Climb Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m) via The Machame Route
Hike the most scenic route to the ‘Roof of Africa’ – the continent’s highest peak
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with local, certified guides and a support teamHotel & Camping
6 nights camping and 2 nights in a hotelMeals
All meals while on the trek, plus breakfasts at your hotel in MoshiTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenPermits & Porterage
All permits, taxes and licenses; porters to carry your overnight luggage and camping equipment on the trekSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Climb to the summit that's on every adventurer's hit-list: the iconic 5895m peak of Mount Kilimanjaro
Bask in a backdrop of endless scenic vistas on a trail that offers a better chance of success than other, shorter routes
Trek through a variety of ecosystems including rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and beneath glaciated precipices
Fancy adding a safari to your summit? Our alternative trip to Climb Kilimanjaro and Go on Safari does just that
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Tanzania!
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your accommodation at the Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel, where your host will be waiting for you. After meeting your guide for a detailed briefing and equipment check, you can get to know your fellow travellers and then retire for an early night, ready for tomorrow’s adventure.
Day 2
Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame Camp (2835m)
Hiking
Take a 45-minute drive through the mountain village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate where your ascent will begin. Hike through the lush rainforest and along winding trails and learn about the local wildlife, perhaps even spotting a blue monkey or a tree hyrax. Have your gaiters and trekking poles at the ready, as the trail can be muddy and slippery at the lower elevations. Reach your campsite, settle in and enjoy your first night on the trek.
Day 3
Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Camp (3750m)
Hiking
Leave the rainforest behind you and take the ascending path through the valley and along a steep rocky ridge. From here, the route turns west into a river gorge which you will follow all the way up to Shira Camp. Drop off your daypack in your tent and climb the slope above camp for dramatic views over the surrounding plateau and the alpine landscape that awaits you next.
Day 4
Shira Camp (3750m) to Barranco Camp (3900m), via Lava Tower
Hiking
Spend the day acclimatising as you continue the route along the alpine desert of the Shira Plateau. Hike east towards Kibo’s glaciated peak, then southeast towards Lava Tower (also known as the Shark's Tooth) at 4600m. You'll stop for lunch here to aid with acclimatisation before continuing your trek through moorland dotted with Giant Senecio trees, descending slightly to your overnight camp at Barranco where you'll have a hearty dinner and a good night’s rest.
Day 5
Barranco Camp (3900m) to Karanga Camp (3995m), via the Barranco Wall
Hiking
Today is another important acclimatisation and contingency day to boost your chances of summit success. After breakfast, follow a steep ridge to the base of the Barranco Wall. This is a challenge both physically and mentally, as the wall appears higher than its 257m. Slow and deliberate steps are the trick to an easier scramble to the top (most hikers find it easier than anticipated, so fear not!). At the top, look out over the Heim Glacier and then wind up and down the Karanga Valley to reach your base for the night.
Day 6
Karanga Camp (3995m) to Barafu Camp (4673m)
Hiking
Follow a short but steep trail through the ever-thinning air to Barafu Camp – your last stop before summit day. This camp is located on a rocky and exposed ridge, 'barafu' means 'ice' in Swahili. Have an early dinner, get yourself ready for the summit push in the morning and get some sleep. Nearly there!
Day 7
Summit day
Hiking
Set off in the dead of night to begin the most physically and mentally challenging part of the trek. With head torches on, ascend slowly through heavy scree towards Stella Point (5756m) on the crater rim, followed by a further ascent to Uhuru Peak (5895m) – the highest peak on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in the whole of Africa and possibly your greatest trekking accomplishment. After a rest and some photographs, begin the long descent over dusty terrain forged by volcanic ash, eventually dropping back down into moorland as you reach Millenium Camp (3800m) for a well-deserved rest.
Day 8
Descend from Millenium Camp (3800m) to Mweka Gate
Hiking
Continue your descent to the Mweka Park Gate through lush forest – eyes peeled for fluffy black and white colobus monkeys as you reach the lower elevations. The weather here will be significantly warmer making the terrain wet and muddy so have your gaiters and trekking poles handy. When you reach the park gate, you’ll collect your summit certificate before driving back to your hotel in Moshi where you can enjoy a hot shower and celebrate your adventure. Following your trek, there will be a tipping ceremony for the crew who helped you to scale the mountain – please see the FAQs below for more information on this important local custom.
Day 9
Time to head home
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast to mark the end of a remarkable trip and then head back to the airport, or continue your adventure in Tanzania.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Kilimanjaro Airport
Any time on Day 1
Ends
Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel in Moshi or Kilimanjaro Airport
Any time on Day 9
Transfers
Your adventure begins at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) where your driver will be waiting for you outside the Arrivals area. Alternatively, if you’re already in Tanzania, your host can arrange a pick-up from any point upon request (not included). Your adventure ends with an overnight stay at the Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel in Moshi; from here you may decide to continue your adventure in Tanzania or ask your host to arrange an airport transfer for any flight departing that day. The airport transfer takes around an hour.
Airport transfers are included in the price if you arrive on Day 1 and depart on Day 9. For those arriving early or wanting to stay on longer, extra nights at the hotels and airport transfers can be arranged with your host at an additional cost. Please see Optional Extras for more information.
