers, a green certificate for whoever reached Stella Point (5685 m) & a gold certificate for Uhuru Peak (5895 m). You will then require to sign you names that will appear in your certificate of completion. After receiving the certificate you will drive back to your Lodge in Moshi, you will have hot lunch on the way before reaching your lodge for might shower & more celebration.