Machame Route
Kilimanjaro Trekking
Destinations: Machame Gate, Machame Camp, Shira Camp, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Uhuru Peak, Mweka Camp
Style: Mountain Trekking
Overview
The Machame Route is renowned for its stunning scenery and varied ecosystems, making it one of the most popular and rewarding paths to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Day by day
Full Itinerary
Day 1:
Machame Gate (1,800 m) → Machame Camp (2,835 m)
Terrain & Vegetation: Trek through dense rainforest rich in wildlife, including monkeys and numerous bird species. Expect waterfalls and thick vegetation along the trail.
Climate: Warm, humid, with a likelihood of rain during the wet season.
Camp: Machame Camp is situated on a grassy plateau surrounded by forest, offering rustic but scenic tented accommodations.
- Distance: ~10 km (6.2 miles)
- Trekking Time: 5–7 hours
- Altitude Gain: 1,035 m
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Machame Camp
Day 2:
Machame Camp (2,835 m) → Shira Camp (3,750 m)
Terrain & Vegetation: Transition from lush rainforest to open moorland dotted with giant lobelias and heath plants.
Climate: Cooler and drier than Day 1, with typically clearer skies.
Camp: Shira Camp offers panoramic views over the vast Shira Plateau with tents pitched in open moorland.
- Distance: ~5 km (3.1 miles)
- Trekking Time: 4–5 hours
- Altitude Gain: 915 m
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Campsite
Day 3:
Shira Camp (3,750 m) → Barranco Camp (3,900 m)
Terrain: Rocky trails crossing the Shira Plateau before descending slightly into Barranco Valley.
Climate: Alpine desert conditions prevail — cold with potential strong winds.
Camp: Barranco Camp is nestled at the base of the iconic Barranco Wall, providing spectacular valley views.
- Distance: ~10 km (6.2 miles)
- Trekking Time: 6–8 hours
- Altitude Gain: Approx. 150 m, with some undulating terrain
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4:
Barranco Camp (3,900 m) → Karanga Camp (4,000 m)
Terrain: Involves scrambling up the steep but non-technical Barranco Wall, followed by ridge walking and descending into the Karanga Valley.
Climate: Cold, dry, and frequently windy alpine desert conditions.
Camp: Karanga Camp is a small, sheltered campsite surrounded by rocky cliffs and alpine desert flora.
- Distance: ~5 km (3.1 miles)
- Trekking Time: 4–5 hours
- Altitude Gain: 100 m
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5:
Karanga Camp (4,000 m) → Barafu Camp (4,673 m)
Terrain: Rocky alpine desert with sparse vegetation and panoramic mountain views.
Climate: Very cold, with strong winds; nighttime temperatures can approach freezing.
Camp: Barafu Camp serves as the high camp before the summit push, offering basic tented accommodation amid harsh conditions.
- Distance: ~5 km (3.1 miles)
- Trekking Time: 4–6 hours
- Altitude Gain: 673 m
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6:
Barafu Camp (4,673 m) → Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) → Mweka Camp (3,100 m)
Terrain: Steep scree and rocky slopes to the summit, followed by descent through alpine desert, moorland, and rainforest zones.
Climate: Summit conditions are freezing, with possible snow and high winds; descent zones gradually warm.
Camp: Mweka Camp is located in forested terrain offering more comfortable conditions and a much-needed rest after summit day.
- Distance: ~6 km (3.7 miles) ascent + ~17 km (10.6 miles) descent
- Trekking Time: 7–10 hours ascent, followed by 4–6 hours descent
- Altitude Gain & Loss: 1,222 m ascent to summit, then 2,795 m descent to Mweka Camp
Accommodation:
Campsite
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7:
Mweka Camp (3,100 m) → Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
Terrain: Mostly descending forest trail, steep in parts, leading to the park exit gate.
Climate: Warm and humid at lower elevations.
Finish: Celebrate your accomplishment with a certificate ceremony at Mweka Gate, then transfer back to Moshi or Arusha.
- Distance: ~10 km (6.2 miles)
- Trekking Time: 3–4 hours
- Altitude Loss: 1,460 m
Meals:
Breakfast,
Price per Person
on request
This trip can be tailored to your preferences.
Traveling with a large group? We've got you covered.
We can tailor the trip to suit your specific needs.
We can adjust the trip to match your budget.
What to know before climbing Kilimanjaro.
Excellent rating
Based on 122 reviews
- Tripadvisor
omar75
Solo
After a lot of research and contacting multiple operators for a Kilimanjaro trek, I settled on African Zoom. I found them via the Forbes Kilimanjaro glamping article. I found other operators by internet search and others by youtube fame. Maggie was my main point of contact throughout. She was always responsive and very helpful.
omar75
Solo
The price was reasonable compared to some of the outrageous prices with some of the “luxury” operators. But I would say we had enough comfort to make the adventure as comfortable as being in the harsh environment of a mountain as can be.
Our guides Godluck and Gabriel were great, our cook papa john!
omar75
Solo
After a lot of research and contacting multiple operators for a Kilimanjaro trek, I settled on African Zoom. I found them via the Forbes Kilimanjaro glamping article. I found other operators by internet search and others by youtube fame. Maggie was my main point of contact throughout. She was always responsive and very helpful. My friend and I ended up deciding on a private adventure each with a private tent. The price was reasonable compared to some of the outrageous prices with some of the “luxury” operators. But I would say we had enough comfort to make the adventure as comfortable as being in the harsh environment of a mountain as can be.
Our guides Godluck and Gabriel were great, our cook papa john! Cooked amazing meals and I absolutely can’t say enough about the porters. If you ever decide to go to Kilimanjaro you will see that the porters are a special kind of people.
We had an airport to airport trip. We were picked up by our main guide from the airport and taken to a nice 4 star hotel in Arusha. Godluck checked us in and came next day to take us in a tour in the city. We realized we have a day that we can go for a safari in. Maggie made that happen with one day notice. We spent a day in Terngeri saying all kinds of animals. It is not the Serengeti but we had a one day so we can’t complain.
We did an 8 day Lemosho climb. On the mountain we had 3 meals and a snack. The meals were excellent, the nightly briefing for next day was accurate and what we needed. We summitted successfully on day 7 and were out of the gate back to the hotel day 8. It was the most out of ordinary thing I’ve done in my life and African Zoom made it happen. I won’t hesitate to recommend them to any of my friends.
It is difficult to find reviewes for Kilimanjaro Climb operators on trip advisor, google reviews and others, I am not sure why.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
Our Trekking Packages
Our safari packages are crafted with care to suit different interests, travel styles, and durations—whether you’re here for the thrill of the great migration, a romantic escape, or a professional photography adventure.
Lemosho Route
8 Days | 7 Night
Machame Route
7 Days | 6 Night
Marangu Route
6 Days | 5 Night
