Climbing Kilimanjaro - Machame Route

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to Springlands Hotel or similar for an overnight bed and breakfast.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

Altitude: 1,800 m –  3,100 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 6 hours

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate. You will receive a packed lunch box at the gate and we advise you to bring bottled water available to purchase at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent by entering the rainforest. There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy, and slippery experience. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water. The cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to freezing point at Machame camp.

Altitude: 3,100 m –  3,840 m

Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest where you will be met with a gentler gradient through the moorland zone, where you will walk for another 2 hours. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike, you will reach the Shira camp at 3,840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving you dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be even colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Altitude: 3,840 m –  3,940 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours

The route now turns east exposing you to a semi-desert and a rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4600m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4600m). This will be the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, that some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. The descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours where you will get great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and eventual overnight at Barranco camp.

Altitude: 3,960 m –  4,550 m

Hiking distance: 13 km
Hiking time: 7 hours

Exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, walking sticks, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure that you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at around about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep for not more than 5 hours.

Altitude: 4,670 m –  5,895 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 17 km
Hiking time: 15+ hours

You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you will shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella Point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685 m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp (3100m) for dinner and overnight.

Altitude: 3,100 m –  1,800 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

After Breakfast, from the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into Mweka village, normally a muddy hour walk. From Mweka village, you will be driven to Springlands Hotel where you will be served a delicious hot lunch, not to mention your chance to take a long overdue hot shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel.  At your discretion, tips are recommended, as well as highly appreciated at the end of the trip. Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.