The Machame Route 6 & 7 Days
Here’s a 6 or 7-day Machame Route itinerary for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, a wildly popular route thanks to its jaw-dropping scenic views, diverse landscapes, and solid acclimatization opportunities—opt for 7 days to boost your summit odds even more!
Day 1: Arrival and Machame Gate to Machame Camp
- Elevation: 1,800 m (5,906 ft) to 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
- Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
- Duration: 5-6 hours
Arrive at Machame Gate for registration and orientation. Begin the hike through the rainforest, where you’ll experience lush vegetation and rich wildlife. After several hours of hiking, you’ll reach Machame Camp for your first night, surrounded by dense forest.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
- Elevation: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) to 3,850 m (12,631 ft)
- Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
- Duration: 4-5 hours
After breakfast, head out through the upper forest zone into the moorland zone. The day is short but steep, with impressive views as you ascend to Shira Camp. This camp is located on the Shira Plateau, with expansive views of the mountain and surrounding landscape.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower, then Barranco Camp
- Elevation: 3,850 m (12,631 ft) to 4,630 m (15,190 ft) to 3,950 m (12,960 ft)
- Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
- Duration: 6-8 hours
This day is designed for acclimatization, as you climb up to Lava Tower (4,630 m) for a brief rest. Afterward, you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,950 m). The principle of “climb high, sleep low” helps your body acclimatize to higher altitudes.
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
- Elevation: 3,950 m (12,960 ft) to 4,035 m (13,267 ft)
- Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
- Duration: 4-5 hours
Start the day by tackling the Barranco Wall, a steep but manageable rock face that’s one of the highlights of the route. Once at the top, continue along the ridge and descend into the Karanga Valley, where you will camp at Karanga Camp. The views from the camp are fantastic, with the glaciers of Kilimanjaro visible in the distance.
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
- Elevation: 4,035 m (13,267 ft) to 4,640 m (15,223 ft)
- Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles)
- Duration: 4-5 hours
This day is a shorter trek, but it takes you higher to Barafu Camp, which will be your final camp before your summit attempt. Along the way, you will pass through barren alpine desert terrain, with views of the summit becoming more prominent. Rest and prepare for the challenging final push to the top.
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and down to Mweka Camp
- Elevation: 4,640 m (15,223 ft) to 5,895 m (19,341 ft) to 3,080 m (10,105 ft)
- Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles) to summit and 13 km (8.1 miles) down to Mweka Camp
- Duration: 12-14 hours (Summit Day)
Summit Day begins very early (around midnight). You’ll begin your ascent to Uhuru Peak via Stella Poin