Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
The 7-Day Machame Route Itinerary
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles (5–7 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 1,800m (5,900 ft) to 3,000m (9,800 ft)
The Hike: After a short drive from Moshi or Arusha, you'll begin your trek. You'll hike through a lush, dense montane rainforest filled with fascinating flora and fauna before reaching the first camp.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles (4–5 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,000m (9,800 ft) to 3,800m (12,500 ft)
The Hike: You'll leave the rainforest and enter the heather and moorland zone. The steep, rocky trail opens up to the stunning Shira Plateau, offering your first clear views of the Kibo peak.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (Acclimatization Day)
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles (6–8 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,800m (12,500 ft) to 4,600m (15,100 ft) back down to 3,950m (13,000 ft)
The Hike: A classic "walk-high, sleep-low" day. You will hike up to the imposing Lava Tower for lunch before descending into the Barranco Valley. This is crucial for acclimatization and provides stunning views of the 'Garden of the Senecios' (giant groundsels).
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles (3–4 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,950m (13,000 ft) to 4,000m (13,100 ft)
The Hike: You'll conquer the famous Great Barranco Wall (a non-technical scramble), then traverse the undulating ridges of the southern circuit to Karanga Camp. This shorter, easier day allows your body to recover and adjust to the altitude.
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles (3–4 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 4,000m (13,100 ft) to 4,600m (15,100 ft)
The Hike: The trail climbs steadily up into the alpine desert zone. You will reach Barafu Camp, where you'll have an early dinner and rest in preparation for summit night.
Day 6: Summit Day! (Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp)
Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles (11–15 hours total)
Start/End Altitude: 4,600m (15,100 ft) to 5,895m (19,341 ft) summit, descending to 3,100m (10,200 ft)
The Hike: You will begin your summit attempt around midnight, hiking up steep switchbacks to the crater rim at Stella Point (5,756m). From there, it's a relatively flat but grueling hour to reach Uhuru Peak. After celebrating, you will begin a long descent back to Barafu for a brief rest, and then continue down to Mweka Camp.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Distance: 10 km / 6 miles (3–4 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,100m (10,200 ft) to 1,650m (5,400 ft)
The Hike: A pleasant, breezy descent through the lush rainforest. At Mweka Gate, you will sign the official registry, collect your summit certificates, and catch your transfer back to your hotel.
The 7-Day Machame Route Itinerary
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles (5–7 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 1,800m (5,900 ft) to 3,000m (9,800 ft)
The Hike: After a short drive from Moshi or Arusha, you'll begin your trek. You'll hike through a lush, dense montane rainforest filled with fascinating flora and fauna before reaching the first camp.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles (4–5 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,000m (9,800 ft) to 3,800m (12,500 ft)
The Hike: You'll leave the rainforest and enter the heather and moorland zone. The steep, rocky trail opens up to the stunning Shira Plateau, offering your first clear views of the Kibo peak.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (Acclimatization Day)
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles (6–8 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,800m (12,500 ft) to 4,600m (15,100 ft) back down to 3,950m (13,000 ft)
The Hike: A classic "walk-high, sleep-low" day. You will hike up to the imposing Lava Tower for lunch before descending into the Barranco Valley. This is crucial for acclimatization and provides stunning views of the 'Garden of the Senecios' (giant groundsels).
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles (3–4 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,950m (13,000 ft) to 4,000m (13,100 ft)
The Hike: You'll conquer the famous Great Barranco Wall (a non-technical scramble), then traverse the undulating ridges of the southern circuit to Karanga Camp. This shorter, easier day allows your body to recover and adjust to the altitude.
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles (3–4 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 4,000m (13,100 ft) to 4,600m (15,100 ft)
The Hike: The trail climbs steadily up into the alpine desert zone. You will reach Barafu Camp, where you'll have an early dinner and rest in preparation for summit night.
Day 6: Summit Day! (Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp)
Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles (11–15 hours total)
Start/End Altitude: 4,600m (15,100 ft) to 5,895m (19,341 ft) summit, descending to 3,100m (10,200 ft)
The Hike: You will begin your summit attempt around midnight, hiking up steep switchbacks to the crater rim at Stella Point (5,756m). From there, it's a relatively flat but grueling hour to reach Uhuru Peak. After celebrating, you will begin a long descent back to Barafu for a brief rest, and then continue down to Mweka Camp.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Distance: 10 km / 6 miles (3–4 hours)
Start/End Altitude: 3,100m (10,200 ft) to 1,650m (5,400 ft)
The Hike: A pleasant, breezy descent through the lush rainforest. At Mweka Gate, you will sign the official registry, collect your summit certificates, and catch your transfer back to your hotel.