Kilimanjaro - Machame Route
Hike to the top of Africa
- 9 nights
-
Up to 12 hikers (on average 8)
- Camping and a luxury lodge in Moshi
- Tanzania
-
Possible year round
- Hard
From £2450
Kilimanjaro is the worlds highest free standing mountain, the highest mountain in Africa and one of the famous 7 summits!
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a truly special experience. At the park gate you enter into pristine rainforest and during the trek pass through shrub, desert and alpine environments! Over a 7 day route we gradually gain altitude and acclimatise to our new surroundings all the time with incredible views across the African plains.
With the best support from AdAstra and our local team, excellent logistics and plenty of singing and dancing along the way, Kilimanjaro is an experience you’ll never forget!
Our preferred route on Kilimanjaro is the Machame route, which is over 7 days. It may not be the quietest, but will provide the best experience and acclimatisation profile.
The Machame route has the best altitude ascent profile of all the routes on the mountains giving you the best chance to acclimatise. It is one of only two routes that ‘climbs high and sleeps low’ during the trek to high camp – the proven best way to acclimatise. The Machame route has an incredibly beautiful approach and is only open to teams camping on the mountain. Passing the Lava Tower and legendary Baranco Wall you’ll be rewarded with some of the most incredible sunsets and sunrises you’ll ever see. On this route you will descend Kilimanjaro by the Meweka route.
After the hike you will have a night in Moshi. Why not add on a Safari or a few days by the beach in Zanzibar!
Included
Experienced Guide with First Aid qualification.
Local Guides, Assistant Guides and Porters
Dedicated Cook and Assistant Cook.
All park entry permits, camping fees and rescue cover to Kilimanjaro National Park.
Three nights’ accommodation in Moshi (2 nights before, 1 after)
All meals in-country*.
In-country airport transfers.
Transfers to and from the National Park gates.
Emergency Equipment – Comprehensive First Aid, Medicine, Oxygen and Radios.
Camping equipment hire (4-season tent, camping mat).
Private toilet tents on the mountain.
Clean Katadyn Filtered Water.
* Except 1 lunch on build-up day
In a nutshell it includes almost everything from the minute you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport until the time we drop you back – no hidden extras!
Not Included
Flights to Tanzania
Lunch on day 2
Alcohol
Additional Snack / Drinks
Visa into Tanzania
Tips for Staff ($200 compulsory)
Personal travel and medical insurance
Spending money for souvenirs
Any activities not mentioned
Itinerary
What to expect day to day
Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro Airport you will be transferred to our hotel in Moshi to freshen up after your flight. After a comprehensive briefing about the trip from your Expedition Leader. We will be served dinner in the hotel where you can get to know the other members of your group and relax in the beautiful grounds of our hotel.
Today you will have the chance to change money, meet our local guides and ensure that you have everything you need for the trek. We will also have the opportunity to explore the local town of Moshi and rest before the trek begins the following day.
After breakfast we are transferred to Machame Gate (1800m), our entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park. From here we trek through mountain forest (keep your eyes peeled for monkeys and an array of beautiful birds) to Machame Camp (3000m) and our first overnight stay on the mountain at Machame Camp.
Trekking time 5-6 hours | Distance: 11km | Campsite altitude gain: 1219m.
The next morning we leave the rainforest behind and trek across heath and moorland onto the Shira Plateau to Shira Camp 2 (3850m), where we spend our second night camping on the mountain.
Trekking time 4-5 hours | Distance: 6km | Campsite altitude gain: 802m
The landscape begins to get far more rugged today as we continue through rolling semi-desert valleys passing the impressive Lava Tower, a volcanic plug that towers over the trail at 4642m.
Trekking time 7-8 hours | Distance: 11km | Campsite altitude gain: 163m.
Today is the perfect opportunity for you to continue acclimatising, with a relatively easy trek and very little height gain. After a morning walking along the Kibo South Circuit, we enter the Karanga Valley and to our riverside campsite. There may be the opportunity for a further acclimatisation trek in the afternoon if you’re feeling up to it.
