7 Day Machame Trek

Arrive to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will have a pre-climb briefing with your mountain guide.

• Machame Gate To Machame Camp

• 5,400 Ft (1640 M) To 9,400 Ft (2850 M)

• 5-7 Hrs Trek, Covering 7 Miles ( 11 Km)

• Overnight Machame Camp

• Trek through Rainforest. Most wildlife sightings occur this day; look for monkeys and birds

Transfer from your hotel to Machame Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent along the forest trail to Machame Camp at 3000m. We will stay here overnight.

• Machame Camp TO Shira Camp

• 9,400 ft (2850 m) TO 12,500 ft (3810 m

•  4-6 Hrs Trek, Covering 3 Miles (5 km

• Overnight Shira Camp

• Trek through moorlands. Possibility to see duikers and rare birds. Optional hike to nearby Shira Caves (1 hr).

After breakfast climb out of the rainforest, and continue our ascent, crossing a small valley and up to a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather. Our route now turns west into a river gorge until we reach Shira Camp.

• Shira Camp To Barranco Camp

• 12,500 ft (3810 m) To 13,000 ft (3976 m)

•  6- 8 HRS, Covering 6 Miles (10km)

• Overnight Barranco Camp

• Trek To Lava Tower (Altitude: 15,190 Ft), Then Descend To Reach Barranco Camp.

After breakfast, approach the intimidating Lava Tower. This is a great acclimatization day, reaching a maximum altitude of 4600 m, enjoying lunch at this high elevation, then descending to Barranco Camp (which sits at 3950 m) for overnight. This is an ideal acclimatization procedure, following the rule of ‘climb high, sleep low.’  Our descent to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.

• Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

• 13,000 ft (3976 m) To 15,000 ft (3995 m)

• 4-5 Hrs, Covering 3 Miles (5 km)

• Overnight Karanga Camp

• Climb Barranco Wall, And Continue To Karanga Valley. Option To Take Acclimatization Hikes.

After breakfast, begin climbing Lava Tower, which is a favorite of many trekkers. You will reach a maximum elevation of 4600 m, with time to enjoy lunch, then descend to Barranco Camp for overnight. This strategy following the “walk high, sleep low” golden rule of acclimatization. 

Our descent to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.

• Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

• 15,000 ft (3995 m) To 15,330 ft (4673 m)

• Rest At Barafu Camp – Begin Summit Around Midnight

•  4-5 hrs Trek, Covering 2 Miles

• A short trek that is a challenge at this altitude. Rest upon arrival, the summit attempt begins around midnight – 1 am the next day.

A short but fun day, starting with a scramble to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. We then traverse over scree to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the ice walls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. We will stay overnight at Karanga campsite.

Depart Karanga campsite and climb toward Barafu Camp, the highest campsite of this trek. You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. At camp, we can rest, enjoy an early dinner, and prepare for the summit night The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be clearly seen from this position. It is advised to rest as much as possible since the summit attempt begins around midnight.

You will be woken around 23:30 with tea and biscuits. We start our trek to the summit between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers through heavy scree up to Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. At Stella Point (5732m), we will stop for a short rest and hopefully be in time to witness the magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). We are now only an hour away from the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit, we descend back to Barafu Camp for lunch and a brief rest, then continue to Mweka Camp for overnight.

Final day of your Kilimanjaro trek itinerary. You will have had a relaxing night after your challenging climb. After breakfast, a driver will meet you to transfer to the airport for your return flight, or your next adventure with Legacy Exchange Outfitters.
Some clients choose to enjoy a wildlife safari and experience Serengeti National Park, another popular option is to visit Zanzibar for a relaxing beach holiday.

• Transport: Private transfer (50 min, 40 km)

Meals included: Breakfast