Tanzania Rewilded

The 7-day Machame route on Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa
 
 
 Kilimanjaro climb · 7 days on the mountain
Machame Gate
 
Barranco Wall
 
Uhuru Peak
The whiskey route to

The Roof of Africa

The 7-day Machame route goes up the south side of Kilimanjaro, through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert. The route climbs high and sleeps low, which is why it has good summit success. You reach Uhuru Peak at sunrise on Day 7.

9days
8 nights, 9 days total
7
Days on the mountain
5,895m
Uhuru Peak
Plan this climb
Day by day ↓
Download PDF ↓
 MoshiDay 1
 MachameDay 2
 BarrancoDay 4
 BarafuDay 6
 Uhuru PeakDay 7
Climbing permit
TR · MA07
Machame Route
 
Duration
9 days · 8 nights
7 days on the mountain, 2 nights in Moshi
Start / finish
Kilimanjaro Airport
Hotel in Moshi before and after
Summit
Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
Summit push from Barafu Camp at midnight
Difficulty
Challenging
Long days and steep sections, no climbing skills needed
Style
Private · Camping
Your own guides, cook and porters
Best months
Jan – Mar · Jun – Oct
The two dry seasons

Why the 7-DayMachame Route Works

The Machame Route is the most popular way up Kilimanjaro, and it earns it. It has the best scenery on the mountain: rainforest on the first day, the Shira Plateau, the Lava Tower, the Barranco Wall and a summit approach along the southern ice fields.

Seven days on the mountain gives your body time to adjust. On Day 4 you climb to the Lava Tower at 4,630 m and then drop to sleep at 3,960 m. This climb high, sleep low pattern is the single best way to cope with altitude, and it is built into the route.

The climb

Seven Days to the Summit

Each point is where you sleep. The line shows how high you walk each day, including the Lava Tower and the summit night. Tap a camp to see it on the profile.

FarmlandRainforestHeath & moorlandAlpine desertArctic summit1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000m 123456Uhuru Peak5,895 m78
Trail altitudeVegetation zones
  1. 01

    Moshi

    915 m · Hotel before and after the climb

    2 nights
  2. 02

    Machame Camp

    3,000 m · Edge of the rainforest

    1 night
  3. 03

    Shira Camp

    3,840 m · On the Shira Plateau

    1 night
  4. 04

    Barranco Camp

    3,960 m · Below the Barranco Wall

    1 night
  5. 05

    Karanga Camp

    4,035 m · A short acclimatisation day

    1 night
  6. 06

    Barafu Camp

    4,640 m · High camp for the summit night

    1 night
  7. 07

    Mweka Camp

    3,090 m · First night down, after the summit

    1 night
Trek ≈ 64 kmHighest 5,895 mDescent Mweka route
Day by day

The Journey

✦

This is how the trip usually runs. Your guide will adjust each day around the weather, the trail and how the group is acclimatising.

Karibu Kilimanjaro
Day01
Kilimanjaro Airport → Moshi

Arrive at the Mountain

We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive about an hour to Moshi, the town at the foot of the mountain. On a clear day Kibo’s snow cap is right in front of you on the way in.

At the hotel your lead guide gives you a full briefing: the route, safety and altitude, and a check of your gear. Anything missing can be hired in Moshi before you leave.

Good to know

Bring your boots and daypack in your hand luggage. If a checked bag is delayed, you can still start the climb.

  • Transfer45 km · about 1 hr
  • OvernightKibo Palace Hotel, Moshi
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
The wooden entrance arch at Machame Gate, with rainforest behind
Machame Gate, 1,800 m
Day02
Machame Gate → Machame Camp

Into the Rainforest

After breakfast you drive through villages and coffee farms to Machame Gate at 1,800 m, where you register with the park. Your crew weighs and packs the loads, and then you start walking.

The trail climbs steadily through thick, humid rainforest. Listen for turacos and look for black-and-white colobus monkeys in the trees. You reach Machame Camp at the top edge of the forest in the late afternoon.

  • Trek11 km · about 6 hrs
  • Altitude1,800 → 3,000 m
  • OvernightMachame Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Moorland above a sea of cloud, with Mount Meru in the distance
Above the clouds, Mount Meru behind
Day03
Machame Camp → Shira Camp

Above the Clouds

Today you leave the forest behind. The trail climbs a steep, rocky ridge through giant heather and moorland, and by mid-morning you are usually walking above the clouds.

Shira Camp sits on the wide Shira Plateau. It is a short day, which helps your body adjust. On a clear evening you can see Mount Meru floating above the clouds to the west.

Pole pole

“Slowly, slowly.” Your guides will set a pace that feels too easy. Stick with it; walking slowly is how you get to the top.

