Early Bird: 9-Day Climbing Kilimanjaro Tour via the Machame Route 2024

Your expert guide will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. You’ll then be taken to your hotel in Moshi city, the second-largest tourism hub of Tanzania and the capital of Kilimanjaro region. Your guide will brief you on what to expect on this tour and make sure you’re prepared.

Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort

Only an hour’s drive from Moshi separates you from beginning your 9-day adventure. After completing some final park formalities, your trip will start at Machame Gate. The first section of the trail involves jungle bashing through Afromontane forests. The path is less worn and it can often be wet and muddy. Your trekking for the day ends at Machame Camp at 10,170 ft (3,100 m), which sits near the border of the rainforest zone and the low alpine zone. Spend the night at the camp.

Accommodation: Machame Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 4-6 hours, 6 miles/ 9 km
Altitude gain: 3,870 ft/ 1,210 m

Your route continues on up through the forest until you reach the steep ascent to the Shira Plateau. Stretching out over 8 miles (13 km), the Shira Plateau is actually a caldera—what you’re seeing today are remains of a volcano boasting deep valleys and weather-beaten lava flows. Looking back, you’ll be able to see Mt Meru, Tanzania’s second highest mountain and a dormant volcano rising high above Arusha town. Your camping spot for the day are the Shira Caves.

Accommodation: Shira Caves
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 4-6 hours, 3 miles/ 5 km
Altitude gain: 2,430 ft/ 740 m

A walk-high-sleep-low day ahead of you! Hiking on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. You’ll traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the monumental Lava Tower in the desert portion of the mountain and finally reach the Western Breach. You’ll spend your day at high altitudes of 15,092 ft (4600 m), but for your night’s sleep descend to the Barranco Camp at 12,795 ft (3,900 m). While it’s a long day, it’s also an opportunity to abide by the mountaineering code in order to aid your body in altitude acclimatization. Spend your night at the Barranco campsite.

Accommodation: Barranco Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 6-7 hours, 6 miles/ 10 km
Altitude gain: 197 ft/ 60 m

Kick of the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. Exit steeply, up what has been termed the Breakfast Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rocks, but not overly technical. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, head towards the Karanga Valley at 13,123 ft (4000 m) for the night.

Accommodation: Karanga Valley
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 4-5 hours, 3 miles/ 5 km
Altitude gain: 328 ft/ 100 m

The day is characterized by a short hike on terrain formed by scree. Hike arid land towards Barafu Camp at 15,092 ft (4,600 m) where you’ll have the entire afternoon to rest before ascending towards the summit. The terrain here is tough—strong winds often rip over this campsite in the desolate alpine desert. However, the far-reaching views of the Mawenzi peak make the struggle worth it. Take your time to rest and save your energy for tomorrow. Spend the night at Barafu Camp.

Accommodation: Barafu Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 2-4 hours, 2.5 miles/ 4 km
Altitude gain: 1,969 ft/ 600 m

Here’s where you get to show what you’re made of! In order to stay away from the heat of the sun as much as possible, depart around midnight and hike steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You’ll be climbing scree for 5-6 hours, but also gain incredible height over a short distance. Arrive to the crater rim at Stella Point as the first rays of sunshine emerge. You’ll be surrounded by ice cliffs within the crater and views of the Mawenzi peak. All that’s left to do is to conquer an hour’s walk to your goal—the summit of Uhuru, meaning freedom, at 19,341 ft (5,895 m). Having climbed the celebratory 4,252 ft (1,296 m), take some photos and begin your descent. Continue going down scree slopes back to Barafu Camp for breakfast before finally heading down to Millennium Camp. Spend the night there for a well-deserved rest and rejoice at your victorious climb!

Accommodation: Millennium Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 6-8 hours, 7.5 miles/ 12 km
Altitude Loss: 948 ft/ 289 m

A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate where park formalities will be completed. You’ll receive your certificate of ascent, courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Drive back to Moshi for a well-deserved shower and a cold beer!

Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 4-5 hours, 6 miles/ 10 km
Altitude loss: 4,462 ft/ 1360 m

Your guides will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport. If you’re planning on staying in Tanzania for a bit longer, you can extend your tour to wildlife safari in the northern circuit to Serengeti and Ngorongoro of Zanzibar, but at an additional cost.

Meals: Breakfast