Trekking time 4-5 hours | Distance: 6km | Campsite altitude gain: 37m.
A climb over rocky slabs leads to Kosovo High Campsite (5800m) where we get an early night for our summit attempt the following day. If the conditions allow, we may get views of the spectacular Heim, Kersten and Rebmann glaciers above.
Tonight will be cold, so after some food and hot drinks, we retire to our tents early to get as much sleep as possible before the long day ahead. Your leader will deliver a detailed summit brief with top tips and handy hints. It is essential to have your daypack and water ready before bed.
Trekking time 4-5 hours | Distance: 6km | Campsite altitude gain: 839m.
Summit day has arrived! We begin with a very early start for our final push, passing the Rebmann Glacier then on to Stella Point as the sun rises over this dramatic landscape. A short while after this, we reach Uhuru Peak – the highest point of Kilimanjaro and of the African continent. What an achievement – you’ve made it to the summit! Providing it is clear, the summit offers magnificent views of the sun rising over the secondary cone of Mawenzi (5149m) and west over the vast plains to Mount Meru (4566m). After a brief photo stop and a rest, we begin a descent back down the way we came up to Barafu Campsite for lunch then onto Millennium Camp where we camp for the final time.
Trekking time 10-11 hours | Distance: 19km | Ascent: 993m | Descent: 2058m
During our last day trekking, we descend from Millennium Camp all the way down to Machame Gate where we’ll say our goodbyes to some of our local team before being transferredback to our hotel for showers and a celebratory meal.
Trekking time 4-5 hours | Distance: 12km | Descent: 2169m.
Today we say our goodbyes and you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight. Why not continue your trip and join us for a safari or on the beach.
Moshi
We stay in a lovely lodge in Moshi. With beautiful rooms, lots of outdoor space and a swimming pool its the perfect place to relax pre and post trek.
The trek
We will have our camp set up each night by our amazing mountain team. You will sleep in tents and we will have a mess tent to relax in and enjoy our meals. We will also have camping toilets with their own tents.
Expedition Kit list
Our comprehensive kit list has been created to ensure you have the right kit for the mountain. This will make your trip more enjoyable and comfortable. For specific advice please get in touch, or speak to a specialist outdoor retailer. Items marked with * can be hired in country.
General
- Passport plus travel documents and photocopies: These can be stored securely at the hotel during the trek
- Rucksack: 20-30l daypack
- Duffle Bag – For the rest of your hiking kit, carried by our local porters.
- Bag to leave in hotel
- Waterproof Liners: For your day pack and duffle-bag to keep everything dry.
- Sleeping Bag: You will require a -15 sleeping bag *
- Sleeping Bag Liner: Add’s warmth to you sleeping bag and keeps your sleeping bag clean.
- LED Headtorch: For use in the evening. Bring spare batteries.
- Trekking Poles: Highly recommended *
- Camera: Plus memory & spare batteries
- Personal Entertainment: Music, books, cards, diary, notepad and pen.
Head & hands
- Sunglasses: Cat 3 or 4, 100% UVA/UVB
- Sun Hat: Essential
- Buff – Essential against the dust and sun
- Warm Hat
- Thin Gloves: liner gloves
- Thick Gloves/Mittens: Warm and insulated. Sized to go over the liner gloves for extra warmth.
Upper Body
- Down Jacket: It’s very cold during the evening and mornings so this is essential. *
- Waterproof Jacket: Lightweight and breathable. e.g. GoreTex
- Baselayers – T-shirts or lightweight long sleeve shirts (not cotton); polypropylene or Merino wool. Lighter colours are better.
- Lightweight Fleece
- Heavyweight Fleece: Softshell or primaloft jacket.
Legs & feet
- Hiking Boots: Comfortable and waterproof with good ankle support.
- Trainers/Sandals: For use in Kathmandu and in the evenings.
- Down Slippers: For the evenings.
- Socks: 3 – 4 pairs of lightweight trekking socks plus a pair of thicker mountaineering socks e.g. smartwool
- Walking Trousers: Comfortable lightweight and quick drying
- Long Thermal Trousers: To sleep in and wear under your trousers when the temperatures drop.
