Get ready for the start of your amazing Kilimanjaro Machame Route journey! You’ll receive a warm welcome at the airport by our driver and be transported in comfort to your hotel in Arusha. After settling down, you’ll gather for a group orientation session. Our expert team leaders will guide you through the important details of your route and offer advice for a successful trek. Your hiking gear will then be inspected and adjusted if necessary. The rest of the day is spent preparing for your life-changing journey.

Elevation Gain: 1,200 meters (3,935 feet) Walking Time: 6-7 hours Distance: 9km

After waking up to a warm hotel breakfast, you’ll depart Arusha for the Machame Gate, the start of numerous Kilimanjaro climbing routes. The 1:30minute journey will take scenic turns off the beaten path, traversing coffee plantations and traditional local villages. After reaching the park gate, our team will assemble all your gear while you register with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities.

Meet and get to know the rest of your support team, including our friendly chefs. Then begins your first trekking experience to Machame Camp. Here you’ll venture across spectacular terrain, including tropical rainforests and grasslands. Catch glimpses of wild animals and exotic plant species as you move through moss-covered forest underpasses. Travel into drier terrain surrounded by high grasses and fields of sprouting wildflowers. You’ll then stop and admire a view of Mount Kilimanjaro’s mighty summit, Kibo Peak. All the while, your porters and cooks prepare the camp ready for your arrival.

Elevation Gain: 840 meters (2,760 feet) Walking Time: 4-6 hours Distance: 7km

You’ll wake up on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro awaiting the most spectacular stretch of your journey so far. Gather your gear, including plenty of water, and set off on an exposed trail where you’ll soak up plenty of sun. Sudden shifts in the scenery will make you catch your breath: a panorama of lush forest canopies towering above, vast golden savannah plains below, and a sight of the jagged volcanic peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. You’ll also have gradual exposure to increasingly higher altitudes to help with the acclimatization process. After lunch, you’ll climb the lava-filled Shira Plateau then hike through arid pathways. Watch for the shrinking vegetation the higher you ascend Kilimanjaro, including the exotic Lobelia Deckenii and the Scenecio dwarf shrub. Finish the day at Shira Camp where you’ll rest and recuperate for the next part of your exciting journey.

Now more than halfway through one of the best Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes, you’ll encounter the most varied and rewarding stretch so far. Get ready for a hike eastwards towards the gorgeous Shira Plateau along ever-steeper terrain. The highlight of your day will be the approach towards Lava Tower, an incredible 300 ft tall volcanic plug that transforms into a looming passageway. Then you’ll take a rapid descent towards the Barranco campsite, famous for being the most scenic one on the route. You’ll set up for the night surrounded by massive valley walls and the stunning Kibo massif. View spectacular glaciers draped with sunlight while you enjoy a hot, steaming meal.

Elevation Gain: 650 meters (2,140 feet) Walking Time: 7-8 hours Distance: 8km

The day before your final ascent is filled with thrilling exploration and adventure. Start the morning with an invigorating 90-minute climb up Barranco Wall, also known as the Breakfast Wall, and down into the gorgeous green territories of the Karanga Valley. Survey spectacular vistas of bleached glaciers and gleaming shards of light then journey near the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. As the bronzed peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks come into view, you’ll stop and have an energy-dense dinner in preparation for the upcoming push to the summit.

At midnight, you’ll rise to begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point. Journey amid gleaming glaciers to Stella Point while the sun rises, illuminating the amazing peaks of the summit. Savor the final hours of your unforgettable journey before reaching Uhuru Peak, your final destination. Standing on the rooftop of Africa, you’ll be filled with a sense of exhilaration looking down over the swirling cloudscape and oceans of ice. Celebrate with your team and soak in the atmosphere before returning to Barafu Camp for a hot, steaming breakfast. The day ends with your arrival at Mweka Camp, where you’ll spend the night lying beneath the stars.

Wake up on your last day on the mountain rested and triumphant—you’ve just conquered Mount Kilimanjaro! After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll stroll towards Mweka Gate through gorgeous forest scenery draped in cloud and mist. Shana Kilimanjaro Tours vehicle will be there to transport you back to Arusha where a hot shower, soft mattress and fresh set of clothes await.

Today we will take you to Kilimanjaro Airport, from where you will embark on your flight home. If you’ve chosen to participate in a Safari or Zanzibar, well that’s a different adventure and we’ll take care of that too!