Machame Route

10-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climb

Day 1 — Arrival at Itikoni Camp

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your African Environments guides will meet you and transfer you by vehicle to camp at the foot of Mount Meru, a stratovolcano roughly 40 miles west of Kilimanjaro. Relax and acclimatize at 6,000 feet — a key factor in our strong summiting success rate — and meet your fellow travelers before hitting the trail. A light dinner will be available at any arrival time.

Accommodation: African Environments Itikoni Camp

Transportation: 2-hour shared vehicle transfer

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 — Hike the Forested Slopes of Mount Meru- Itikoni Camp

Rise and shine for a hot breakfast at sunrise. After an in-depth briefing from your guide, set off on an optional warm-up hike through the forested slopes of Mount Meru. Watch for colobus monkeys, buffalo, giraffe, and elephant, and take in the region's diverse birdlife, including turacos, hornbills, and parrots. Unwind as alpenglow settles over the majestic slopes of Kilimanjaro in the distance, then enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow guests and guide this evening.

Accommodation: African Environments Itikoni Camp

Activity: 1-2 hours / 2 miles, optional hiking with 2,000' elevation gain; camp at 6,440'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 — Trek through the Montane Cloud Forest to Machame Camp

Set off on a scenic drive to the Machame Route trailhead on Kilimanjaro's southeastern slope. Pass through the Kilimanjaro National Park gates and begin your trek through beautiful montane cloud forest toward camp near Machame Hut (10,000'). Along the way, pause for a hearty buffet lunch before continuing the climb over roots and through the tangled vines of the giant fern forest. Warm up with a hot dinner at our cozy camp dining tent.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 7 hours / 8 miles hiking with 3,900' elevation gain; camp at 9,900'

Transportation: 2-hour scenic transfer

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 — Trek to Shira Plateau at 12,400'

After breakfast, begin a short but demanding 3-mile hike through twisted heather forests, giant groundsel trees, low grasses, moorland lobelias, and black obsidian rock. The trail ends at the Shira Plateau (12,650'), a stunning viewpoint over the sweeping plains of East Africa with Mount Meru visible in the distance. From camp, enjoy your first views of Kilimanjaro's Western Breach.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 5 hours / 3.5 miles hiking with 2,900' elevation gain; camp at 12,400'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 — Head to the Great Barranco Valley- Great Barranco Camp

Today's hike leads to the beautiful Great Barranco Valley — a landscape striking enough to be featured in the well-known Kilimanjaro IMAX film. Take in towering peaks and lush terrain as you climb to your first night at 13,000 feet. From camp you'll have sweeping views of the Breach Wall towering above, along with a short afternoon walk through enchanting Senecio forest. This marks the beginning of the critical acclimatization process ahead of your summit push.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 5-7 hours / 6 miles hiking with 1,000' gain and 1,000' loss; camp at 13,000'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 — Depart for Karanga Valley- Karanga Camp

Leaving the spectacular Great Barranco Valley behind, your route unfolds beneath the glittering southern glaciers of Kilimanjaro. Continue up the steep rock face nicknamed the “Breakfast Wall,” a striking climb of about a thousand feet, arriving at the ridge that separates the Barranco Valley from the Karanga Valley, with panoramic views in every direction. From here, descend into the Karanga Valley to camp for the night.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 4-5 hours / 3 miles hiking with about 880' gain and 680' loss; camp at 13,200'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 — Depart Karanga Valley for Barafu Camp

As you climb out of the Karanga Valley, the terrain shifts between rugged rock and breathtaking vistas. This pivotal stretch of the ascent carries you to the junction of the Barafu and Mweka routes, winding through several ecological zones that showcase Kilimanjaro's remarkable diversity. At the junction, turn uphill for a steeper, more demanding climb to Barafu Camp, where the air thins and the views turn stark and awe-inspiring.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 4-6 hours / 3 miles hiking with 3,000' elevation gain; camp at 15,330'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 — Climb to Crater Camp

Today's exhilarating and demanding trek follows the Barafu Route, a non-technical climbing trail that rises to the crater rim of Kilimanjaro's main summit massif. On reaching the rim, take time to explore the inner crater and ash pit before continuing to your highest camp on the crater floor — your final camp before summit day. This spectacular high camp sits beside the Furtwängler Glacier, with stunning views west toward Mount Meru and the setting African sun.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 7-9 hours / 2 miles hiking with 3,600' elevation gain; camp at 18,800'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 — Summit Uhuru Peak- Mweka Camp

Today brings the unforgettable moment you've been working toward: the final two-hour push to 19,341 feet — the summit of Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak. Take in surreal views of the summit glaciers and the African plains below, and gather with your group for a summit photo. Around 9am, begin the long descent of more than 9,000 feet, stopping for lunch at Barafu (15,330') before continuing to your final night at Mweka Camp, tucked within a lush forest.

Accommodation: African Environments Camp — Kilimanjaro

Activity: 8-10 hours / 8 miles hiking with 540' gain and 9,340' loss; camp at 10,000'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 — Farewell to Kilimanjaro

Complete the final 3,700-foot descent down the rainforest trail to Mweka Gate for a celebratory lunch, then transfer to Moivaro Lodge, a quiet retreat surrounded by lush gardens. Relax in your day room, enjoy a hot shower, and let the achievement of your climb sink in. Say farewell to your fellow climbers before heading to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your homeward flight — or, if you'd like to extend your trip, ask your African Environments guide about our optional 5-day Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti safari extension.

Activity: 3-5 hours / 4 miles hiking with 4,500' elevation loss

Transportation: 1-hour transfer to hotel; shared airport transfer

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: 

Flying Doctors is included in the above cost: This is an emergency and evacuation insurance we buy in Arusha for a service that we can call on that will help us facilitate the most efficient emergency evacuation possible. https://flydoc.org/air-ambulance

Tips and Carbon offset, described below, are optional.. 

Additional services optional description:

Ø  Tip fund. This is a tip for the support staff and is included in the cost listed above. We still ask that you tip your leader and driver additionally.

Ø  Carbon Offset is a service provided by Carbon Tanzania a non-profit we support here in TZ. http://www.carbontanzania.com/

Ø  Wow Factor fund. This is for the trip leader to purchase gifts, drinks and any extras that he can use to create a WOW moment for the guests. 

Included:  Everything else..  Full board, beer and wine at Itikoni camp, all transfers, licensed WFR certified guide for each 3 clients.  Full porter assistance, minimum of 5 porters per person. 

Provided equipment:

·       Three person all season tents

·       Complete kitchen with all food preparation equipment for climbers and staff

·       Complete mess tent with tables, chairs with back, solar lights, all eating and serving equipment for the whole team.

·       Katadyn commercial water filter

·       Hyperbaric chamber

·       Supplemental oxygen system

·       HF radio or satellite phone

·       pulse oximeter

·       Repair kit for tents, packs, zippers

·       First aid kits with limited drugs like diamox, dexamethazone, compozine, epinephrine, and aspirin.

Trip Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare, any meals not specified after each itinerary day, transfers for independent arrival or departure, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders, additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors, pre-trip expenses such as medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas. and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).