Machame Kilimanjaro Climb
6 days—"Conquering the Roof of Africa: A Six Day Trek on the Machame Route"
$1750-1950 USD
pp
Safari summary
For those who only have six days to climb Kilimanjaro, the Machame route is the best choice because of its acclimatization profile. Compared to other six day routes, the Machame route exposes the climber to higher elevations quicker (day three) which kickstarts the body’s adaptation to altitude. However, this route requires that a person be in good shape to be able to tackle the challenging elevation gains and losses.
The six day Machame variation is a difficult route. In particular, day four combined with day five makes for a very hard schedule. Day four is a full day of hiking from Barranco to Barafu. Then after dinner and a partial night’s sleep, the very long and strenuous summit day begins around midnight. The 6 day Machame route requires 19-24 hours of demanding walking, at extremely high elevation, with only 4-6 hours of sleep.
About this tour
| Tour type | Custom, tailor-made, private | |
| Main focus | Hiking | trekking | |
| Activity level | Strenuous activity | |
| Best months | All months | |
| Countries | ||
| Parks |
Fine details
Safari highlights
- Hiking | trekking
What’s included?
- Accommodation
- All drinks
- Meals
- Park fees
- Private vehicle and driver
What’s not included?
- Internal flights
- Laundry
- Tips and gratuities
Itinerary
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Kilimanjaro
The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
Machame Camp
•Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, you will continue climbing through the rainforest until you reach a steep ridge. The trail becomes steeper as you leave the forest and enter the heath zone. Along the way, you'll enjoy stunning views of the valley and the surrounding mountains. After about 6-7 hours of trekking, you'll reach Shira Plateau (3,845m) and set up camp for the night.
Shira Campsite
Shira Camp-Lava Tower to Barranco
Kilimanjaro
Today is a relatively short trek, but you will climb to Lava Tower (4,640m), a massive rock formation that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. The altitude gain will help with acclimatization. After spending some time at Lava Tower, you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960m), where you will spend the night. The descent is steep, so make sure to watch your step and use trekking poles if needed.
Baranco Camp
Trek to Karanga Camp
Kilimanjaro
Today's trek will take you through the Barranco Wall, a steep and rocky section of the trail that requires some scrambling. The views from the top are worth it, though! After descending from the wall, you'll trek through the Karanga Valley and reach Karanga Camp (4,035m) in about 4-5 hours. The campsite is situated on a rocky ridge, and you'll have stunning views of the surrounding peaks.
Karanga Campsite
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp& summit
Kilimanjaro
Today is the big day, as you'll attempt to summit Kilimanjaro. You'll start early in the morning, hiking to Barafu Camp at an altitude of 4,673 meters. After a short rest at the midnight, you'll begin your ascent to the summit, which can take anywhere from 7 hours. The trail is steep and rocky, and the altitude can make it difficult to breathe. But the views from the summit are spectacular, and tnforgettable. After taking in the views, you'll descend back to mweka camp for a well-deserved rest.
Mweka Campsite
Mweka Camp to Moshi
Kilimanjaro
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi.
Mweka camp
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