- Waterproof Trousers: Lightweight and breathable. e.g. GoreTex
- Walking Shorts: Ideal for the first few days of the hike when it’s warmer.
- Swimming Costume: For enjoying the pool after the trek.
Hygiene Food and Toiletries
- Water Bottles: 2 x 1 litre water bottles. Camelbak is highly recommended but cannot hold the boiling water and can freeze on colder days.
- Suncream & Lip Protection: Essential: High SPF (30+)
- Anti-bacterial Hand Gel
- Wash Kit: Wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste and travel towel.
- Toilet Paper
- Snacks: To supplement the food provided. 1 – 2 per day is enough. High energy lightweight and tasty.
- First Aid Kit: Your mountain Guide will carry a comprehensive group first aid kit. A small blister/first aid kit of your own is advised. Compeed / Second skin plasters, painkillers (Paracetamol and Ibuprofen), zinc oxide tape, powdered rehydration sachet, antibacterial foot powder plus any personal medication you need.
- Small repair kit: Gaffer tape, needle and thread, zip ties and para-cord are useful for little repairs.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Kilimanjaro is a challenging hike with a fairly quick acclimatisation profile. We take it nice a slow giving our bodies time to adjust. You will need a good level of fitness to complete this hike.
Unless you live at a high altitude it is impossible to truly train for the altitude. Altitude sickness (AMS) can strike anyone no matter your fitness lever. The key is to take your time and walk slow.
You can hike up Kilimanjaro any time of year. However the best months for hiking are January – February or August – September but these can be very busy so March and October can also be great times to hike.
During the peak seasons the trails can get a little congested in some stretches. Many guided groups are around 10-15 people. However, there are plenty of stretches where it will feel like it is just you and the Mountain.
There is nothing to buy on the mountain so it’s best to leave your money and valuables in the safes of the Moshi hotel.
We will boil water where possible and purify the water to ensure it is safe to drink. Our guides will boil the water so we know it is safe.
The more water you can drink the better. It will not only help with altitude sickness but also help you replenish your salt and keep you hydrated. We recommend 4 -5 liters per day
No, we camp the whole way up and there is no way to connect to wifi. Your phone may work part of the way up the mountain but why not switch off and enjoy the hike!
Battery packs and solar chargers are great for the trek to keep things charges or extra batteries.
There are no specific bathrooms but we do bring camping toilets with us on the trek. It will not be possible to shower but hot water is provided to wash each day.
After the trek why not take a few days to relax on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. We stay in this lovely villa that’s right on the beach and have sole use for our group.
Our fabulous chef will buy fresh fish from the market each day for delicious evening BBQ’s. He will also prepare eggs, pancakes and fresh fruit for our breakfasts.
Relax all day on the beach reading a book and catching some rays or discover some of the amazing snorkelling available right from our front door.
If you are feeling more adventurous there are wonderful day trips and half day trips available on request.
FIT TO SUMMIT
We have been asked many times over the years how do I get fit for my adventure?
We have answered your calls and teamed up with Anthony Richardson to deliver you a 12 week pre challenge fitness programme aimed at getting you ready for your adventure.
Find out more about the programme and if it will be right for you.
Similar Trips
Why AdAstra
Kilimanjaro is one of AdAstra’s favorite hikes. It is so diverse with ever changing landscapes. We particularly like this route up and we have some of the best guides on the mountain. We also have a fantastic team in Moshi coordinating with our mountain team ensuring an extra layer of safety on the mountain.
- Small groups of adventurers
- Team of passionate local guides
- Your AdAstra guide there to look after all your needs.
Is Kilimanjaro for you?
This is one of the more challenging hikes we have due to the speed of accent. Saying that we take longer to reach the summit than many other companies. Our current summit success is 100%. It is however a challenge and you should be prepared to train hard for this trip.
- Kilimanjaro is 5,895m high
- It takes 5 days to hike to the summit and 2 days to return to Moshi, 7 days hiking in total
- You will spend 9 days 10 nights in Tanzania.