The Machame Route 6 days trek is a popular choice for climbers seeking a challenging yet rewarding ascent to Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit. Known for its scenic beauty and diverse landscapes, the route begins at the lush Machame Gate, winding through dense rainforests before emerging onto the striking Shira Plateau. Trekkers traverse the dramatic Barranco Wall, navigate through the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, and reach the high-altitude Barafu Camp. The final push to Uhuru Peak takes place under the starlit sky, culminating in a breathtaking sunrise at Africa’s highest point. The descent retraces the Mweka Route, providing a different perspective on the varied terrains. This six-day itinerary allows for optimal acclimatization, enhancing the likelihood of a successful and unforgettable summit experience.
Welcome to your adventure with Williamson Adventures! Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our friendly representative will be there to greet you. You’ll be transferred to your hotel in Arusha/Moshi, which is situated at an elevation of 890m/2,920ft.
Once settled in, you’ll meet with your guide for a comprehensive climb briefing. This session will cover the upcoming trek, ensuring you are well-prepared and informed. After the briefing, we’ll conduct an equipment check to make sure you have everything needed for a successful and safe climb. Any missing gear can be rented or purchased at our Store.
The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Moshi, relax, and prepare for the adventure ahead. Enjoy a comfortable overnight stay at your hotel, where you can rest and acclimate to the local climate.
Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft
Altitude gained: 1210m
Departing from Moshi, a 45-minute drive will take you through the Village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while observing the hustle and bustle as many crews prepare for the journey ahead. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and winding trails while your guide shares insights about the local flora, fauna, and wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft
Altitude gained: 818m
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop.
Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft
Altitude gained: 147m
Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau, we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before continuing southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier. We then continue to descend to overnight at Barranco Camp.
Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft
Altitude gained: 676m
After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction connecting with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days, showcasing the power, agility, and strength of your crew as they navigate this wall with ease. We continue up towards Barafu Camp, completing the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from different angles. An early dinner and rest are essential as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.
Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained:1233m
Descent to: 3106m/10,190ft
Altitude lost: 2789m
Excitement builds as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
We continue our ascent between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction, we ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here, the remaining one-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak will likely be snowy all the way.
Congratulations! One step at a time, you have now reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!
After photos, celebrations, and perhaps a few tears of joy, we take a few moments to savor this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for the uncooperative loose gravel and volcanic ash terrain. A well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight at Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude Lost: 1473m
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy, and steep. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles.
From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha/Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long-overdue hot shower, dinner, and this marks the end of Machame Route 6 days – Kilimanjaro Trek
EXCELLENT Based on 58 reviews Haifeng W2024-09-26Verified Fantastic safari experience in Serengeti William is very easy to communicate and always responsive! Our safari guide Boniface is the best!! We got to see all big fives as we wish!! Jianhui H2024-08-30Verified Excellent Service by Williamson Adventure We had an exceptional experience with Williamson Adventure, arranging two activities with them back-to-back: a safari and a Kilimanjaro climb. Despite finalizing our plans just a week before departure, they managed everything seamlessly, and the pricing remained standard with a generous discount from the owner. For the safari, booking a tented camp usually requires advance notice, but after we confirmed our plans, the owner personally took the time to call and email the hotels repeatedly to check availability. Our safari guide was extremely professional and experienced. Thanks to his expertise, we were able to see all of the Big Five, including a rhino that we photographed up close. The entire safari was a fantastic experience.This positive experience led us to choose Williamson Adventure for our subsequent Kilimanjaro climb. After finalizing the itinerary, the owner personally took us to rent the necessary equipment, even staying with us until 9 PM. He also recommended some excellent local restaurants. The climbing guides and staff were incredibly warm, friendly, and professional, always attentive to our physical