Travel options
There are frequent flights to Kilimanjaro (JRO) from major airports across the UK and Europe.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Throughout your trip, a team of experienced chefs will cook and serve you nutritious meals. Breakfast will usually be some combination of fruit, cereal, porridge, eggs, bread, French toast, pancakes, sausage, bacon, tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Lunch will be a mix of vegetables, fruit, boiled egg, meat cutlets, various sandwich options (egg/cheese/tomato/tuna/meat/peanut butter), macaroni and meat sauce and bread. Dinner, meanwhile, will usually consist of soup, bread, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, roast or fried chicken, beef or fish, curry, mixed vegetables, lentils, fruit salad and fruit with custard. On summit night, you’ll enjoy a midnight snack with juice, soup, hot chocolate, tea or coffee and biscuits, and when you return to base camp, a nice meal will be waiting as a reward all your hard work. If you have any special dietary requests, let your host know in advance and they will do their best to accommodate them. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be fully catered for.
What is the accommodation like?
Moshi
You'll spend your first and last nights of the trip in a twin-share room at Weru Weru River Lodge, located on the quiet outskirts of Moshi Town around 30km from the airport. Rooms are modern and comfortable with ensuite bathrooms and free WiFi. Some departures also use the Panama Garden Resort located more centrally in Moshi.
Along the Machame Route
During the trek, you will camp at a number of sites along the Machame Route in twin-share tents, with camping and cooking equipment provided (you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag, or hire one, though). You'll also have a mess tent where you'll be served all your meals, and a toilet tent used only by your group. Your team of porters will set up and break down camp for you each day, allowing you to save your energy for the trek.
Upgrades
For solo travellers wanting their own space, there is the option to upgrade to a private room or tent if you would like to do so, subject to availability. See Optional Extras for prices.
This trip has been rated as Challenging
Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t a technical climb and anyone with reasonable fitness should be capable of summiting it as long as they are prepared and determined. However, this doesn't mean it is easy: the main challenge is the high altitude, therefore a slow pace is recommended when ascending.
It's possible to climb Mount Kilimanjaro all year round, however, the months outside of the rainy seasons are more desirable. The best climbing months are from December to March and July to October. The best weather is usually at the beginning of the year from January to March, which are also typically the warmest and driest months. Thanks to Tanzania’s proximity to the equator, the region doesn’t typically experience the extremes of winter and summer weather you might expect and instead has dry and wet seasons. The local weather conditions on Kilimanjaro can be somewhat unpredictable (to say the least) and rainfall varies from 2100mm per year in the rainforest belt to less than 120mm per year in the summit zone. Daily temperature changes are also unpredictable when compared to normal weather cycles, and are largely dependent on the altitude.
Must Do
Excellent climb and really well-organised. The team couldn't have done much more for me so I felt safe (and well-fed!) at all times. Very flexible to my requirements - I managed to shave 2 days off the total time of the trek and get it done quicker. Overall a must-do adventure, challenging at times but achievable to anyone.
Kilimanjaro Mechame 2024
I need to tell everyone that this was a superbly organised and executed adventure. Iza run the team and catered for every need and change. Nothing was too much trouble from transfers to food requirements. Hussain was the team leader on the mountain and he delivered 100% in every way and got our group of 9 acclimatised. We all submitted. The guides, David, Schaffi were amazing and became friends. My tent porter Amosi was the most amazing person you would ever meet. We had 32 staff to 9 climbers. I can't recommend this trip with these guys any more passionately. It was perfect in every respect.
Mt Kilimanjaro
Fabulous trip and so well organised
Great Adventure, Great Team!
The team behind this trip was amazing and did their best to give everyone a great experience and to male it up the mountain. We all succeeded - but would not have done so without the great support from the local team. Beautiful scenery, good food and a lot of sweat, tears and joy. Glad I did it!
Harder than you think
What an amazing experience but it's harder than you think. We did the Everest base camp tour and this was far harder we really had to push our limits. But with a great team behind us helping us, checking our health and pushing us to keep going we made it to the top. The team or porters and guides were great kept us fed healthy and well hydrated. So happy when they provided a hot water bottle when we got higher as it got so cold. Tanzania was amazing and I'd recommend going on the safari after, then we went to Zanzibar had a few days on the Southwest chartered yacht (highly recommend) and a week relaxing on the beach. Overall this was an excellent trip.
Amazing Experience!
We absolutely loved our experience! The crew was amazing and took great care of us! Recommend that you ask for Hussan and Coleman as guides when you book. This was a bucket list experience for us and fully lived up to our expectations!
The trip from the get
The trip from the get go way amazing the team are very Knowledgeable and friendly and you can obviously see they are very passionate about what they do and where they work. Our lead guide Andrew is obviously a very well known and respect guide on the mountain with a wealth off knowledge and Curiosity we spent most off the trip talking and exchanged conversations about our cultures amd lifes he was also very careing for kili fighters/ porter's haveing stopped a few time to check on some from other groups and giveing frist aid to one injued porter. The food tasted amazing and was in Plentiful supply though out the trip. The whole crew wanted nothing more then us to have a Successful summit and celebrate with us once we have summited. Over all the hike isn't hard but the last day off climbing you do need to lock in mentally to push though the cold and the dark and lack off air but it is well worth it once you reach the top.
Perfect
The whole team were amazing. Great atmosphere hard work. Thanks