The Machame route is one of the most popular ways up Kilimanjaro, and for good reason. It’s scenic, well-supported, and its route profile, climbing high and sleeping lower on several days, gives your body a real chance to adjust to the altitude before summit night. This package covers the full climb, plus a night in Arusha before and after, so you’re not managing your own transfers around such a demanding trek. All nights on the mountain are spent in tents.
You’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in Usa River, near Arusha. The rest of the day is free to rest by the pool or explore the town. In the late afternoon, a member of our Kilimanjaro team briefs you on the days ahead. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
After breakfast, you’re driven to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate to complete registration, then set off on a five to six hour hike through lush rainforest, home to black-and-white colobus monkeys and endemic plants like Impatiens kilimanjari. Dinner and overnight at Machame Camp.
Today’s hike is shorter in distance but steady in climb, taking you out of the rainforest and into moorland, with your first real views of the mountain opening up as you approach Shira Camp. Dinner and overnight at Shira Camp.
This is your main acclimatization day, climbing around 700m to Lava Tower before descending to sleep at a lower altitude than you reached, an approach that helps your body adjust. The six to seven hour hike passes through alpine desert and the Barranco Valley, known for its giant lobelia and senecio plants. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.
You start by climbing the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical scramble where you’ll use your hands for balance, with your guide supporting you throughout. The three to four hour trek continues along a ridge with striking views before reaching Karanga Camp. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Camp.
A three to four hour walk across dry, exposed terrain brings you to Barafu Camp, your base for the summit attempt. Given the early start ahead, dinner is served early and you’ll be encouraged to rest as much as possible. Overnight at Barafu Camp.
Around midnight, you’re woken for tea and a light snack before setting off on the final ascent by headlamp. Reaching Stella Point, on the crater rim, typically takes five to seven hours, with a further one to two hours to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After time at the summit, you descend back to Barafu for a rest, then continue down to Mweka Camp for your last night on the mountain. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.
After a farewell ceremony from your mountain crew, you descend through the rainforest one last time, reaching Mweka Gate in around two to three hours, where certificates are issued. You’re then driven back to your hotel for a proper shower and a relaxed rest of the day. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
After breakfast, you’re transferred to the airport for your flight home, or you can extend your trip with a safari or a few days in Zanzibar.
Safari rates change with the season, number of travellers and available accommodation.
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