Overview
Featuring captivating scenic vistas, pristine wildlife, excellent acclimatization opportunities and low traffic of climbers,
Machame is amongst of the best Kilimanjaro routes. Besides it is our personal favorite one for reaching the roof of Africa.
After a 1-hour long drive from Moshi to Machame Gate you'll find yourself on the eastern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro. That's where you'll embark on your adventure through all climate zones - from alpine meadows to eternal ice.
The climb is smooth and gradual. 7 days western breach via Machame route the success rate is the best among the routes of Kilimanjaro.
Arrive in Tanzania
Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, thereafter your guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Then overnight in the hotel.
Day 1 - Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame Camp (2835m)
Distance covered: 11 km
Approximate time taken: 7 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel around 8:00 am and transferred to Machame gate. On the way you will see coffee and banana plantations grown by Chagga people. After arriving at Machame gate you will go through some park formalities such as registration then you will start your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing at the Machame gate. Your first day hike is through a tropical rain forest up to Machame camp (2835m). On the route you will have a picnic lunch. Overnight at Machame camp.
Day 2 - Machame Camp (2835 m) to Shira Cave Camp (3800m)
Distance covered: 5 km
Approximate time taken: 3 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
You start to hike around 8:00 am. You will climb an hour to the top of the forest and then 1 hour at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch (snacks) and break, you continue up a rocky ridge, the Shira plateau. At this point you will be able to see an eastern direction, the western breach with its stunning glacier. Overnight at Shira Campsite (3800m).
Day 3 - Shira cave Camp (3800m) to Lava Tower Camp (4600m)
Distance covered: 7 km
Approximate time taken: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The moorlands soon come to an end. The trek will take us into the alpine desert up to lava tower camp (4600m). This offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photos of the Western Breach and Barranco wall. The campsite is situated in a valley below the lava rocks which should provide you a memorable sunset while waiting for dinner and overnight at Lava Tower Camp (4600m).
Day 4 - Lava tower Camp (4600m) to Arrow Glacies Camp (4900m)
Distance covered: 1 km
Approximate time taken: 1 hour
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
This is another favorite day whereby after breakfast you will leave the campsite, and start to make your way to Arrow camp that ends up at the fort of the Hein glacier. It will take you 1 hour to reach at Arrow glacier (4900m).
Day 5 - Arrow Glaciers (4900m) to Crater Camp (5790m)
Distance covered: 7 km
Approximate time taken: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Wake up around 3 am to start your to crater camp. You'll reach at crater camp around 10 am. A hike brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier. Crater camp is not a route in it's own right but a challenging extension which in principle can be added to any route. It involves sleeping overnight in the bowl of the crater. An amazing experience enjoyed by only a few of the most adventurous climbers.
Day 6 - Crater Camp (5790m) to Uhuru peak then to Mweka Camp (3100m).
Distance covered: 15 km
Approximate time taken: 6 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert/ Rainforest
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our ascent to Uhuru peak and then we are expecting to have sunrise awith a cup of tea at the top. After taking some photos you will start descend to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Day 7 - Mweka Camp (3100 m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Distance covered: 10 km
Approximate time taken:3 hours
Habitat: Glacier zone and all preceding zones
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Mweka Camp (3100 m) to Mweka Gate (1630 m). At the gate you will need to sign-out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak.
Then - Depart Tanzania/ other destination in Tanzania.
Later in the evening or the next day you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your home-bound flight. Also, Habari Adventures can organize an affordable safari trip to one of the best wildlife parks in Tanzania such as Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park.