6 Days 5 Nights Mount Kilimanjaro – Machame Route

Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and meet your guide and driver. Transfer to your lodge in Moshi or Arusha, located at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Settle in, check your equipment, and meet your head guide for a briefing on safety, route, and altitude precautions. This is your opportunity to prepare mentally and physically for the climb. Enjoy dinner and rest early to be ready for the trek starting the next morning.

Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Camp (3,010 m)

After breakfast, drive to Machame Gate for registration with Kilimanjaro National Park officials. Meet the porters and start trekking through dense rainforest filled with tall trees, moss, and occasional wildlife such as monkeys and exotic birds. The trail is gradually ascending, muddy in some areas, and shaded. Expect to trek for 5–6 hours covering approximately 9 km. Arrive at Machame Camp, settle into your tent, enjoy a warm meal, and spend the evening resting and acclimatizing.

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3,840 m)

Wake up to morning views of the rainforest before leaving the forest zone. The trail ascends through moorland and heather, offering panoramic views of the Shira Plateau and surrounding valleys. You will notice the vegetation thinning as altitude increases, and the air becoming cooler and drier. Trek for about 5–6 hours, covering 5–7 km, to reach Shira Camp. Spend the afternoon exploring the plateau, hydrating, and resting to allow your body to acclimatize to higher altitude. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (3,950 m)
Trek across the Shira Plateau with spectacular volcanic formations. Continue to Lava Tower (4,600 m) for acclimatization and lunch. Afterward, descend into the scenic Barranco Valley, surrounded by towering cliffs and giant Senecio trees. The descent helps your body adapt to altitude changes. Arrive at Barranco Camp after approximately 6–7 hours of trekking. Enjoy dinner and prepare for the climb over Barranco Wall the following day.

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,035 m)

Start early by climbing the famous Barranco Wall, a vertical rock face that is challenging but manageable. From the top, enjoy expansive views of valleys and glaciers. Continue trekking along ridges and valleys through alpine desert landscapes toward Karanga Camp. The hike is around 4–5 hours, allowing for proper acclimatization. Spend the afternoon relaxing, hydrating, and preparing mentally for the summit climb. Overnight in tents.

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak – Mweka Gate

Trek from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,640 m) in preparation for the summit. Have an early dinner and rest, as the summit push begins around midnight. Climb through steep scree toward Stella Point and then continue to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), Africa’s highest point, in time for sunrise. Celebrate your achievement and enjoy the breathtaking views of the continent. Begin descending via Barafu Camp to Mweka Gate. Sign out, receive your summit certificate, and transfer back to your lodge for a shower, rest, and celebration.