7 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing- Machame Route

Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft

Distance: 11 km/7 miles

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest

About 50 minutes are needed for the travel from Moshi to the Machame Gate. The settlement of Machame, which is situated on the mountain's lower slopes, is traversed throughout the route. We leave the park gate and ascend a meandering trail through a thick rainforest until we reach the Machame Camp.

At the southern end of the mountain sits the Machame gate, one of the entrances to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. The gate is made up of administrative buildings for the park's management and serves as the official starting point for all climbers of Mount Kilimanjaro who take the Machame Route to the mountain's summit.

Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft

Distance: 5 km/3 miles

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Heath

We leave the glades of the rainforest and proceed up a route that climbs to a rocky, high ridge. We go over broad moorlands and heather on the Shira Plateau before crossing a sizable river gorge to reach Shira 2 Camp.

Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft

Distance: 7 km/4 miles

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft

Distance: 3 km/2 miles

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

We continue eastward along a ridge before turning southeastward in the direction of the 300-foot-tall Lava Tower, a volcanic rock formation. We drop to an elevation of 13,000 feet before entering the unusual but lovely Senecio Forest. The time spent at a higher altitude is quite helpful for acclimatization even when you start and end the day at the same elevation.

Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft

Distance: 5 km/3 miles

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

We start the day by making our way down a gully to the Great Barranco Wall's base. Then we up the approximately 900-foot cliff, which is not technically difficult. We travel through a number of hills and valleys after leaving the top of the Barranco Wall before making a sudden turn into the Karanga Valley. We have one more tough ascent before we reach Karanga Camp. A shorter day for acclimatization, today.

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft

Distance: 4 km/2 miles

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

After leaving Karanga, we arrive at the intersection where the Mweka Trail joins it. We keep going up the steep slope to Barafu Hut. You have now finished the Southern Circuit, which provides views of the peak from a variety of positions. We set up camp here, take a nap, and eat a leisurely dinner before the summit day. From here, one can see Mawenzi and Kibo, the two summits.

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft

Distance: 5 km/3 miles

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours

Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft

Distance: 12 km/7 miles

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest

We start the ascent very early in the morning (about midnight). The hardest part of the walk both physically and mentally is this section. At this altitude and time of day, the wind and cold can be very strong. We climb in the dark for several hours, stopping frequently but only briefly. You will be rewarded with the most breathtaking sunrise you are ever likely to see approaching Mawenzi Peak close to Stella Point (18,900 feet). Finally, we reach Uhuru Peak, which is both Mount Kilimanjaro's and Africa's highest point.

We now begin our descent from the summit, going straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite while pausing at Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles are helpful because the terrain is fairly rocky and can be quite taxing on the knees. Due to its location in the upper forest, Mweka Camp may experience late-afternoon mist or rain. We have our final meal on the mountain later in the evening before a well-earned rest.

Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft

Distance: 10 km/6 miles

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest

We continue the descent to Mweka Gate on our final day, where we pick up the summit certificates. It could be muddy and damp at lower altitudes. We go another hour to Mweka Village from the gate. At Mweka Village, a car will be waiting to take us back to the hotel in Moshi.