6-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Itinerary
Distances, elevations and walking times below are approximate. Weather, trail conditions, group pace, park procedures and guide safety decisions can change the timing of each day.
Day 1: Machame Gate (1,811 m) to Machame Camp (3,021 m)
After breakfast, we transfer from the Moshi area to Machame Gate, normally around 45 minutes to about one hour depending on traffic and your starting point. After park registration and crew preparations, the trek begins through the rainforest toward Machame Camp.
The trail can be wet or muddy, especially in the forest, so keep rain gear accessible and walk at the pace set by your guide.
- Approximate distance: 10.7 km
- Approximate walking time: 5–7 hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Overnight: Machame Camp
Day 2: Machame Camp (3,021 m) to Shira Camp (3,839 m)
After breakfast, you leave the forest and climb into moorland. The trail follows steeper ground and rocky ridges toward the Shira Plateau area. Temperatures generally become cooler as elevation increases.
- Approximate distance: 5.3 km
- Approximate walking time: 4–5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Overnight: Shira Camp
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower, then Barranco Camp (about 3,986 m)
You climb toward the Lava Tower area at roughly 4,600 m before descending to Barranco Camp. The higher daytime exposure followed by sleeping lower is an important acclimatization feature of the Machame Route.
Tell your guide immediately about headache, nausea, dizziness, unusual fatigue or other symptoms rather than trying to hide them.
- High point: Lava Tower area, about 4,600 m
- Sleep altitude: Barranco Camp, about 3,986 m
- Approximate distance: 10.75 km
- Approximate walking time: 5–7 hours
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp via Karanga
After breakfast, the route climbs the Barranco Wall and continues through the Karanga Valley before ascending toward Barafu Camp. There is no technical rock climbing, but the wall involves steep hands-and-feet movement and requires concentration.
At Barafu, the focus shifts to food, hydration, warm clothing, final equipment checks and rest before the summit attempt begins late at night.
- Approximate Barafu altitude: about 4,662 m
- Approximate distance: 8.5 km
- Approximate walking time: 6–8 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 5: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), then Descend to Mweka Camp
The summit attempt normally begins around midnight. You climb slowly toward Stella Point on the crater rim and, if your health, weather and your guide's safety assessment allow, continue to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m. The summit is the objective, but it is not guaranteed.
After the summit attempt, you descend to Barafu for a short rest and continue lower to Mweka Camp. This is the longest and most demanding day, so warmth, hydration, pacing and honest symptom reporting are critical.
- Summit altitude: 5,895 m
- Approximate ascent distance: about 4.9 km
- Approximate descent distance: about 13 km to Mweka Camp
- Overnight: Mweka Camp, around 3,106 m
Day 6: Mweka Camp (about 3,106 m) to Mweka Gate (about 1,633 m)
After breakfast, you descend through the rainforest toward Mweka Gate. Lower sections can be wet and muddy. Park exit formalities are completed at the gate, and certificates are issued according to the point reached.
Our vehicle then transfers you from the gate to the agreed Moshi-area drop-off point.
- Approximate distance: 9.1 km
- Approximate walking time: 3–4 hours
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Transfer: Mweka Gate to agreed Moshi-area drop-off