6 Days Kilimanjaro Machame Route

From $ 1,750 pp

Duration: 6 Days

Tour Type: Hiking

Trip Overview

The 6-day Kilimanjaro Machame Route is a popular choice for trekkers seeking a challenging yet rewarding climb. This route takes you through diverse landscapes, starting with lush rainforests filled with monkeys and exotic birds, moving into open moorlands dotted with giant lobelias, and finally reaching the high-altitude alpine desert. With six days to ascend and descend, the route is designed to help climbers acclimatize effectively, increasing the chances of reaching Uhuru Peak successfully.

Guided by experienced local guides and supported by skilled porters, the Machame Route provides a safe, well-organized, and unforgettable adventure. Along the way, you’ll experience stunning vistas, unique wildlife, and the thrill of conquering Africa’s highest mountain. The climb is as much about the journey as the destination, offering breathtaking scenery and a true sense of achievement at the summit.

Moorlands & Alpine Desert: Experience the transition from lush forest to high-altitude landscapes with stunning views.

Expert Guidance & Support: Professional guides and porters ensure safety, provide local insights, and make your trek memorable.

Rainforest Trails: Trek through dense, green forests alive with monkeys, birds, and unique plant life.

Summit at Uhuru Peak: Reach Africa’s highest point and witness a spectacular sunrise above the clouds.

Itinerary In Details

Day 1 : Machame Gate to Machame Camp

One hour’s drive from Moshi to Machame gate, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters, and start to climb. The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden, so it can get somewhat overgrown in places, and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.

  • Elevation: 1790m to 3010m
  • Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
  • Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Habitat: Rainforest
Day 2 : Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.

  • Elevation: 3010m to 3845m
  • Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
  • Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Habitat: Moorland
Day 3 : Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach, and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.

  • Elevation: 3845m to 3960m
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
  • Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
  • Habitat: High Moorland
Day 4 : Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last stop for fresh water before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu Camp.

  • Elevation: 3960m to 4640m
  • Hiking Time: 7-9 hours
  • Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 5 : Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak & down to Millennium Camp

We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on the scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

  • Elevation: 4640m to 5895m (then down to 3790m)
  • Hiking Time: 11-14 hours
  • Distance: 17 km (10.5 miles)
  • Difficulty: Very Difficult
  • Habitat: Arctic Summit and Alpine Desert
Day 6 : Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower.

  • Elevation: 3790m to 1630m
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Habitat: Rainforest

Includes

  • Professional, experienced, mountain guides
  • Guides, Porters, Cook salaries, and park fees
  • Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
  • All meals while on the Mountain
  • Quality Mess tents with tables and chairs
  • Fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  • Clean, purified drinking water
  • Conservation fees (part of park fees)
  • Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
  • Rescue fees (part of park fees)
  • VAT (18% charged by the Government)
  • Kilimanjaro summit certificate
  • All transfers to the mountain and back to your hotel

Excludes

  • Alcohol and soft drinks
  • Sleeping bag
  • Flights
  • Visa fees
  • Tips
  • Personal spending money for souvenirs
  • Travel insurance

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Customer Reviews

What our customers say

At Sweet Memory Adventure, we are honored to receive wonderful feedback from our guests, with many praising our exceptional service, unforgettable experiences, and dedication to creating memorable journeys.

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Zoe
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Great first Safari experience!! We did 3 different game drives and saw every animal in abundance except for a lion-- although we did see vultures but couldn't pin point it. Moses was super helpful in communicating all of the prices and plans in advance and our guide, Hassan, was amazing. It was sad leaving him at the end of the trip but we will for sure stay in contact. The lodging both inside the camp and the nicer one outside for the 2nd night were both nice. All of the food was so so good and visiting the Maasai village on the 2nd day was a huge highlight of our trip. 100% would recommend to anyone.
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Artix
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Unforgettable Adventure! We had an amazing four-day safari in Mikumi and Selous with unforgettable memories. The start was great, the communication was easy and Moses was very flexible to our needs. From the first moment Zack was the perfect guide with an impressive knowledge about animals, their behaviour and the ecosystem. He knows the huge biodiversity of Tanzania very well and identifies animals easily by voices and tracks. It was a breathtaking feeling to see elephants close enough to touch. Besides nature and wildlife, Zack takes us on a journey through the impressive culture and daily life of people in Tanzania. We are very thankful. Zack was not just a top tour guide but also a very kind and friendly company. Moreover, accommodations were wonderful and the food was really good. It was an adventure of a lifetime. Next safari is safe! We are very thankful and highly recommend Sweet Memory Adventure. Asante sana!
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Kristina K
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6stars experience 3days 2nights Safari at Mikumi NP with our super friendly and profesional guide/driver Nico was over our expectations!!! We saw hundreds of animals, we saw them really all🦓🐘🦛🦒🦁🐊🦌🐃 Highly recommend this company! Thank you Moses for organizing all this for us 🙏 and as you don't need much staff to bring with you please fill your luggage with some toys, pencils,exercise books, dresses. Local kids will fill your heart with the gratitude 💝💝💝
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Bonnie
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Explendid adventure for the whole family! Had the most exciting trip with Sweet Memories Adventures with my family and enjoyed the holidays to the maximum.Keep up with the good work guys👌
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Joshkom K
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Personally I should admit by saying that i was extremely satisfied with Sweet Memories Adventures. The owner is courteous and very very helpful from the beginning organizing our trip to Tanzania, always available. Professional, organized, simply superb. I highly recommend it. Sweet memories Adventures will make your dreams come true. thanks for the awesome unforgettable experience
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Nisbett
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Excellent Hospitality I must say that i was extremely satisfied with Sweet Memories Adventures. The owner is courteous and very very helpful from the beginning organizing our trip to Tanzania, always available. Professional, organized, simply superb. I highly recommend it. Sweet memories Adventures will make your dreams come true. thanks for the awesome unforgettable experience

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