condition and well-being. They provided invaluable assistance throughout the climb, helping us successfully reach the summit. We are extremely grateful for the services provided by the company and its staff. We highly recommend Williamson Adventure! Melissa M2024-08-19Verified 6-Day Tarangire, Serengeti, & Ngorongoro Crater Safari Tour Wonderful experience overall. William was very accommodating and flexible! The guides were experienced and knowledgeable. We managed to see the Big 5 and more! CELINE F2024-08-18Verified 6-Day Tarangire, Serengeti, & Ngorongoro Crater Amazing experience of a lifetime. Williamson Adventures are a reliable & trustworthy company. Unforgettable experience CelineMALAYSIA Chao M2024-08-03Verified A team of professionals that I would recommend WilliamsomAdventures is a very recommendable Safari team, in the pre-consultation and confirmation of details William gave me the biggest feeling of professionalism and reliability. As I was travelling alone with my children on the safari, I was very satisfied with the safety and hassle-free experience throughout the trip, all the matters were just as William had arranged for us before departure, and all our requirements were greatly satisfied. Our guide, Ibra, was very professional on our safari and helped us to maximise our safari with safety in mind, we saw a lot of animals on our journey and he introduced us to many of them to help us understand the land better. Undoubtedly, my children and I were very impressed with this trip in July and I would gladly recommend them to friends who are interested in going Safari in Tanzania. jeff C2024-07-30Verified 7-Day LeMosho Route I'm thrilled with Williamson Adventures! My brother and I traveled from Canada and were initially quite nervous about trekking Mount Kilimanjaro. However, upon arriving in Moshi, all our nerves vanished. We were warmly welcomed at the hotel by William and one of our guides, who were incredibly friendly. The rest of the trip was fantastic! The guides, porters, and cooks were all amazing, and the food was delicious. The support and encouragement we received throughout exceeded our expectations.Planning the trip required some coordination, but William was always quick to respond and incredibly helpful. For example, he seamlessly arranged our pick-up from Nairobi to Moshi. He also organized an extra night at the hotel in Moshi and an airport shuttle, even though he didn't have to. This company truly goes above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable.We highly, highly recommend Williamson Adventures! Thanks to William, our guides Kevin and Yoeseff, and our amazing porters—the real superheroes! Xinyue Q2024-07-23Verified Great Safari Experience Experienced guide, saw all of the great five. Communication is fast with quick response. The itinerary arrangement is reasonable and interesting. Despite some misunderstanding in the beginning, William was able to rearrange accommodation within short period of time. Helped to celebrate birthday of one friend during the trip, very unforgettable experience!! Leon C2024-07-07Verified Lucky safari We came across Williamson Adventure by accident, and we also chose a few ground handlers to compare, and Williamson was the one with the fastest feedback and the best value for money in terms of combined quotes. Our team of 10 people unanimously gave them five stars, they provide the best service. The owner of Williamson was patient and meticulous in communicating with us beforehand and tried his best to meet our every request, and he also solved the problems we encountered during the safari, and even went to the airport to see us off before we finally left Arusha. We are very satisfied with Williamson's sincerity, and would like to recommend it to every friend who is interested in safari in Tanzania, it's really great and very thoughtful! Ashley2024-05-25Verified Outstanding experience with Williamson Adventures I would say I couldn't be more impressed with their service provided by Williamson Adventures! William were incredibly helpful, he always replied to my messages in a quick and efficient way. The logistics of the trip were flawlessly managed. Transfers, guides were all arranged seamlessly, allowing me to relax and immerse myself in the safari adventure. The guide has experience of more than 10 year, was really a pro—well-informed, friendly, and passionate about sharing their knowledge of those animals and landscapes. And we managed to see Big Five!Overall, Williamson Adventures exceeded my expectations in every way. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for their clients’ experiences make them a great choice for anyone planning a trip to Tanzania. I really appreciate that and will definitely come back again! x Rafael M2023-10-25Verified Best safari in Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara The best safari agency in Tanzania. The best price on a 5-day safari checked with 8 other agencies !!! Very good driver and guide.
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Kili Luxury Camp
Please note that if any hotel is booked out or is otherwise unavailable, we will book you in an alternate equivalent hotel.
If you are booking a hotel directly, please do check with us before booking, to make sure we can meet you and pick you up from the hotel.
Our packages by default include a foam sleeping mattress of 2 inch thickness, if you want a thicker alternative you can opt a 4 inch foam mattress with above mentioned extra cost.
All Equipments Subject to Availability
Our packages by default include a foam sleeping mattress of 2 inch thickness, if you want a thicker alternative you can opt a 4 inch foam mattress with above mentioned extra cost.
All Equipments Subject to Availability