Kilimanjaro Machame Trek

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Arusha Arrival

Upon arrival in Arusha you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After you have had time to relax and refresh after your flight, you will be briefed about your upcoming trek. By now, you'll have a good idea of what the trek entails, but this is the perfect time to ask any last-minute questions you might have. Arusha is the gateway to the Northern National Parks of Tanzania such as Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongro Crater and the famous Serengeti. The lodge is situated in the village of Movarian, Arusha, a few hundred metres from the Moshi/Nairobi Road, which is approximately 3 km (5 mi) from Arusha CBD.

Overnight: Ahadi Lodge (Dinner Included)

Day 2 - Arusha

A full day to recover from your flights, relax, or explore Arusha should you feel inclined!

Overnight: Ahadi Lodge (Breakfast and Dinner Included)

Day 3 - Arusha - Kilimanjaro – Machame

Hike: 8.2 km 1840m-3022m 5-6 hours After breakfast you will be met by your guide and porters and depart for the entry gate of Kilimanjaro National Park where we fulfill the registration formalities before entering the Park. The initial trek winds through heavily rooted forest areas parallel to flowing streams. We eat lunch along the way and by mid-afternoon we reach our first camp.

Overnight: Machame Camp (All Meals Included)

Day 4 - Barranco – Shira Two

Hike: 5 km 3022m-3830m 5-6 hours The words steep, rocky and dusty are our adjectives for the day as we leave the grassland behind and enter the more barren landscape of the mountain. We make our way slowly upward with a backdrop of Giant Senecias – today is a great introduction to acclimatization as we ascend up, down and over the seemingly endless ridges.

Overnight: Shira Two Camp (All Meals Included)

Day 5 - Shira Two – Barranco

Hike: 10.4 km 830m-3900m 8-9 hours We start out this morning with a gentle hike before encountering rocks and boulders that keep us on our toes and by lunchtime we reach Lava Tower (4530m). After lunch the more adventurous may opt to ascend Lava Tower to enjoy the fantastic view before reaching our camp for the night.

Overnight: Barranco Camp (All Meals Included)

Day 6- Barranco – Karanga

Hike: 5.5 km 3900m-4040m 4-5 hours After breakfast today, we climb Barranco Wall: a steep but pleasant climb culminating in views of the Kibo massif and the surrounding glacier. As we look across the valley we can see a steady line of porters on their way to our next camp behind us. Today is an important day for acclimitization and karangu Camp will be reached by lunch time. The afternoon is free to continue short treks in the area or relaxing at the campsite in preparation for the summit push.

Overnight: Karanga Camp (All Meals Included)

Day 7 - Karanga – Barafu

Hike: 3.5 km 4040m - 4680m 4-5 hours Today is a short but steep uphill climb. We continue our our climb across a barren landscape with lots of boulders and shattered rocks. It is very quiet and peaceful and the extra day of acclimitization comes in very handy at this point. The Decken Glacier is always presence to your left as you reach a rocky section for some more scrambling before reaching our camp amidst large rocks with sheer cliff-faces. Tonight we will go to bed early (7pm) as the wake-up call is 11pm! Most climbers won't sleep much - just close your eyes and relax for a few hours.

Overnight: Barafu Camp(All Meals Included)

Day 8 - Barafu – Summit – Mweka

Hike: 17.4 km 4330m-5895m-3075m 13-15 hours This is summit day – the culmination of five long days of climbing. We wake up around midnight for a quick snack and then start for the summit. Although we start out on rocky ground it soon turns to snow as we near the Crater rim. Slowly, slowly we trudge upwards and this is when fatigue really starts to set in for the first time, especially when we enter the volcanic scree area; every step slides backwards as we push for the summit. We reach the rim at Stella Point around sunrise and continue on to the Summit at Uhuru Peak, just a short distance away. After only a few minutes at the peak we return down our steep track for brunch and a rest back at Barafu Camp. After this, we have a comfortable but dusty walk down to Mweka.

Overnight: Mweka Camp (All Meals Included)

Day 9 - Mweka – Arusha

Hike: 8.8km 3075m-1645m 3-4 hours On a clear morning you can wake up to the peak of Kibo in the background of the camp – a real photographic opportunity and a great reminder of yesterdays Summit push. Today is a fun morning of singing and enjoying the last moments with your ‘Kili’ team before we all head down through the steep forest to the National Park gate. We complete signing out formalities before saying good-bye and boarding our transfer vehicle to Arusha. Your lodge after the trek, Kigongoni Lodge, is located on an historic 70-acre coffee farm near Arusha, amid natural forest. Sitting on a hilltop with lush gardens, the lodge offers breathtaking views of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru. Tucked between the trees are eighteen cottages, built in traditional African styles and materials. The rooms, cocktail lounge, and restaurant - all with fireplaces – are furnished in an intimate and comfortable manner, maximizing the site’s unique views and natural features.

Overnight: Kigongoni Lodge (All Meals Included)

Day 10 - Arusha Departure

After breakfast you will be transferred to catch your departure flight. Breakfast this morning is included.

(Breakfast Included)