9 day climbing adventure machame route

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll be warmly greeted and transferred to your comfortable hotel in Moshi. After checking in, your head guide will meet you for a briefing about the upcoming trek, conduct a gear check, and help arrange any additional equipment you might need. Enjoy the rest of your day relaxing and preparing for your adventure.

Your adventure begins with a 45-minute drive from Moshi through the vibrant village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. After completing the necessary paperwork and obtaining permits, you'll embark on the trek through the lush rainforest. The trail is often muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are highly recommended. As you hike, your guide will share insights about the local flora and fauna. The trek to Machame Camp, situated at 3,010 meters (9,910 feet), typically takes 5-6 hours. Upon arrival, you will set up camp and enjoy dinner while immersed in the tranquil rainforest surroundings.

• Elevation: 1,811 meters (5,942 feet) to 3,010 meters (9,910 feet)

• Distance: 10.75 kilometers (7 miles)

• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

• Habitat: Rainforest

Following a hearty breakfast, you'll leave the rainforest behind and start a gradual ascent towards the Shira Plateau. The trail crosses a steep rocky ridge before continuing west along a river gorge. This trek provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape and introduces you to the moorland zone. Shira Camp, located at 3,840 meters (12,595 feet), serves as your resting point for the night. After lunch, you can explore the nearby Shira Caves or take an acclimatization hike towards the Lava Tower. Returning to camp, you will enjoy a warm dinner and rest in preparation for the next day's climb.

• Elevation: 3,021 meters (9,911 feet) to 3,839 meters (12,595 feet)

• Distance: 5.3 kilometers (3 miles)

• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

• Habitat: Moorland

The day's hike focuses on acclimatization while traveling from Shira Camp to Barranco Camp. After breakfast, you will head east up a ridge, passing the junction towards Kibo Peak before reaching the Lava Tower, also known as the "Shark’s Tooth" (4,650 meters/15,250 feet). This ascent, combined with a descent towards Barranco Camp, helps your body adjust to the higher altitude. After spending a couple of hours at the Lava Tower for acclimatization and lunch, you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 meters/12,992 feet) for the night. The descent is essential for acclimatization, even though you end the day at a similar elevation to when you started.

• Elevation: 3,839 meters (12,595 feet) to 3,960 meters (12,992 feet)

• Distance: 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles)

• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, you will tackle the iconic Barranco Wall, a steep and challenging section of the trek. This ascent provides impressive views of your support crew as they navigate the wall with agility. Following the climb, you will continue to the Karanga Valley and the junction connecting with the Mweka Trail. The trek to Karanga Camp, at 4,035 meters (13,237 feet), takes 3-4 hours. The rest of the day is spent relaxing and preparing for the next stage of the journey.

• Elevation: 3,986 meters (13,077 feet) to 4,034 meters (13,235 feet)

• Distance: 5.2 kilometers (3 miles)

• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

The trek today takes you from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp. The path ascends through the alpine desert zone, offering stunning views of Kilimanjaro’s summit from various angles. Upon reaching Barafu Camp (4,640 meters/15,223 feet), you will have completed the South Circuit. An early dinner and rest are crucial as you prepare for the summit attempt. To aid acclimatization, consider taking an acclimatization hike towards Kosovo Camp (4,800 meters/15,748 feet) and returning to Barafu Camp for rest.

• Elevation: 4,034 meters (13,235 feet) to 4,662 meters (15,295 feet)

• Distance: 3.3 kilometers (2 miles)

• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

An early start is essential for your summit day, with departure between midnight and 2 a.m. The trek to Uhuru Peak begins with a challenging ascent through the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. The path is steep and covered with scree. The climb involves switchbacks and a gradual ascent through snow and ice to Stella Point on the crater rim. Here, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking sunrise. From Stella Point, you will continue to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters/19,341 feet), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and Africa. After celebrating your achievement and taking photos, you will descend to Barafu Camp for a brief rest and lunch, before continuing down to Mweka Camp (3,106 meters/10,190 feet). The descent involves navigating loose gravel and volcanic ash, so gaiters and trekking poles are helpful.

• Elevation: 4,662 meters (15,295 feet) to 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) (Summit) and then down to 3,106 meters (10,190 feet)

• Distance: 4.86 kilometers (3 miles) up to the summit and 11.5 kilometers (7.2 miles) down

• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up, 5-6 hours down

• Habitat: Glaciers, Snow-Capped Summit, and Rainforest

After breakfast and a farewell ceremony with your crew, you will descend to Mweka Gate. The terrain is steep, muddy, and wet, so trekking poles and gaiters are recommended. The final descent is through the dense montane rainforest, ending at Mweka Gate (1,633 meters/5,358 feet). Here, you will sign out and receive your summit certificate: a green certificate for reaching Gilman's Point and a gold certificate for Uhuru Peak. A vehicle will transport you back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved rest and debriefing with your team.

• Elevation: 3,106 meters (10,190 feet) to 1,633 meters (5,358 feet)

• Distance: 9.1 kilometers (6 miles)

• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

• Habitat: Rainforest

On the final day, enjoy breakfast at the hotel and any remaining free time to relax or explore Moshi. Check out by 11 am, and your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport will be arranged based on your flight schedule. This concludes your memorable Kilimanjaro climbing expedition. We hope you had an unforgettable experience and look forward to welcoming you back soon!