7 Days to the Roof of Africa The Machame Route Trek

Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   7h · Admission ticket included
   Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
   meters(1800m to 3000m)
   Distance: 11 km/7 miles
   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest
   The drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.

Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
   meters(3000m to 3800m)
   Distance: 5 km/3 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
   Habitat: Heath
   We leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.

Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower
   Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
   meters(3800m to 4600m)
   Distance: 7 km/4 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert
   Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
   Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
   meters(4600m to 3900m)
   Distance: 3 km/2 miles
   Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert
   We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   5h · Admission ticket included
   Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
   meters(3900m to 4000m)
   Distance: 5 km/3 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert
   We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   5h
   Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
   meters(4000m to 4600m)
   Distance: 4 km/2 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert
   We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
   Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
   meters(4600m to 5895m)
   Distance: 5 km/3 miles
   Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
   Habitat: Arctic
   Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
   Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
   meters(5985m to 3000m)
   Distance: 12 km/7 miles
   Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest
   Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
   From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   4m · Admission ticket included
   Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
   meters(3000m to 1650m)
   Distance: 10 km/6 miles
   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest
   On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness