9 Days Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route Trekking

9 Days Mount Kilimanjaro trekking via Machame route is one of the most popular routes on Mt Kilimanjaro. From a professional point of view, 53% of climbers to Kilimanjaro use the Machame Route to ascend Kilimanjaro. The route is very scenic and offers hikers with incredible views and varying landscapes. Hikers need to be physically fit if they intend to use the Machame route because it is relatively difficult and climbers have to ascend the Barranco wall on the fourth day and contend with a steep incline up Kibo on summit night.

9 Days Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route Trekking highlight

• Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
• Day 2: Arusha – Machame Gate (1790 m) – Machame Camp (3020 m) approx 6 hours hike
• Day 3: Machame Camp (3010 m) to Shira Camp (3845 m) – approx 6 hours hike
• Day 4: New Shira Camp (3845 m) – Lava Tower (4640 m) – Barranco Camp (3960 m) – approx 7 hours
• Day 5: Barranco Camp (3960 m) – Karanga Camp (4035 m)
• Day 6: Karanga Camp (3960 meters) to Barafu Camp (4680m)
• Day 7: Barafu Camp (4680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3100 meters)
• Day 8: Mweka Camp (3100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1640 meters)
• Day 9: Arusha to the Airport

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at the airport (Kilimanjaro international airport-JRO or Arusha airport-ARK), you will be met by your personal driver-guide or representative and drive you to your accommodation in Arusha for an overnight stay waiting for your adventures to start on the following day. Dinner and overnight stay at Ilboru Safari Lodge

Day 2: Arusha – Machame Gate (1790 m) – Machame Camp (3020 m) approx 6 hours hike

After breakfast, we will be driven together with the crew to the entrance gate of Kilimanjaro National Park, to the Machame Gate to fully explore your 9 Days Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route Trekking. While our guide is busy with the registration forms, we can watch our mountain team/crew prepare for the ascent and pack their bags. As soon as the registration is done and the team is prepared, our Kilimanjaro adventure begins. In a very short time, we are deep in the beautiful rainforest with old trees, ancient ferns, lianas, lichens, and mosses that gently cover the ground and hang down from the trees. With a bit of luck, you will even be able to admire the beautiful black and white Colobus monkeys in the treetops. After 5 to 6 hours we reach today’s destination – the Machame camp, which is located just above the tree line at 3,020 m. Here, at the foot of Kilimanjaro, we have our first dinner, followed by an overnight stay in tents.

• Distance: 11km / 7 miles
• Trekking time: 5-7 hours
• Zone: Rainforest.

Accommodation: Machame Camp

Day 3: Machame Camp (3010 m) to Shira Camp (3845 m) – approx 6 hours hike

After an early morning start, the path steepens and the vegetation changes into a moorland with shrubs such as hardy Ericas. Today’s stage is shorter than the previous day and by mid-afternoon, you will arrive at the campsite at the Shira Plateau. From the camp, you will have breath-taking views of the mountain and evening light on the rock face and glacier of Kibo as the sunsets. It is believed that the first volcanic activity began around 1 million years ago.

• Distance: ~5km / 3 miles
• Trekking time: 4-6 hours
• Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone.
• Accommodation: Shira Camp

Day 4: New Shira Camp (3845 m) – Lava Tower (4640 m) – Barranco Camp (3960 m) – approx 7 hours

Day three is a long and tough trek East off the Shira Plateau through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’, up to Lava Tower and the Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters and then back down via the Southern Circuit (see map above) to Barranco Camp (3,900 meters).

The route is approximately 11km / 7 miles in length and takes 5-7 hours to complete.

Although you end the day at a very similar elevation to when you started from Shira Camp, it is arguably one of the most important days on your trek as it gives you a chance to climb high and sleep low which is important for proper acclimatization.

• Distance: 11km / 7 miles
• Trekking time: 5-7 hours
• Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone.
• Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Day 5: Barranco Camp (3960 m) – Karanga Camp (4035 m)

Just after breakfast, we concur on the famous Barranco Wall. You might need your hands once in a while for better grip, but with that being said, there are no climbing passages, and as safety is very important please listen to our guides who will ensure you get to the top safely. There will be a lot of ascents and descents today followed by a walk along the mountain ridge. This will reward you will a great view of the glacier of Kibo. Walking time today will be 3 – 4 hours with the Kibo summit all the time on your left accompanying you to your camp for the night.

• Distance: 7km / 5 miles
• Trekking time: 7 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone.
• Accommodation: Karanga Camp

Day 6: Karanga Camp (3960 meters) to Barafu Camp (4680m)

Barafu Camp is our destination for today and will be reached after 3-4 hours. Most of this time you will be walking through the moon-like alpine dessert. After a satisfying dinner, you will have an early night and a good rest. The highlight of your trip is now only some hours away.

• Distance: 6km / 4 miles
• Trekking time: 3 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone.

Accommodation: Barafu Camp

Day 7: Barafu Camp (4680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3100 meters)

The climb will start at midnight. You will be woken up just before that to have some tea and biscuits. Around 5 – 7 hours later you will reach Stella Point which is the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. After another 1 – 2 hours you will reach Uhuru Peak at a height of 5895 m. This is truly a magnificent sight standing on top of Africa’s Highest Mountain watching the sunrise. This view will be one to remember and will make every minute of the last couple of days of trekking worth your while. You will descent along the same way back to Barafu Camp which you will reach after 1 – 2 hours. The rest of the mountain team will be there waiting for you with some well deserved snacks and refreshments. You will rest for an hour or two before making your way to Mweka Camp where you will spend your last night on the mountain.

• Distance: 4.5km / 3 miles ascent and then 11km / 7 mile descent
• Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours to Mweka
• Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones.

Accommodation: Mweka Camp

Day 8: Mweka Camp (3100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1640 meters)

Day seven is the final day of trekking on the Machame Route. By now you will be exhausted and probably only thinking about a hot shower. The trek is a pleasant one through the lower rain-forested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters).

Although you cover 9km / 5.5 miles, the trek only takes 3-4 hours. Assuming you successfully reach Stella Point or Uhuru Peak you will be presented with official certificates – a green certificate for the former and a gold certificate for the latter.

It is customary to tip your trekking crew before being transported back to your hotel in Arusha.

• Distance: 9km / 5.5 miles
• Trekking time: 3-5 hours
• Zone: Rainforest.

Accommodation: Ilboru Safari Lodge

Day 9: Arusha to the Airport

Early morning after breakfast and further relaxation at the hotel, we drive straight to the airport to end your 9 Days Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route Trekking

Included

• Porterage
• Rescue fee
• Park fees
• All activities
• All accommodation
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Meals
• Drinking water

Excluded

• Climbing gear
• International flights
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips
• Personal items
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
• Some meals