6 Days Scaling Mt Kilimanjaro Trekking on Machame Route

Start your 6 days Machame Route trekking by meeting the Ascend Tanzania team at Machame Gate. After a 1.5-hour drive from Moshi, you'll register your trekking and make final preparations. Trek through Kilimanjaro's cloud forest, transitioning to heathers, tall grasses, and wildflowers. If the weather is clear, enjoy views of Kibo Peak. Reach Machame Camp where the porters and cooks have set up camp for your arrival.

Start on the Machame Route's easiest day, but with uphill sections. Stay hydrated on the exposed trek. Take in the panoramic views of the plains, forests, and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Notice the change in vegetation as you ascend, with smaller trees and Kilimanjaro's high-altitude plants. Trekking the Shira Plateau formed by Kibo's lava flows and rest at Shira Cave Camp, with Kibo to the west and Mount Meru to the east.

Today's trekking includes up and down sections, crucial for acclimatization. Trek east on the Shira Plateau, passing the junction of the Shira and Lemosho Routes. Enjoy lunch in the barren landscape, then reach the highest point of the day before descending to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft). Faster trekkers can detour via Lava Tower. Barranco Camp, nestled amidst stands of Senseco Kilimanjaro, is known for its scenic beauty.

Depart Barranco Camp after breakfast for a challenging day of trekking. Conquer the Barranco Wall, using your hands in some sections. Descend into the greener Karanga Valley before continuing to Barafu Camp. Along the way, catch glimpses of Kibo's glaciers and the junction with the Mweka descent route. Barafu Camp offers breathtaking views of Kibo, Mawenzi peaks, and Rebmann Glacier. Rest and prepare for the summit trek, starting at midnight.

Start the final ascent from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak 5,895m. Trek for approximately six hours in the darkness, relying on your headlamp for light. The trail is steep until you reach Stella Point, located on the crater rim. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the trekking. From Stella Point, it is a gradual trekking to Uhuru Peak, which is not very difficult but made tiring by the altitude. The trek along the crater rim takes about an hour. Capture memorable photos at the peak and then begin the descent to Mweka Camp. Admire the breathtaking views of the mountain, crater, clouds, and glaciers during the descent. Take a short break and have breakfast at Barafu Camp before continuing the three to five-hour trek to Mweka Camp.

Descend from Mweka Camp 3,100m to Mweka Gate 1,500m after breakfast. Enjoy the beautiful trekking through Kilimanjaro's cloud forest, but be cautious of slippery trails. At the lower station of Mweka Gate, you will find Ascend Tanzania vehicles waiting to transport you back to Moshi. Take the opportunity to purchase t-shirts and sodas at the gate.