Day 1: From Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Machame Camp - The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes approximately 50 minutes. The route passes through the village of Machame, situated on the lower slopes of the mountain.

The journey begins at the park gate, leading through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. The lower sections of the trail can be muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are recommended. The trek continues for a short distance until reaching Machame Camp.

Day 2: From Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Shira Camp - After breakfast, the trek leaves the rainforest glades and continues on an ascending path, crossing a small valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the ridge ends. The route then turns west into a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight stay at the Shira campsite.

Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Barranco Camp - From the Shira Plateau, the trek continues east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. The direction then changes to the southeast towards the Lava Tower, known as the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, the second junction leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. The journey then descends to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here, rest, dinner, and overnight stay are enjoyed. Although the day ends at the same elevation as it started, this day is crucial for acclimatization and will aid in preparing the body for summit day.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Barafu Camp - After breakfast, the trek leaves Barranco and continues on a steep ridge past the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, the journey leaves Karanga and reaches the junction connecting with the Mweka Trail. The trek continues up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, the South Circuit is completed, offering views of the summit from various angles. Here, camp is set up, rest is taken, dinner is enjoyed, and preparations for summit day are made. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this location.

Day 5: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

Day 6: Mweka Camp to Moshi

Moshi - After breakfast, the descent continues down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive summit certificates. At lower elevations, the trail can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles are helpful. Shorts and t-shirts are likely sufficient (keep rain gear and warmer clothing accessible).

From the gate, the journey continues for another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet at Mweka Village to drive back to the hotel in Moshi.

• Accommodation before and after trekking
• Lunch included
• Dinner provided
• Breakfast available
• Bottles of mineral water supplied
• All park fees covered

• items of personal nature (visas, laoundry, soverniours)
• international flights (from/to home)

THE SHORT MACHAME ROUTE VARIATION

Below is the daily itinerary for the 6-day Machame climb on Mount Kilimanjaro. For those with only six days to climb Kilimanjaro, the Machame route is an excellent choice due to its acclimatization profile. Compared to other six-day routes, the Machame route exposes climbers to higher elevations sooner (by day three), which initiates the body’s adaptation to altitude. However, this route requires individuals to be in good physical condition to handle the challenging elevation gains and losses.

The six-day Machame variation is a challenging route. Specifically, day four combined with day five creates a very demanding schedule. Day four involves a full day of hiking from Barranco to Barafu. Then, after dinner and a brief night’s rest, the long and strenuous summit day begins around midnight. The 6-day Machame route demands 19-24 hours of intense walking at extremely high elevations, with only 4-6 hours of sleep.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.