Arrival Day

Moshi Town - Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly welcomed and transported by our driver to Keys Hotel in Moshi town for a briefing and an overnight stay.

Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - The Kilimanjaro National Park gate is just a 1-hour drive from Keys Hotel. After breakfast, you will be picked up and taken to the gate to begin your climb. Upon arrival, your guide will handle the formalities (entrance forms) while you observe the various teams and mountain crew preparing for their expedition. It’s always an intriguing experience for clients to watch them load all the different items for the trip. Once everything is ready, your adventure will commence. Today’s destination is Machame Camp, which you should reach in about 5 – 6 hours. Along the way, you will enjoy a magnificent rainforest with ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana, and lichen, among others. Another highlight to look out for today is the black and white thumbless colobus monkeys. Upon arrival at your campsite for the night, you will have time to relax before enjoying a well-deserved dinner prepared by our cook.

Machame Camp (3010m) – Shira Camp (3845m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Although today’s stretch is shorter than yesterday’s, you will still have an early start, allowing you to reach today’s destination by mid-afternoon. The landscape changes dramatically from the lush mountain rainforest to moor and heathland. You will have a stunning view of the mountain range from your campsite, which is located at the Shira Plateau. The glacier of Kibo also illuminates as the sun sets for the evening.

Shira Camp (3845m) – Lava Tower Hut (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Today is an excellent day for the body to acclimatize for the days ahead. You will ascend approximately 700m but will sleep at a level not much higher than the previous night. We will start at Shira Plateau and make our way up to Lava Tower at around 4640m. After a rest, we will continue through the Barranco Valley until we reach our destination for the day, the beautiful Barranco Camp. Today’s trek will be approximately 6 – 7 hours, during which you will experience the alpine desert as well as the Barranco Valley with its small lobelia plants and giant Senecio’s. You will enjoy a well-deserved dinner before resting in preparation for the next day.

Barranco Camp (3960m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - The first section of today’s route involves scaling the ‘Barranco Wall’. Use your hands and feet. Safety is paramount, and you will be secured if necessary, but it appears more daunting than it actually is. The trail continues with many ups and downs, crossing a few streams, winding and climbing, stopping for lunch in the Karanga Valley. After lunch, there will be another 2 – 3 hours of climbing before you reach Barafu Camp (4640m). Tonight, drink plenty of fluids, try to eat, and go to bed early to rest adequately before tomorrow’s summit trek.

Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - You will be awakened in the midnight hours with a cup of tea and a biscuit. Dressed warmly and equipped with a headlight and your daypack, you will set off in the darkness. After 5 – 7 hours of ‘pole pole’, you will reach the rim of the crater, Stella Point. Another one to two hours of slow progress along the crater’s edge will bring you to the summit – Uhuru Peak (5895m). Looking down over the surrounding landscape in the early morning light will make you feel on top of the world. You have now reached the ‘Roof of Africa’. The descent should be easy but dusty, as the volcanic ash will have defrosted. Returning on the same route, you should arrive at Barafu Camp within a few hours, where the porters are waiting with food and tea. After resting for an hour or two, you will continue down to reach Mweka Camp (3080m) for your overnight stay.

Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m)

Mount Kilimanjaro - After breakfast, you will have a traditional farewell ceremony from all your mountain crew. After a short 2 – 3 hours walk through the rainforest, our driver will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate. You will then be transferred back to Keys Hotel for a well-deserved shower, a cold drink, a debrief, and the awarding of your certificate of achievement. The rest of the day is yours to relax and reflect on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

The Machame Route on Kilimanjaro boasts some of the most stunning campsites on the mountain. The sunsets at Shira Camp are spectacular, the stargazing at Barranco Camp is awe-inspiring, and the views from Karanga Camp on a clear day are truly extraordinary.

This route is slightly more challenging due to its steeper ascents and descents, but it is this very challenge that draws trekkers. Many adventurers enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a more demanding path.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.