6-Day Machame Route Kilimanjaro Trek Guide

Summary

Kilimanjaro 6-Day Trek: Machame Route Experience

You’ll hike through rain forests and rocky ridges, scramble up Barranco Wall, watch sunrise from Africa’s highest point—and earn every step of it.

What’s the experience like?

The first morning started with a quick breakfast in Moshi—nothing fancy, just some toast and strong Tanzanian coffee. The drive up to Machame Gate took about 45 minutes. We passed tiny shops and kids waving at the van. At the gate, our guide Daniel sorted permits while we watched porters balancing huge loads on their heads. Once we set off, the air felt thick and earthy—almost sweet from all the rain forest around us. It was humid, but not too hot. I remember hearing colobus monkeys somewhere above as we wound our way through mossy trees. By late afternoon, boots muddy and legs tired, we reached Machame Camp just as the light faded behind the trees.

Day two felt different right away—the forest thinned out fast and suddenly everything was open moorland. The path got steeper, rocky in places, but you could see for miles if the clouds parted. Lunch was a simple packed meal; I ate mine sitting on a flat rock with my back to the wind. Our cook always managed to sneak in some fresh fruit, which tasted amazing after hours of hiking. Shira Camp sits high up—cold at night, so I slept in my fleece hat.

The third day is where things get real: you climb up toward Lava Tower (locals call it “Shark’s Tooth”). It’s tough going—thin air makes every step slower than you’d like. We stopped for tea near the base; Daniel said this part helps your body adjust for summit day. After that it’s down again to Barranco Camp, which sits below this wild-looking wall of rock. The sunset there turns everything gold for about ten minutes before it gets chilly fast.

Barranco Wall looks intimidating when you wake up under it—almost vertical from camp—but scrambling up is more fun than scary if you take it slow (and don’t look down too much). Porters move past like it’s nothing! After crossing Karanga Valley (watch out for slippery gravel), we pushed on to Barafu Camp by late afternoon. The place is all rocks and wind—no shelter except tents—but you can see the summit ridge clearly if clouds stay away.

Summit day starts before midnight—no joke. You eat something warm (I forced down porridge) and then headlamp your way up scree slopes in total darkness. It’s quiet except for boots crunching and people breathing hard. Stella Point comes just as dawn breaks—a few folks cried when they saw sunlight hit the glaciers. Uhuru Peak isn’t far from there but feels endless until you finally spot that wooden sign at 5,895 meters. My hands were numb but I managed a photo before heading down fast—knees aching all the way to Mweka Camp.

The last stretch is mostly downhill through damp forest—you’ll hear birds again and maybe catch whiffs of wildflowers if it rained overnight. The trail gets muddy near Mweka Gate; gaiters are a lifesaver here. At the finish line, someone handed me a certificate with my name spelled wrong (close enough). We piled into a van back to Moshi—tired, hungry, but honestly just happy to sit still for an hour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Drive to Machame Camp and Hike

• Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate (45 min)
• Hike through rainforest to Machame Camp

Day 2 — Hike to Shira Camp

• Ascend from Machame Camp to Shira Camp (4-5 hrs)

Day 3 — Hike to Lava Tower and Barranco Camp

• Hike from Shira Camp to Lava Tower
• Descend to Barranco Camp

Day 4 — Climb Barranco Wall to Barafu Camp

• Climb Barranco Wall
• Traverse Karanga Valley
• Hike to Barafu Camp

Day 5 — Summit Kilimanjaro and Descend

• Summit Kilimanjaro via Stella Point and Uhuru Peak
• Descend to Mweka Camp

Day 6 — Descend to Mweka Gate and Return

• Descend from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
• Drive back to hotel in Moshi (60 min)

Top questions

How fit do I need to be for this trek?

You should be in decent shape—able to walk uphill for several hours a day with a pack on your back. Some training hikes beforehand really help.

What’s included during the climb?

You get all meals on trek days, tents and group gear set up by crew, guides who know every twist of the trail, plus transfers between Moshi and park gates.

When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro via Machame?

The dry seasons are best: December–mid-March or June–October mean clearer skies and less rain underfoot.

Are special diets possible?

Yes—they can handle vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or halal meals if you let them know ahead of time.

What’s included

Your trek covers hotel pickup/drop-off in Moshi town, all meals during climbing days (with options for most diets), sleeping pads/tents/chairs/tables/cutlery provided by crew, plus professional guides and porters throughout your journey—and your summit certificate at the end!