7 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking via Machame Route.

Starting early in the morning, your day begins with a briefing, followed by breakfast. Afterward, you will be driven for about 45 minutes from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate, where you will register at the gate office. From there, you will start your hike to Machame Camp (3010m) through the rainforest, covering a distance of approximately 11 km in 6-7 hours. You will receive a lunch pack at the gate, and you can also drink bottled water that you bought at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. However, please note that there is a high probability of rain in the forest, which can make the trail very soggy, muddy, and slippery. In the evening, the porters will boil drinking and washing water, and the cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. It is important to note that night temperatures at Machame camp can be freezing, so please come prepared.

You will start your journey from Machame Camp (3010) to Shira Camp (3840) by waking up early and having breakfast. Then, you will climb for about an hour to reach the top of the forest. After that, you will hike for 2 hours through the moorland zone, which will be less steep. You will take a short break for lunch and rest before continuing to climb up a rocky ridge to reach the Shira plateau. From there, you will be able to see the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers towards the east. At this point, you will be directly west of Kibo. After a short hike, you will finally reach the Shira Camp located at an altitude of 3,840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water for you before serving dinner. However, the night at this exposed camp will be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping below freezing.

The distance from Shira Camp (3840) to Barranco Camp (3960) is about 15 km. The route takes you towards the east, through a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. After around 5 hours of walking, you'll reach an altitude of 4630m. Lunch will be served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower. This is typically the toughest day of the trek. At this point, some climbers may start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches for the first time. After lunch, you'll descend almost 680m to the Barranco camping area. This descent takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities for taking beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower. The camp is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which will provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner to be prepared and spend the night at Barranco Camp.

Start the day with a climb up the Barranco Wall, followed by a trek through valleys and ridges to Karanga Camp. Enjoy stunning views of the southern glacier of Kibo from the campsite. Total trekking time is approximately 4-5 hours.

The tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge, completely exposed to the ever-present gales. To avoid any accidents, it is important to familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark. The summit is located 1345m above and you will make the final ascent on the same night. It is crucial to prepare your equipment, including your ski stick and thermal clothing, for the summit attempt. This should also include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries, and carrying a spare set as well. To prevent freezing, it is advisable to carry your water in a thermal flask. It is recommended that you go to bed at around 19h00 and try to get some restful sleep for no more than 5 hours.

From Barafu Camp (4640m), you will trek towards Uhuru Peak (5895m), covering a distance of about 17km and climbing a height of 3090m. The trek begins at midnight in a northwesterly direction up the southeast valley towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour long walk can be a physically and mentally demanding challenge, with the steep face just below Stella Point being the ultimate test. The amount of time you spend on the summit depends on the weather and wind conditions. After reaching the summit, the walk back to Mweka Camp can take over 7 hours.

After breakfast, you will continue your descent from the Mweka Gate into the Mweka village. The walk may be long and muddy, taking up to an hour to complete. Once you reach the village, you will be driven to the Springlands Hotel where you can enjoy a delicious hot lunch and take a much-needed hot shower. You will spend the night at the Springlands Hotel. It's customary to tip your guide at the end of the trip, and tips can be given directly to them at the Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers are awarded their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) will receive green certificates, while those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) will receive gold certificates.