7 Day Kiliamnjaro Climbing Machame Route

The seven day Machame variation is the ideal schedule for this route. On the 7 day Machame route, the trek from Barranco to Barafu is broken up into two days, allowing for a short day just prior to the summit attempt. This is important because summit day begins very early, around midnight, so climbers are sleep deprived going into the toughest day on the mountain. By having a short day beforehand, climbers can be better rested.

The 7 day Machame route is highly recommended and used by most prominent Kilimanjaro operators.

Day 0 : Arrival Day

You will be picked up from the airport by a Lion King representative and conveyed to your accommodation in Arusha or moshi where you will overnight, relax, and prepare in anticipation of the adventures to come.

Note: Please note your accommodation for this night of  your arrival day is not included in your package price but once you confirm your booking we will share different accommodation that suit your budget.

Day 1

• Trekking from Machame Gate to Machame Camp
• Machame Gate (1,500m/4,921ft) to Machame Camp (2,835m/9,301ft)
• Hiking distance: 11km
• Hiking time: 5–7hrs
• Habitat: Montane Forest

Your first day begins with an early morning briefing, followed by breakfast and later drive to the Machame Village (1,490m/4,890ft) from Arusha or Moshi. After registering at the park authority, you will have hot lunch then your ascent begins by entering the rain forest first. Heavy rains often transform the trail on this side of the mountain into mud, so good footgear, gaiters, and trekking poles are extremely helpful; arrive at Machame Camp in the late afternoon. Porters will have erected your tent in advance of your arrival.

Overnight: Machame Camp (All meals included)

Day 2

• Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Cave
• Machame Camp (2,835m/9,301ft) to Shira Cave (3,750m/11,303ft)
• Hiking distance: 11km
• Hiking Time: 6-8hrs
• Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, you will climb for an hour to the top of the forest and then begin 2 hours of walking through gentle moorland. You continue up the rocky ridge to the Shira Plateau. At Shira Plateau, you will be able to see Kilimanjaro’s Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now on the opposite side of the mountain from the Marangu Route and west of Kibo. After a short hike west, you arrive at the Shira Cave campsite.

You will have hot lunch at the camp followed by a leisure afternoon. In the evening, you will visit the Shira cave for short history about the cave and the surroundings. Later in evening, you will be served a hot dinner before going to bed. The night at this exposed camp, will be colder and temperatures will drop below freezing.

Overnight: Shira Cave Camp (All meals included)

Day 3

• Trekking from Shira Cave to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
• Shira Cave (3,750m/12,795ft) to Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,795ft) via Lava Tower (4,600m/15,091ft)
• Hiking Distance: 10km
• Hiking Time: 6-8hrs
• Habitat: Moorland

Your hike begins by climbing eastward up; a path becomes steep above the highest vegetation towards Kilimanjaro. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to Lava Tower (4,630m/15,190ft). This remnant of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic past is several hundred feet high. The trail passes right below it. After a lunch at Lava Tower, you will descend for 2 hours below the lower cliff of the Western Breach, to the Breach Wall to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft).

Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls. This provides a scenic sunset while waiting for dinner. On this day, you may experience signs of altitude sickness.

Overnight: Barranco Camp (All meals included)

Day 4

• Trekking Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp
• Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,960ft) to Karanga Camp (3,995m/13,100ft)
• Hiking Distance: 5km
• Hiking Time: 4-5hrs
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

You begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then you climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall you cross a series of hills and valleys until you descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Overnight: Karanga Camp (All meals included)

Day 5

• Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
• Karanga Camp (3,995m/13,100ft) to Barafu Camp (4,4667m/15,300ft)
• Hiking Distance: 5km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, you leave Karanga and hit the junction, which connects with the Mweka trail. You continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here you will rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are sighted from this position.

Overnight: Barafu Camp (All meals included)

Day 6

• Barafu Camp (4,667m/14,930ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) down to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)
• Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
• Hiking Distance: 15.5km
• Hiking Time: 8hrs up and 7-8hrs down
• Habitat: Ice Cap

At 11:30 PM, you will wake up to steaming tea and biscuits. You will then take off into the night. Your 6-hour climb northwest through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685m/18,650ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to see an outstanding sunrise. You cannot stop for long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to fatigue and cold. Depending on the season and recent storm activity, you may encounter snow on the remaining part of your hike along the Uhuru Peak rim.

On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment, knowing you are creating a day you will remember for the rest of your life. After a 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gears, and hike down a rock and scree path to the moorland below and enter the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft). This camp is in the upper forest, where you can expect rain and mist in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Mweka Camp (All meals included)

DAY 7

• Descend to Mweka Gate
• Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980m/6,500ft)
• Hiking Distance: 12km
• Hiking Time: 3hrs
• Habitat: Montane forest

After breakfast, you will take a short scenic 3-hour hike back to the park gate.

At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates.

From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to Mweka Village for Hot Lunch with your Mountain Crew and a small celebration before your drive to your hotel for warm shower and leisure.

For the climbers who do have a flight to catch, we will drive back to our office building in Arusha for quick shower and short rest before you are transferred to your respective airport for your inbound or outbound flight. This service is on complimentary.

Package Price Includes

• Airport pick and drop off
• Transfer to / from the mountain
• Kilimanjaro National Park Permits, camping / hut fees & rescue fees
• Service of a professional & qualified mountain guide
• Cook and adequate porters to carry both trip provisions & passenger private bags
• Oxygen systems and pulse oximeters
• First Aid Kit
• 3 square meals daily. The menu includes different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetarian options are available upon request
• Spacious tent for camping
• Free walking poles
• Free quality sleeping mats
• Camping equipment (dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery)
• International certificates for a successful ascent
• Free storage of excess baggage not required on the mountain hike
• Flying Doctors rescue insurance for the time of the tour with us

Package Price Excludes:

• International airfare and related costs such as personal international travel insurance, visas, and vaccinations
• Accommodation before and after the tour
• Any increase in government taxes that occur prior to the start of your trip
• Cost of any client-requested itinerary modifications while the trekking is in progress
• Any expenses of a personal nature such as extra beverages, laundry, etc.
• Personal mountain gears
• Tips & gratuities for your mountain crew.
• Any excess luggage more than 15Kg per client while trekking