Kilimanjaro Machame Route: Guided Trek with Camping & Meals

Summary

Climbing Kilimanjaro’s Machame Route with local crew and wild camp nights

You’ll feel every step on Kilimanjaro’s Machame Route — from muddy rainforest trails with your local guide to cold sunrise views near Uhuru Peak. Meals are cooked fresh by your mountain crew; tents are pitched for you each night. It’s tough but honest, and somehow even the hardest moments end up feeling worth it when you look back.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me wasn’t the altitude or even the forest — it was the smell of wet earth at Machame Gate. You know that deep, green scent you get after rain? Our boots squished through mud while porters laughed behind us, balancing gear like it weighed nothing. I remember our guide, Joseph, handing out lunch packs with this quiet grin — he’d done this so many times but still seemed to enjoy watching us city folks try to adjust backpacks for the tenth time. The forest was thick and loud with birds. When we finally reached camp that night, my fingers were numb from cold already. Dinner tasted better than it should have — maybe because I was starving or maybe because everything felt earned.

Waking up at Shira Camp, my water bottle had frozen solid overnight (no one warned me about that), and the air stung my nose. The sun came up fast over the plateau and suddenly you could see Kibo’s glaciers way off in the distance — it looked close enough to touch but felt impossibly far. The walk to Lava Tower was brutal; rocks everywhere and my head started pounding halfway up. Joseph noticed right away (“Pole pole,” he kept saying — slowly, slowly). At Barranco Camp that evening, I just sat outside my tent staring at the Barranco Wall in this weird golden light. Didn’t talk much; everyone seemed wrapped in their own thoughts.

I won’t lie: summit night is a blur of shuffling boots on scree and trying not to think about how tired you are. We left Barafu Camp around midnight after some tea and dry biscuits (couldn’t eat much anyway). All I remember is headlamps bobbing ahead of me like little fireflies and Joseph humming quietly under his breath. Reaching Stella Point just as the sky turned pink is something I still think about — you’re so tired but suddenly everything feels huge and silent except for people crying or hugging each other. Uhuru Peak itself? Windy, freezing, almost too much to take in at once. But then you go back down fast, legs shaking all the way to Mweka Camp where dinner tastes like victory.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Start climb from Machame Gate

• Briefing and breakfast in Moshi
• Drive 45 minutes to Machame village
• Pack supplies and equipment
• Walk or drive to Machame Gate
• Register at gate office
• Start ascent through rainforest
• Receive lunch pack at gate
• Hike to Machame camp
• Porters boil water and cook dinner
• Rest overnight in tents

Day 2 — Hike from Machame to Shira Camp

• Breakfast at Machame camp
• Climb through forest and moorland
• Short lunch and rest
• Hike rocky ridge to Shira plateau
• Arrive at Shira camp
• Porters boil water and prepare dinner
• Overnight in tents at Shira camp

Day 3 — Ascend Lava Tower, descend to Barranco

• Breakfast at Shira camp
• Hike to Lava Tower
• Lunch near Lava Tower
• Descend to Barranco camp
• Enjoy sunset at Barranco Wall
• Porters prepare dinner
• Overnight in tents at Barranco camp

Day 4 — Trek to Barafu camp via Karanga Valley

• Breakfast at Barranco camp
• Hike to Karanga Valley
• Continue to Barafu camp
• Prepare gear for summit attempt
• Rest early for summit night
• Overnight in tents at Barafu camp

Day 5 — Summit Uhuru Peak and descend

• Wake at 23:30 for summit start
• Ascend to Stella Point
• Watch sunrise at Stella Point
• Climb to Uhuru Peak
• Descend to Barafu camp
• Rest briefly and collect gear
• Descend to Mweka camp
• Dinner and overnight at Mweka camp

Day 6 — Descend to Mweka Gate and Moshi

• Breakfast at Mweka camp
• Hike down to Mweka Gate
• Walk to Mweka village
• Drive to Springlands Hotel
• Enjoy hot lunch
• Drive back to Moshi
• Hot shower and overnight at hotel
• Receive summit certificate
• Tip guides and porters

Top questions

How long does it take to climb Kilimanjaro via Machame Route?

The Machame Route trek takes about 6 days from gate to gate.

Are meals included on the Kilimanjaro Machame Route trek?

Yes, all meals on the mountain are prepared by a cook and included in your tour.

Do I sleep in tents or huts on this route?

You sleep in tents provided by porters; there are no huts on the Machame Route.

Is hotel accommodation included before & after the climb?

Yes, two nights at Springlands Hotel in Moshi are included before and after your trek.

What is provided by porters during the trek?

Porters carry equipment and supplies, pitch your tent each night, and help boil water for drinking and washing.

How difficult is summit night on Kilimanjaro?

Summit night from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak is physically and mentally challenging due to altitude and cold.

Are airport transfers included in this Kilimanjaro tour?

Yes, return airport transfers to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) are included.

Is a local guide present throughout the entire climb?

A qualified local guide leads your group for all stages of the Machame Route trek.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Moshi with return transport to both start and finish points on Kilimanjaro’s Machame Route; all national park fees; salaries for guides, porters, cook and waiter; tents with sleeping mattresses; mess tent dining setup; all meals prepared fresh during your trek; boiled drinking water daily; first aid kit access; two nights’ accommodation at Springlands Hotel before and after climbing; plus airport transfers both ways for smooth arrivals and departures.