7-DAY GROUP HIKE TO MACHAME 2025 KILIMANDJARO

You will be transferred by road from the town of Moshi (09:00) to the Machame gate. After check-in, you'll begin your trek through the rainforest area with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora and fauna, and there is a possibility of rain this afternoon, which is common in this area, making the trail slightly slippery. A steady but relatively steep hike will take you to the edge of the forest and heather area.

Approximate distance by car: 1-1.5 hours

Approximate hiking time: 5-7 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 9km / 5.5mi

Starting altitude: 1790m or 5870ft

Final altitude: 3010m or 9875ft

Highest altitude reached: 3010m or 9875ft

Altitude gain / loss: +1220m or +4005ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today's hike is a little shorter, and begins with a trek through heather and moorland to a steep ridge that leads to the semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. From here, you'll have an excellent view (on a clear day) of Kibo Peak, the highest cone on the mountain, where your goal, Uhuru Peak, lies. You should also be able to see the jagged peaks of the Shira plateau to the west. Shira is Kilimanjaro's third highest peak, shaped by lava flows, erosion and volcanic activity. Tanzania's second highest mountain (Mt Meru 4563m or 14970ft) can be seen in the distance. The rest of the day is spent on a much gentler, flatter track to your camp, where the views are just as spectacular.

Approximate distance by car: None

Approximate trekking time: 5-7 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi

Starting altitude: 3010m or 9875ft

Final altitude: 3845m or 12615ft

Highest altitude reached: 3845m or 12615ft

Altitude gain / loss: +835m or +2740ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today's hike takes you to the Kibo cone, climbing steadily and crossing the edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). This day will help you acclimatize and be a good indicator of your body's ability to cope with higher altitude. From the lava tower, you begin a steep, counter-clockwise descent around Kibo and into the Barranco valley, passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios), unique to Kilimanjaro. The day ends at about the same altitude as the start, on the edge of heather and moorland.

Approximate distance by car: None

Approximate trekking time: 6-8 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 10km / 6mi

Starting altitude: 3845 or 12615ft

Final altitude: 3960m or 12990ft

Highest altitude reached: 4630m or 15190ft

Altitude gain / loss: +785m or +2575ft / -670m or -2200ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

This morning you'll leave camp and climb the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical climb that feels like mountaineering (without prior experience or advanced equipment) and is rewarded with a superb view of the camp and the Heim Glacier on the peak from the summit. The rest of the hike is through alpine desert, winding slowly around the mountain to the Karanga Valley, where you descend and ascend to your camp. The Karanga valley is the last watering place.

Approximate distance by car: None

Approximate hiking time: 3-5 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 6km / 4mi

Starting altitude: 3960m or 12990ft

Final altitude: 4040m or 13255ft

Highest altitude reached: 4250m or 13945ft

Altitude gain / loss: +290m or +955ft /-210m or -690ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today, you climb almost casually through the empty alpine desert landscape, keeping a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. The Kibo cone begins to close in and you can finally see Mawenzi Peak (Kilimanjaro's second highest peak) to the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at summit camp to rest and prepare for tonight's summit attempt.

Approximate distance by car: None

Approximate trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 4km / 2.5mi

Starting altitude: 4040m or 13255ft

Final altitude: 4640m or 15225ft

Highest altitude reached: 4640m or 15225ft

Altitude gain / loss: +600m or +1970ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Early in the morning (around 00:00), you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over volcanic scree in the cold, dark night and proceeds at a slow, zigzag pace to Stella Point (5685m or 18650ft), which is your first stop on the rim of the Kibo crater. From here, a short (but challenging) hike takes you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), Africa's highest point. You won't usually spend much time at the summit due to the extreme altitude, and will return to base camp for breakfast/brunch. After stowing your gear, you'll continue the descent through alpine desert, heather and moorland, finally stopping at Mweka camp in the rainforest zone for a well-deserved rest.

Approximate distance by car: None

Approximate trekking time: 14-18 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 19km / 12mi

Starting altitude: 4640m or 15225ft

Final altitude: 3080m or 10105ft

Highest altitude reached: 5895m or 19341ft

Altitude gain / loss: +1255m or +4116ft / -2815m or -9236ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Your last day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rainforest to Mweka gate, where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to the town of Moshi. The team will usually leave you at Mweka gate, and this is an ideal opportunity to say goodbye to your team, who usually head straight home from Mweka gate.

Approximate distance by car: 1 hour

Approximate trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approximate trekking distance: 10km / 6mi

Starting altitude: 3080m or 10105ft

Final altitude: 1630m or 5350ft

Highest altitude reached: 3080m or 10105ft

Altitude gain / loss: -1450 or 4755ft

Meals included : Breakfast