A 7-day trek around Mount Kilimanjaro, starting from Machame Gate and ending at Barafu Camp. The trek includes hiking through rainforests, heath and moorland zones, and alpine deserts. The elevation range is 5,380 ft to 15,331 ft, with a distance of 11 km/7 miles. The hike includes stops at Shira Ridge, Shira 2 Camp, and Lava Tower. The Barranco Campsite at a high elevation helps in acclimatization and offers panoramic views of Kibo peak and Uhuru Peak. The Karanga Camp is a steep climb away from the Karanga Valley and is reserved for rest and dinner before attempting the last push to the summit of the mountain. The most challenging day of the trek is Day 6, with an elevation of 6,341 ft.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Camp

We begin the 7 days Machame route by driving to the Machame gate from Moshi town for about less than an hour, around 49 minutes to be precise. The drive takes you through the Machame Village located on the foot slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Once we reach the Machame gate, the starting point of the hike, we take a hike that traverses the dense rainforest zone on a trail that leads up to a ridge until we join our overnight camp of the day, the Machame Camp.

·        Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft

·        Distance: 11 km/7 miles

·        Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

·        Habitat: Rainforest

Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp

We begin our hike towards the Shira Ridge after bypassing the rainforest zone towards the Shira Plateau located at the heath and moorland zone of Mount Kilimanjaro. The day ends as we head to camp and overnight at the Shira 2 Camp across a river gorge.

·        Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft

·        Distance: 5 km/3 miles

·        Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

·        Habitat: Heath

Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

The third-day trek takes us to the lava tower, a gigantic rock formation that stands about 1km tall located to the eastern side of Mount Kilimanjaro near a ridge. Bypassing the Senecio located 3,962 m (13,000 ft) high forest which offers the much- needed beautiful view, we descend to the Barranco Camp for your overnight stay and dinner. The location of the Barranco Campsite at a high elevation helps in acclimatization.

·        Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft

·        Distance: 3 km/2 miles

·        Hiking Time: 2-3 hours

·        Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

We leave the Barranco camp in the morning to start our hiking day by going down a gulley just below the great Barranco Wall. We ascend the Barranco Wall, a steep 274m (900ft) high cliff that doesn’t necessarily demand any technicality.

After ascending the Barranco Wall we traverse a chain of hills interwoven with valleys until we reach the Karanga valley. We head over to our overnight camp of the day for dinner and some sleep at the Karanga Camp, located a steep climb away from the Karanga Valley. This day is reserved for acclimatization.

·        Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft

·        Distance: 5 km/3 miles

·        Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

·        Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

We start our trek on day five by heading to where our trail and the Mweka trail connect then proceed towards the rocky terrain that leads us to Barafu hut camp.

Reaching Barafu hut marks the end of Mount Kilimanjaro’s southern circuit which is famous for offering magnificent 360-degree and panoramic views of Kibo peak and its main summit, the Uhuru Peak.

At Barafu camp is where we set camp for our rest and dinner before attempting our last push to the summit of the mountain. Two of the three main peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mawenzi Peak, and Kibo peak, are clearly visible from this camp.

·        Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft

·        Distance: 4 km/2 miles

·        Hiking Time: 4 -5 hours

·        Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6: Summit Day: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak - the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

·        Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft

·        Distance: 5 km/3 miles

·        Hiking Time: 7 - 8 hours

·        Habitat: Arctic

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

·        Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft

·        Distance: 12 km/7 miles

·        Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

·        Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Descending the mountain via the Machame route uses the Mweka Route and on our last day of the 7-day Kilimanjaro Machame route package, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and get awarded with our summit certificates. At the base of the mountain, it can be wet and muddy as it rains often. For about an hour or so we proceed to Mweka village from Mweka gate where our vehicle awaits to return us back to the hotel in Moshi Town.

·        Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft

·        Distance: 10 km/6 miles

·        Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

·        Habitat: Rainforest

Included in Trekking Package:

• Professional, English-speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified Guide
• Proper Ration of Mountain crew (Cook & Porters)
• Pre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)
• Airport Transfers
• Meals according to the itinerary
• Drinking water and Full Board meals
• All National Park & Hut Fees, Crew Permits and VAT
• Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages
• Gate Transfers

Excluded from Trekking Package:

• Flights
• Visa fees
• Travel or Medical Insurance  is required and you should ask for Recommendation
• Gamow Bag
• Medication
• Tips for porters and mountain crew ($15 Industry Standard Recommended)
• Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
• Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
• Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.
• Additional lodge nights if early decent from the mountain $75 per room