Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route 6 Days

This morning we take a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, before setting out in our vehicle at around 08.00hrs to allow for a scheduled arrival at Machame Gate (1640 meters) at 10.00hrs. Our first job will be to complete the registration formalities, before we start our trek. You will also enjoy the introduction to your mountain team: your guides, porters and everyone else who will accompany you as you make your ascent.

Today’s walk is a long one: in pure numbers, you will gain around 1332 metres of altitude over a distance of just under 11km/7miles and can expect to be walking for between 5 and 6 hours.

The beginning of the walk today is characterised by a wide track that winds its way up through dense forest, beautiful tall trees laden with green moss.

Today’s stage is short and steep, as we push on up to an altitude of over 3804 metres. Our hard work in the morning, on a narrow path, is well rewarded at lunchtime with wonderful vistas both to the south and over to Kibo. Surely there can be no better location for lunch?

Having made an early start around 08.30hrs, we would expect to reach our camp by 14.00hrs, by which time we will have encountered the moorland lobelias and the distinctive dark obsidian rock of Shira Plateau for the first time. From Shira Caves, you will have time to marvel at some great natural sights such as the so-called ‘Shira Cathedral,’ Klute Peak and Mount Meru, before enjoying your dinner around 18.00hrs.

Today’s stage is considerably different in character from yesterday’s, with a much longer trek. We start at 3804 metres, of course, but even though we cover nearly 10km/6miles, our gain in altitude will be a modest 146 metres by the time we reach Barranco Camp at around 16.00hrs. During our hike, however, we will climb to the base of the Lava Tower which is located at a lofty 4630 metres, before we descend again for our overnight stay. Although this may seem a bit of a waste, in fact it helps enormously with the crucial process of acclimatizing at altitude.

The overall distance today means that we will actually be walking for around 6 to 8 hours, excluding breaks. Once again, our day will begin with breakfast at 07.00hrs and departure at 08.30hrs, when we begin our trek across the stony landscape of Shira Plateau. The vegetation is sparse at first, with just a few hardy lichens to admire. You climb towards the Lava Tower and your picnic lunch is taken at 13.00hrs.

Today will be a challenge, that much is certain! We will breakfast again at 07.00hrs, in anticipation of what will prove to be a long day. Our departure time today will be 08.00hrs, with a cooked lunch scheduled at Karanga for midday. Our ultimate destination, Barafu Camp, should be reached by 16.00hrs with our dinner at 18.00hrs. The beginning of today’s trek involves something a bit different, a tough scramble up the near-vertical face of the Barranco Wall (also known as the ‘Breakfast Wall,’ as the climb is straight after your breakfast!). At the top, you enjoy spectacular views of the Heim Glacier, before we begin to gradually descend to the gully below, and into the cold, beautiful Karanga Valley.

Next, we continue by climbing up a steep series of zig-zags until we reach Karanga Camp where we will lunch. After leaving Karanga, today’s stage continues steadily upwards, passing through barren, rocky landscape, with the Decken and Kersten glaciers visible away to your left.

If there is one certainty on Kilimanjaro, it is that ‘summit day’ will be the toughest! But although hugely challenging, hopefully it will be matched with the great sense of achievement of reaching your goal – the summit of Kilimanjaro!

Our schedule for our ‘Summit Day’ is of course very different. Rising at 23.00hrs, we take our tea and biscuits (23.30hrs) before a midnight departure. We begin with a long, tough climb from Barafu at 4556 metres to Stella Point at 5756 meters; for some of this you will be walking on scree, making your trek more difficult.

From Stella Point, there is still another 139 meters of ascent and 45 minutes’ walk to the summit. Our goal is to reach the top (5895 meters) by around 07.00hrs then celebrate (of course!) take our precious photos and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Still thrilled by your achievement, breakfast is taken at 07.00hrs and at 08.00hrs you can take the chance to reward your trekking team at the ‘Tipping Celebration.’

Although we still have 9km to walk, departure is at a leisurely 09.00hrs and you descend down to the Mweka Gate which sits at an altitude of 1640 metres. There, you will be served a cooked lunch at midday and be presented with your hard-earned certificate.

Your vehicle transport will be waiting to return you back to your Hotel in Arusha, where you can choose to relax – or, if you have any energy left, to celebrate!

Planet Lodge

Meal Plan
Breakfast, Cooked Lunch

Journey time and Distance
3-4 hours walking, from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, descending from 3100m to 1640m; from Mweka Gate to Arusha (by vehicle) 3 hours.

Walking distance
10km/6miles walking, then 3 hours’ drive back to Arusha

After a good night’s rest at your hotel, you will take breakfast ready for the scheduled check-out by 10.00hrs. (If you wish to remain in the hotel during the day, please advise us of this when you book your trip and we will inform you of the cost for day room which ends at 18:00hrs, and then make the booking on your behalf.)

If you have booked a transfer to the airport, you will be collected from your hotel and dropped off at the airport. For those travelers who have booked to go on safari, our Easy Travel guide will be meeting you in the evening to provide you with a briefing.