Quick Summary

Experience the best of 6-Day Kilimanjaro Mountain is a 6 days tour in Tanzania via the Machame route, starting from USD 1500. Below you'll find the latest itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, and how to book.

Duration
6 days

Route
Machame

From
USD 1500

Operator
Kitano Tours & Safaris

ABOUT Experience the best of 6-Day Kilimanjaro Mountain

The Machame route can also be completed in 5 days. On day 3 on the itinerary below, you go directly to Kibo with an overnight at the Arrow Glacier camp, with your final summit attempt on day 4. This is an extremely physically and mentally demanding option, not recommended for the average climber.

Duration: 6 days
Route: Machame
Starts at: USD 1500

Overview

Itinerary

include & exclude

Highlights for Experience the best of 6-Day Kilimanjaro Mountain

Day 1: Arusha, Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame camp (2980m)
Day 2: Machame Camp (2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m)
Day 3: Shira (3840m) – Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) – Barafu camp (4550m)
Day 5: Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Day 6: Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

Itinerary Overview

Day	Title
Day 01	Arusha, Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame camp (2980m)
Day 02	Machame Camp (2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m)
Day 03	Shira (3840m) – Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)
Day 04	Barranco Camp (3950m) – Barafu camp (4550m)
Day 05	Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Day 06	Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

Day 01: Arusha, Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame camp (2980m)

>> Your day starts early with a briefing followed by breakfast and about 1 hour 45-minute drive from Arusha to the Machame village (1490m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can also buy mineral water in the village. Depending on the condition of the road, it is possible to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight are at the camp.

Time: 8-10hrs
Meals: Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 02: Machame Camp (2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m)

>> You will rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Time: 8-10hrs
Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 03: Shira (3840m) – Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)

>> The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about 5 hours of walking. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches.

Time: 8-10hrs
Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 04: Barranco Camp (3950m) – Barafu camp (4550m)

>> After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp.

Time: 8-10hrs
Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 05: Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)

>> You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6 hour walks to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours.

Time: 8-10hrs
Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 06: Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

>> After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch. At the Mweka Gate, meet Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Officials who will give you the Certificate of Achievement. You now drive back to Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations. Extra days Kilimanjaro climb through Machame route can as well be arranged to suit your preferences.