The number of people in one group ranges from a minimum of three to a maximum of ten people. You will share the same mess tent for all meals, be taken along the route by the same guides and porters and share the tips for the crew at the end of the journey. A supplement charge will be applied to small groups with less than three climbers. Please contact us for more details.
Why Should You Climb The Machame Route?
The Machame Route is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. The route provides sweeping views across the Maasai Steepe, Mount Meru, the majestic Barranco Valley, and a variety of habitats.
- The trail starts from the southern base of Kilimanjaro and enjoys some of the finest forest and moorland scenery on the mountain.
- 7 days/ 6 nights on the mountain.
- Great route for charity climbs.
- Excellent acclimatization profile.
- High summit success rate.
- Night-time summit bid.
- The descent path is via the Mweka Route.
- The trekking distance from the gate to the gate is approximately 37 miles (62 km).
- Traffic is high.
MACHAME ROUTE ELEVATIONS
Machame 7-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania
Elevation: 4,200 ft | 1,280 m
Overnight: Lodge near Arusha
Meals: Dinner on arrival
Meet and greet with a Barking Zebra representative at the Kilimanjaro airport, who will assist you with a transfer to your lodge.
Day 2: Acclimatization Day & Pre-Climb Briefing
Elevation: 4,200 ft | 1,280 m
Overnight: Lodge near Arusha
Meals: B/L/D
Meet with Barking Zebra guides for a detailed climb orientation and a final gear check. In the afternoon relax and acclimatize.
Day 3: Machame Camp
Elevation Machame Gate: 5,700 ft | 1,737m
Elevation Machame Camp: 9,350 ft | 2,850m
Hours of trekking: 5-7
Habitat: Rainforest
Meals: B/L/D
After breakfast, we depart to Kilimanjaro National Park. Driving past the banana and coffee plantations, we arrive at the trail-head-Machame gate, where you will sign in at the National Park office. Our climb will start by immediately entering the rain-forest and beginning the Machame route. Enjoy listening to many exotic birds in the canopy above and spotting black & white colobus monkeys.
Day 4: Shira Camp
Elevation: 12,500 ft | 3,810 m
Hours of trekking: 4-6
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: B/L/D
This morning we leave the last glades of the rainforest behind. Vegetation gets sparser as we ascend into the heath. After a couple of hours, we pass the first Lobelia and reach the Shira Plateau – a high altitude desert plateau.
Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. A slow and steady ascent allows for our bodies to acclimatize to the higher altitude as we cross Shira Plateau.
Day 5: Barranco Camp
Elevation: 13,045 ft | 3,976 m
Hours of trekking: 6-8
Habitat: Moorland/Alpine Desert
Meals: B/L/D
The trail becomes a bit rocky and strenuous as we get closer to the Lava Tower, a 300 ft tall volcanic tower. We have lunch at Lava Tower at 15,190 ft/4,630 m to help our bodies acclimatize to the thin air. This is where the Machame and Lemosho routes converge, so we meet other climbers ascending the Lemosho Route.
After lunch, we descend to Giant Senecio Valley to Barranco Camp. Although we end the day at a lower elevation than we started, this day is significant for acclimatization. The view of the Western Breach from camp is spectacular.
Day 6: Karanga Camp
Elevation: 13,105 ft | 3,994 m
Hours of trekking: 4-5
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: B/L/D
Today our first challenge is to hike up the Barranco Wall, a 500 ft lava flow. It is a quite spectacular looking obstacle, which in the end usually turns out easier than how it appears. The views of crags and crevasses are stunning from the top of the wall.
We continue to walk up and down a greener valley to Karanga camp.
Day 7: Barafu Camp
Elevation: 15,330 ft | 4,673 m
Hours of trekking: 3-4
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: B/L/D
As we begin trekking today the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse on the Machame route as we work our way to Barafu Camp. Barafu means “ice” in Swahili. The camp is set on an exposed ridge and is the staging point for our push to the summit.
The peaks of both Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from the camp.
Day 8: Summit - Mweka Camp
Elevation Uhuru Peak: 19,341 ft | 5,895 m
Hours of trekking to Uhuru Peak: 7-8
Habitat: Arctic
Elevation Mweka Camp: 10,065 ft | 3,067 m
Hours of trekking to Uhuru Peak: 5-6
Habitat: Heath
Meals: B/L/D
We’ll be up before midnight to set out for the glacier zone atop Kilimanjaro. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and refuel with small snacks to keep our energy high until we reach the summit.
We celebrate our success with a few quick pictures at the top before trekking much of the way back down the mountain. Gaiters and trekking poles come in handy for the loose gravel going down.
Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Day 9: Mweka Gate
Elevation: 19,341 ft | 5,895 m
Hours of trekking: 3-4
Habitat: Rainforest
Meals: B/L/D
Celebrate your achievement with your mountain crew and partake in a tipping ceremony to thank your guides and porters, acknowledging their hard work and contribution to your success.
Descend back through the rainforest and enjoy a farewell lunch with your group at the Mweka gate.
For climbers who are limited on time and need to depart Tanzania on the last day of the climb, you’ll transfer to a day room near the airport where you can shower and relax before your evening flight home.
Contact us if you’d like to overnight after your climb or continue on a wildlife safari.
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