6 Days, 5 Nights Trek - Machame Route

Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Distance: 11 km | 7 miles

The drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.

Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

Distance: 5 km | 3 miles

We leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.

Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower

Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Distance: 7 km | 4 miles Habitat: Alpine Desert

Distance: 3 km | 2 miles Habitat: Alpine Desert
We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite.
Day 5: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 5 km | 3 miles Habitat: Arctic
Distance: 12 km | 7 miles Habitat: Rain

Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gates
On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.