8 Days Machame Route – Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro through the Machame Route is one of the most beautiful and fulfilling trekking experiences in Africa. The Machame Route is dubbed the “Whiskey Route” for its difficult but beautiful trek, and it has amazing landscapes, great acclimatization, and one of the highest summit success rates to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa.
This 8-day journey will take you through several different ecosystems, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts to icy glaciers, making for a beautiful adventure. Below you will find a fully detailed 8-day trekking itinerary, with the best campsites, inclusions, and exclusions.
Tour Highlights.
Day 1: Arrive in Moshi – Preparation and Briefing
Day 2: Machame Gate (1,800m) – Machame Camp (3,000m)
Day 3: Machame Camp (3,000m) – Shira Camp (3,840m)
Day 4: Shira Camp (3,840m) – Lava Tower (4,630m) – Barranco Camp
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,950m) – Karanga Camp (4,035m)
Day 6: Karanga Camp (4,035m) – Barafu Camp (4,640m)
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3100m)
Day 8: Mweka Camp (3100 m) – Mweka Gate (1640 m) – Depart.
Day 1: Arrive in Moshi—Preparation and Briefing.
On the 1st day of the safari. Your adventure will begin upon arrival at JRO—Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be greeted by a representative from Nyumbu Beyond Journeys and transferred to Moshi, the base town for Kili treks. After you have checked into your lodge/hotel, you will be introduced to your trekking guide, who will conduct a full briefing with a full packing and gear inspection. Should you forget anything, any missing gear can be rented from outfitters in Moshi before the trip begins.
Relax for the remainder of the day, stay hydrated, and become acquainted with your surroundings. If you have time, you may visit one of the local markets in Moshi or go on a brief coffee tour at a nearby coffee plantation. The remaining time of your first full day allows you to acclimatize before the adventure begins early the next morning.
Recommended Lodges:
Luxury: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Mid-range: Parkview Inn
Budget: Bristol Cottages
Dinner and overnight in Moshi for your first night of hiking.
Day 2: Machame Gate (1,800 m) – Machame Camp (3,000 m).
After an early breakfast, you will travel to Machame Gate, approximately one hour from Moshi. At the Machame Gate, your party will meet and register with Kilimanjaro National Park officials. You will also meet your team of guides, porters, and cooks. After introductions and organizing your gear, the hike will then officially begin.
The hike starts off fairly easily through the rainforest zone and tall, mossy trees, and ferns. You will hike under a thick canopy of vegetation with some occasional sightings of some monkeys, colorful birds, and tropical flowers. The humid air and consistent uphill sections make it beautiful yet manageable at the same time.
You will reach Machame Camp (3,000 m) during the late afternoon, at which point your team will have already erected tents and prepared a warm meal. As the sun is setting, the forest becomes a serene environment filled with natural sounds, and it’s a delightful way to end your first adventure on the mountain.
Overnight: Machame Camp
Day 3: Machame Camp (3,000 m) – Shira Camp (3,840 m).
After breakfast, you will leave the forest and find yourself in the heather and moorland zone, where the vegetation is thinner and the views have opened up. The path will steadily climb into rocky ridges, which will provide magnificent views of Mount Meru in the distance.
You will cross small valleys periodically until reaching the Shira Plateau, which is a massive volcanic rock field where a caldera existed at some point. The air is thinner here, but you will be compensated with scenery all around you. This is also the best location for photography every time the sun goes down on the peak of Kilimanjaro, as it glows a golden tone.
By the mid-afternoon, you will reach Shira Camp (3,840 m), where you will be able to rest up, enjoy a hearty dinner, and prepare for the long ascent of the following day.
Overnight: Shira Camp
Day 4: Shira Camp (3,840 m) – Lava Tower (4,630 m) – Barranco Camp.
After breakfast, you will proceed with a traverse through the alpine desert zone, where the vegetation is rocky and sparse. You will switch to a gradual ascent towards Lava Tower, a volcanic rock formation at an elevation of 4,630 meters, where the high altitude helps your body acclimatize to the thinner air, even if you initially feel the effects of altitude intensely.
