Mount KIlimanjaro, 7 Days Machame Route, Crater Camp

Day 1: Start: Machame Gate (1828m) Finish: Machame Camp (3020m)

Total distance (approx.): 10.8km

Hiking time (approx.): 6 hours.

Pick up from your accommodation at 8am and drive to the Machame Gate

Day 2: Start: Machame Camp (3020m)

Finish: Shira Camp (3850m)

Total distance (approx.): 5.2km

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

This day’s hiking time is much shorter as it is a much steeper route. Following breakfast at 7:30am you will start your heading out of the forest and heading into the moorland area of the national park.

Day 3: Start: Shira Camp (3850m)

Finish: Barranco Camp (3980m) via Lava Tower Rock (4600m) Total distance (approx.): 10.7m

Hiking time: 7 hours

Following breakfast you will leave camp to start your ascent to the Lava Tower Rock. 

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3980m) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

Total distance (approx.): 9.4km

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

Rise at 7:30am for breakfast and then head for a little challenge as you climb up what has been nicknamed the ‘breakfast rock’.

Day 5: Start: Barafu Camp (4640m) to Crater Camp (5715m)

Total Distance: 9.9km

Hiking time: 6-8 hours

This will undoubtedly be your most challenging day, hiking at high altitude for a relatively long distance. 

Day 6: Crater Camp (5715m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Total Distance: 11.8km

Hiking Time: Crater Camp – Uhuru (2 hours)

Uhuru – Mweka Camp (6-8 hours)

If you haven’t chosen to summit the day earlier, your guide will give you a friendly wake up call in the early hours of the morning 

Day 7: Mweka Camp (3080m) to Mweka Gate (1800m)

Total distance: 8.5km

Hiking time: 3-4 hours.

Passing through the montane forest, similar to your first day trekking, you will make your way down to Mweka Gate