Overview
The 7-day variant of the popular Machame route adds a rest night at Karanga Camp between Barranco and Barafu. That extra day at altitude is the single biggest boost to summit success on any Kilimanjaro route.
Quick facts
- Start point
- Machame Gate (1,640 m)
- End point
- Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
- Distance
- ≈ 62 km round trip
- Highest point
- Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
- Group size
- Private, 1–12 climbers
- Best season
- Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Traffic
- Low to moderate
- Scenery
- Exceptional
- Accommodation
- Mountain tents
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1
Machame Gate → Machame Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 5–6 hoursTotal Distance: 11 kmStarting Altitude: 1,640 m (5,380 ft)Final Altitude: 3,010 m (9,875 ft)Elevation Change: +1,370 mHabitat: Montane rainforestDrive to Machame Gate and trek through dense rainforest to camp. 5–6 hours.
Meals: Lunch, DinnerMachame Camp · 3,010 m - 2Day 2
Machame → Shira Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 4–6 hoursTotal Distance: 5 kmStarting Altitude: 3,010 m (9,875 ft)Final Altitude: 3,845 m (12,615 ft)Elevation Change: +835 mHabitat: Heather & moorlandClimb out of the forest onto the Shira Plateau with sweeping views. 4–6 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerShira Camp · 3,845 m - 3Day 3
Shira → Lava Tower → Barranco
Today's StatusHiking Time: 6–7 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,845 m (12,615 ft)Final Altitude: 3,960 m (12,995 ft)Elevation Change: +785 m / −670 m (via Lava Tower)Habitat: Alpine desertAcclimatisation day via Lava Tower (4,630 m). Descend to lush Barranco Valley. 6–7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerBarranco Camp · 3,960 m - 4Day 4
Barranco → Karanga Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 4–5 hoursTotal Distance: 5 kmStarting Altitude: 3,960 m (12,995 ft)Final Altitude: 3,995 m (13,106 ft)Elevation Change: +35 m (net)Habitat: Alpine desertScramble the Barranco Wall then a short trek to Karanga for rest and hydration. 4–5 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerKaranga Camp · 3,995 m - 5Day 5
Karanga → Barafu Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 3–4 hoursTotal Distance: 4 kmStarting Altitude: 3,995 m (13,106 ft)Final Altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)Elevation Change: +678 mHabitat: Alpine desertShort climb to summit base camp. Early dinner and rest before midnight push. 3–4 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerBarafu Camp · 4,673 m - 6Day 6
Summit → Mweka
Today's StatusHiking Time: 12–14 hoursTotal Distance: 17 kmStarting Altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)Final Altitude: 3,068 m (10,065 ft) via Uhuru Peak 5,895 mElevation Change: +1,222 m / −2,827 mHabitat: Arctic → moorlandMidnight summit push to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Descend all the way to Mweka Camp. 12–14 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMweka Camp · 3,068 m - 7Day 7
Mweka → Moshi
Today's StatusHiking Time: 3–4 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,068 m (10,065 ft)Final Altitude: 1,640 m (5,380 ft)Elevation Change: −1,428 mHabitat: Montane rainforestFinal descent through the rainforest. Certificates, celebration lunch, transfer to hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
What's included & route FAQs
Everything covered on the ground, what's not, and the questions climbers ask most.
What's included
- All park and rescue fees (7 days)
- KPAP-certified guides, cook and porters
- All camping equipment, mess tent, mattresses
- Three hot meals per day on the mountain
- Airport transfers and 2 hotel nights in Moshi
- Daily pulse oximeter checks and emergency oxygen
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Flights and visa
- Personal gear (rental available)
- Crew tips
- Travel insurance
Do I need previous climbing experience?+
No technical climbing is required on any of the standard routes. Good general fitness and prior multi-day hiking experience are strongly recommended — you'll be trekking 5–7 hours per day for a week at high altitude.
How cold does it get on the summit?+
Summit night temperatures typically range from −7 °C to −20 °C with wind chill. Daytime at lower camps is much milder (10–20 °C). We provide a detailed packing list and can rent quality cold-weather gear locally.
What is the summit success rate?+
Our overall summit success across all routes is 96 %. On the 8-day Lemosho itinerary it climbs to 99 %. Success comes down to route length (more acclimatisation days = more oxygen in your blood at 5,895 m) and guide quality.
Is travel insurance required?+
Yes — mandatory. Your policy must cover trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. We recommend World Nomads or Global Rescue.
How much should I tip the crew?+
The KPAP guideline is about USD 20–25 per climber per day, pooled and split among guides, cook and porters. We hand out a detailed tipping breakdown at the pre-climb briefing.
What happens if I can't continue?+
Your lead guide monitors your oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily. If you need to descend, an assistant guide accompanies you down safely while the rest of the group continues. This is why we bring extra guides.
Pricing per person
All-inclusive on the ground. Price per person decreases with group size.
Trail map
A stylised overview of the Machame Route — camps, distance and summit approach.
Have a question about Machame Route?
Send us your enquiry and a Tanzania-based expert will get back to you within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary, pricing for your group size and answers to any questions you have.
- No deposit required to receive a quote
- Free date & itinerary changes before booking
- Direct reply from a real human — never a chatbot