After lunch, you’ll descend through the Barranco Valley, a scenic location with giant senecio plants and lush vegetation provided by ample mountain stream water.
This “climb high, sleep low” strategy will allow your body to acclimatize effectively to higher elevations. By late afternoon you will reach Barranco Camp (3,950 m) at the base of the famous Barranco Wall. Barranco Camp is visually stunning with spectacular views over the glaciers from Kibo above and is generally considered one of the most beautiful camps in the whole experience.
Overnight: Barranco Camp
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,950 m) – Karanga Camp (4,035 m).
After breakfast, you will face the awesome Barranco Wall, which is a steep but non-technical climb that we will tackle with a bit of scrambling. It might look daunting from below, but don’t worry, it is perfectly manageable and super rewarding once you reach the top.
At the top of the wall, the views of the Heim Glacier and the plains stretching below are stunning. After taking in those breathtaking views, you will continue onto the Karanga Camp, which is perched high above the clouds, which happens to be only a few hours’ hike away through rolling ridges and valleys.
This shorter day provides an excellent opportunity for acclimatization while the body has a chance to rest some ahead of the push to higher altitude. You will spend the afternoon lounging, hydrating, and taking in the panoramic views of your surroundings in Karanga Camp.
Overnight: Karanga Camp
Day 6: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) – Barafu Camp (4,640 m).
On the 6th day of the safari, you will start off with breakfast and get back on the trail to Barafu Camp, which is the last camp before the summit attempt of Kilimanjaro. The hike into Barafu Camp is through a high alpine desert filled with loose rocks and zero vegetation. While the air is thin, the trail is consistent with incredible views of Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks in the distance.
After reaching Barafu camp, you will relax for the afternoon and have an early dinner in preparation to climb to the summit at night. Your guide will brief you on your summit day to make sure everyone understands and has everything packed away to tackle the summit climb: warm layers, a headlamp, sniper snacks, and determination. Early to bed, as you expect to be out of bed for your summit attempt around midnight.
Overnight: Barafu Camp
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3100 m).
On the 7th day of your safari, your goal is to rise at approximately midnight to begin your summit attempt, arguably the most challenging day and rewarding part of the trip. With headlamps on, you will follow the experienced team as you hike slowly and steadily through the darkness. As the roped trek takes you steeply onwards, your timing will be perfect as you arrive at Stella Point (5739 m) on the rim of the crater and watch the sunrise over Africa.
From here, it is a gradual one-hour climb up to Uhuru Peak (5895 m), the highest point in Africa. The feeling of standing at the summit on the snow-covered top will be incredible and will give you a great sense of achievement. Don’t forget to take photos and enjoy the vista as you begin the one-hour return descent back to Barafu Camp, where you will briefly rest after lunch before continuing to descend back down to Mweka Camp (3100 m) through the alpine desert and moorland zone. The exhaustion from the day will be energizing, as it will signify that you have safely completed your climb. You will certainly be looking forward to your final dinner on the mountain and sleep.
Overnight: Mweka Camp
Day 8: Mweka Camp (3100 m) – Mweka Gate (1640 m) – Depart.
After breakfast, you will descend approximately 3 hours through the lush rainforest to Mweka Gate to sign out and receive your Kilimanjaro Climbing Certificate. Your driver will then take you back to Moshi for a hot shower, celebration, and relaxation.
If you wish and have the time, this would be a great opportunity to spend another night in Moshi or to be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home, marking the end of your unforgettable 7-Day Machame Route Adventure.
Safari inclusions.
Airport transfers (arrival and departure).
Two nights’ accommodation in Moshi (pre- and post-climb).
All park entry and camping fees.
Professional English-speaking mountain guide, porters, and cook.
All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, and dinners).
Drinking water on the trek.
Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, tables, chairs).
Rescue fees.
Summit certificate for climbers who made it to the summit.
Safari exclusions.
International and domestic flights.
Tanzania entry visa.
Travel and medical insurance.
Personal hiking gear (sleeping bag, trekking poles, boots, and headlamp).
Tips for guides, cooks and porters (suggested $15 – $25 per climber / per day)
Alcohol and soft drinks.
Extra accommodation or activities not specified in the itinerary.
Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs.)