  • Trek5 km · 4–5 hrs
  • Altitude3,000 → 3,840 m
  • OvernightShira Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
The Barranco Valley with giant groundsels and clouds below
The Barranco Valley
Day04
Shira Camp → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp

Climb High, Sleep Low

This is the most important day for acclimatisation. You walk east across alpine desert to the Lava Tower, a 90-metre volcanic plug at 4,630 m, and have lunch at its foot. Some people feel a headache here; that is normal.

Then you drop down into the Barranco Valley, past forests of giant groundsels, to sleep at 3,960 m. Going high and sleeping lower is exactly what helps you on summit night.

  • Trek11 km · 7–8 hrs
  • Altitude3,840 → 4,630 → 3,960 m
  • OvernightBarranco Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
The Barranco Wall
Day05
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp

Up the Wall

Straight after breakfast you tackle the Barranco Wall, a 250-metre rock face that looks harder than it is. It is a scramble, not a climb: you use your hands in a few places, and your guides show you every step.

From the top the path rolls up and down across valleys to Karanga Camp. The afternoon is free to rest, eat and drink plenty of water.

Good to know

The Wall is busy early in the morning. Your guide will time your start so you are not waiting in a queue.

  • Trek5 km · about 5 hrs
  • Altitude3,960 → 4,035 m
  • OvernightKaranga Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Bare, rocky alpine desert near Barafu Camp
Alpine desert near Barafu
Day06
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp

The High Camp

A short, steady climb through bare alpine desert brings you to Barafu Camp at 4,640 m. Barafu means “ice” in Swahili, and the wind up here is cold.

You arrive by lunchtime. Your guide goes through the summit plan, you eat an early dinner and go to bed by 7 pm. You will be woken just before midnight.

  • Trek5 km · about 5 hrs
  • Altitude4,035 → 4,640 m
  • OvernightBarafu Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Glacier ice on the summit of Kilimanjaro at dawn
The summit glaciers at dawn
Day07
Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp

Sunrise on Uhuru Peak

You start at about midnight, by headtorch, climbing slowly up steep scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. It is cold and hard, and it is where your guides matter most.

From Stella Point it is about an hour along the rim to Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m, the highest point in Africa, usually around sunrise. After photos at the sign you walk all the way down past Barafu to Mweka Camp for a well-earned sleep.

Honest note

This is a 15-hour day, or longer. Your guides check you all the way up, and they will turn you around if it is not safe. Your health always comes before the summit.

  • Trek17 km · 15 hrs or more
  • Altitude4,640 → 5,895 → 3,090 m
  • OvernightMweka Camp
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Misty forest with ferns on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro
Back through the forest
Day08
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi

Down to Moshi

The last walk goes down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you collect your summit certificate. It is a good time to thank the crew who carried everything up and down the mountain.

A short drive takes you back to your hotel in Moshi for a hot shower, a proper bed and a celebration dinner.

Good to know

Tipping the crew usually happens at the gate. We give you guideline amounts before the climb, so you can bring the right cash.

  • Trek10 km · 4–5 hrs
  • TransferAbout 1 hr to Moshi
  • OvernightKibo Palace Hotel, Moshi
  • Meals
    BreakfastLunchDinner
Kwaheri
Day09
Moshi → Kilimanjaro Airport

Time to Fly Home

After breakfast you are driven back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home, or you can carry on to a safari or a few days on the beach in Zanzibar.

Where you sleep

Six Camps, Two Hotel Nights

A comfortable hotel in Moshi at each end, and the park’s official campsites on the mountain. Our crew carries and pitches your tent, and cooks every meal.

A camp on Mount Kilimanjaro
On the mountain

Nights on the mountain: Machame Camp, Shira Camp, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp.

2nights

Kibo Palace Hotel

Moshi · 915 m

A comfortable hotel in Moshi with a swimming pool, a garden, a bar and a restaurant. You stay here before the climb and after it.

PoolGardenBar
1night

Machame Camp

Rainforest edge · 3,000 m

Tents among tall trees at the top of the forest. Mild nights and plenty of birdsong.

Rainforest
1night

Shira Camp

Shira Plateau · 3,840 m

A wide, open plateau with big views of Mount Meru and the summit.

Sunset views
1night

Barranco Camp

Barranco Valley · 3,960 m

One of the most beautiful camps on the mountain, right below the Barranco Wall.

Giant groundsels
1night

Karanga Camp

Karanga Valley · 4,035 m

The last water stop on the route, and a quiet afternoon of rest before the high camp.

Rest afternoon
1night

Barafu Camp

High camp · 4,640 m

A rocky, windy ridge. You sleep here for a few hours before the summit push.

Summit base
1night

Mweka Camp

Upper forest · 3,090 m

The first night down after the summit, back among the trees where the air is thick again.

Descent

Hotels are shown “or similar”. On the mountain you sleep in the park’s official campsites, in tents our crew carries and pitches for you.

Timing & price

When to Climb

Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but the two dry seasons give you the clearest skies and driest trails. July and August are the busiest months.

Climbing Kilimanjaro, month by month Highlighted: best months to climb
MonthSeasonOn the mountainClimbing
JanuaryDryWarm & clearOne of the best months. Warm days, clear summit mornings and fewer climbers than in August.Best
FebruaryDryWarm & clearVery good climbing. Clear skies, and snow on the summit is possible after a cold night.Best
MarchDry → wetWarm, some showersStill good early in the month. Showers start to build towards the end.Good
AprilLong rainsWet & cloudyThe wettest month. Muddy trails and cloud; very few climbers.Wet
MayLong rainsWet, clearing lateRain eases later in the month. Quiet trails, but expect wet days.Wet
JuneDryCold & clearThe dry season starts. Cold nights up high, and the trails get busier.Good
JulyDryCold & clearPeak season. Cold, clear and dry, with the most climbers of the year.Best
AugustDryCold & clearPeak season. Very reliable weather; book early for this month.Best
SeptemberDryMild & clearExcellent conditions. Slightly warmer and a little quieter than August.Best
OctoberDryMild & clearGood weather and quieter trails before the short rains.Best
NovemberShort rainsShowersShort afternoon showers, mostly lower down. Possible, with good rain gear.Good
DecemberShort rains → dryMixedRain clears through the month. Busy over Christmas and New Year.Good
Price per personYour groupAll yearPrivate climbAny start date
1solo climber$2,470USD per person
2–5climbers$2,251USD per person
6–10climbers$2,223USD per person
11+climbers$2,165USD per person
 Check dates →
12%

Climb as a group and pay less. A group of 11+ pays about 12% less per person than a solo climber.

Prices are in US dollars, per person, for a private climb with two hotel nights in Moshi. Temperatures on the summit are well below freezing in every month. We send a full kit list when you book.

No surprises

What's Included

Included / 12

  • Airport transfers on arrival and departureKilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
  • 2 nights at Kibo Palace Hotel in Moshi, before and after the climbSharing a double or triple room. The first night includes breakfast; the last night includes dinner and breakfast
  • Professional mountain guides and support crew
  • Wages for guides, porters, cook and waiter
  • National park entry fees
  • Camping fees, tents and foam sleeping mats
  • Cooking gear, plates and cutlery
  • Park rescue fees
  • Pulse oximeter checks and a full first aid kit
  • All meals on the mountainBreakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Boiled drinking water on the mountain
  • Park fees and lodging for the crew on the mountain

Not included / 11

  • International and domestic flights
  • Tanzania visaSee our visa guide
  • Travel insuranceRequired, and it must cover climbing to 6,000 m. See our insurance guide
  • Single room supplement at Kibo Palace Hotel
  • Tips for guides, porters, cook and waiter
  • Personal mountain gear, such as a sleeping bagSome items can be hired. Ask us for the hire price list
  • Emergency oxygenNot part of the standard package
  • Meals and drinks not listed in the itinerary
  • Extra hotel nights beyond the two included
  • Optional trips, such as a waterfall walk or a village visit
  • Personal expenses, such as souvenirs, laundry and phone calls
Good questions

Before You Book

It is a challenging trek, but you do not need climbing experience. Most days are 4 to 7 hours of steady walking. The hard parts are the Barranco Wall, which is a scramble, and the summit night, which is long, cold and steep. If you are fit enough to hike for several hours on several days in a row, you can do it. See our preparation guide.

Almost everyone feels the altitude a little: a mild headache, poor sleep or less appetite. The route is designed to help, with a climb-high, sleep-low day at the Lava Tower. Your guides check your health every day and carry a pulse oximeter and a first-aid kit. Read more in our altitude safety guide.

Yes. Adding a day, usually at Karanga, makes the climb easier and improves your chance of reaching the top. Ask us and we’ll send you the 8-day version.

Good broken-in boots, warm layers, a down jacket, gloves, a warm hat, a headtorch and a sleeping bag rated to about -15°C. We send a full kit list when you book, and most items can be hired in Moshi.

Add to your trip

Related Activities

Ideas that fit well with this climb. Ask us and we’ll add any of them to your plan.

After the climb

Add a safari

Rest your legs in a safari vehicle: Tarangire, the crater or the Serengeti.

Read more →
Beach

Zanzibar beach days

Finish with warm sea, white sand and Stone Town’s old streets.

Read more →
Pole pole
Kilimanjaro

Altitude & safety

How acclimatisation works and how our guides keep you safe.

Read more →
Get ready
Kilimanjaro

Preparing for the climb

Training, gear and what to expect on summit night.

Read more →
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