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Kilimanjaro from Amboseli

Treks / Tanzania

Kilimanjaro (Machame route)

Tanzania · Nearest city: Moshi (also Arusha)

TypeMulti-day trek
Days6–7
Distance≈ 62 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point5,895 m

A non-technical climb to the roof of Africa. Summit night starts around midnight and involves roughly 1,200 m of ascent followed by a long descent the same day.

Fitness Demanding
Best seasonJanuary to mid-March, June to October
High pointUhuru Peak
High altitude

Watch out: Altitude, not fitness, is why roughly four in ten climbers don't summit. Choose a 7-day itinerary if you can.

Why people choose it

It's the highest mountain you can walk up without climbing skills, and one of the Seven Summits.

What makes it different

  • Rainforest to glacier in one week
  • Highest free-standing mountain in the world
  • No technical climbing needed

Day by day

The seven-day Machame route, the most popular way up Kilimanjaro. Every night is at a designated camp and a licensed guide is compulsory.

Highest point of each day · best views
0 m1,000 m2,000 m3,000 m4,000 m5,000 m6,000 mDay 1: Machame Camp, 3,000 mDay 1Day 2: Shira Camp, 3,840 mDay 2Day 3: Lava Tower, 4,630 mDay 3Day 4: Barranco Wall, 4,200 mDay 4Day 5: Barafu Camp, 4,673 mDay 5Day 6: Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mDay 6Day 7: Mweka Camp, 3,100 mDay 75,895 m
  1. Day1

    Machame Gate → Machame Camp

    ≈ 11 km↑ ≈ 1,200 m Highest: Machame Camp, 3,000 m

    Dense rainforest with monkeys, often misty and muddy.

    Sleep: Machame Camp

  2. Day2

    Machame Camp → Shira Camp

    ≈ 5 km↑ ≈ 840 m Highest: Shira Camp, 3,840 m

    Out of the forest onto open moorland, with Kibo's summit in view.

    Sleep: Shira Camp

  3. Day3

    Shira Camp → Barranco Camp

    ≈ 10 km↑ ≈ 790 m Highest: Lava Tower, 4,630 m

    Climb high to Lava Tower, sleep low at Barranco among giant groundsels.

    Sleep: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)

  4. Day4

    Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp

    ≈ 5 km Highest: Barranco Wall, 4,200 m

    A fun, hands-on scramble up the Barranco Wall, then a short day for acclimatisation.

    Sleep: Karanga Camp (3,995 m)

  5. Day5

    Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp

    ≈ 4 km↑ ≈ 680 m Highest: Barafu Camp, 4,673 m

    A short climb to base camp, early dinner and bed before the midnight start.

    Sleep: Barafu Camp

  6. Day6

    Barafu Camp → Mweka CampBest views

    ≈ 17 km↑ ≈ 1,220 m Highest: Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m

    Night climb to Stella Point and Uhuru Peak at sunrise, then a long descent.

    Sleep: Mweka Camp (3,100 m)

  7. Day7

    Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate

    ≈ 10 km Highest: Mweka Camp, 3,100 m

    Back down through the rainforest to collect your certificate.

    Sleep: Hotel in Moshi or Arusha

Where the best view is

Summit day. You reach Stella Point on the crater rim around sunrise, with glaciers and the plains of Tanzania glowing below, then walk the rim to Uhuru Peak.

Where to take a rest day

There's no rest day as such: days 3 and 4 are built for acclimatisation, climbing to Lava Tower at 4,630 m and sleeping lower at Barranco.

Route options

There is rarely just one way to walk Kilimanjaro (Machame route). These are the main choices people make.

  • Length: most people take 6–7 days; our day-by-day plan uses 7. You can shorten it by skipping a stage with a bus or lift, or lengthen it with rest days.

Similar treks to consider

Everest Base Camp Nepal · 12–14 days · 130 km A round trip from Lukla through Sherpa villages to the foot of Everest. Daily distances are moderate, but... Inca Trail (classic) Peru · 4 days · 42 km Four days on original stone paths to Machu Picchu. Day two climbs to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m and the... Song-Kul Lake Trek Kyrgyzstan · 2–3 days · 40 km A walk or horse trek over high pastures to Song-Kul, a lake at 3,016 m where herders set up yurt camps each summer.

Before you go

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.

Phone and data

Roaming in Tanzania is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.

Tanzania eSIM on Airalo

Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.

Insurance that covers this trek

This trek reaches 5,895 m. Above 4,500 m most standard policies stop, so check the altitude limit before you buy: SafetyWing needs its Adventure Sports add-on (up to 6,000 m), World Nomads covers trekking to 6,000 m with Level 3 activities, and Heymondo's add-on stops at 5,000 m. Above 4,600 m, Global Rescue's High-Altitude package adds field rescue.

Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.

World NomadsSafetyWingTrue TravellerGlobal Rescue

True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.

Camping and where to sleep

All camping is at the national park's designated campsites, organised by your tour operator.

Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.

Route map

Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.

Straight lines between stops One colour per day (dashed: straight line, not the exact path) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city

Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.

Stops: Machame → Barafu Camp → Uhuru Peak

Simple overview map
MachameBarafu CampUhuru PeakMoshi20 kmN

Step by step

  1. Months before

    Plan and book

    • Book with a licensed operator. You can't do this trek independently.
    • Best time to go: January to mid-March, June to October.
  2. 6–12 weeks before

    Train and test your gear

    • Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
    • Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
    • Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.

    Readiness quiz · Packing list

  3. Getting there

    Travel to the start

    • Most people start from Moshi.
  4. On the trail

    Walk it

    • Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
    • See the day-by-day plan below for distances, high points and where to sleep.
    • Climb slowly and take the acclimatisation days seriously.
  5. The finish

    Get home

    • It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.

How the season changes things

Best time: January to mid-March, June to October

The dry seasons (see best season above)

Main season

Clearest skies and most stable weather, but cold nights at altitude and busy trails.

Bring

  • Down jacket and warm sleeping bag
  • Sun protection for strong UV
  • Water purification

Edges of the dry season

Shoulder season

Fewer people and cheaper trips, with a higher chance of cloud, rain or snow.

Bring

  • Full waterproofs
  • Spare warm layers
  • Extra days in your plan

Rainy months

Wet season

Mud, cloud and closed views. Some routes close entirely, like the Inca Trail in February.

Bring

  • Check whether the route is open
  • Rain gear and dry bags
  • Flexible dates

Be ready for

High altitude

Above about 3,000 m the air holds less oxygen. Walk slowly, drink plenty, don't rush acclimatisation days, and go down if you get a bad headache, nausea or confusion.

Down jackets →Water filters →

Cold summit

Summit temperatures can drop well below freezing, especially before dawn. Pack a down jacket, warm gloves and a hat.

Down jackets →Headlamps →

What you'll see

9 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.

Kilimanjaro from Amboseli
Day 5Near Uhuru PeakFresh Tracks above the Clouds on a Fresh Morning - Be careful you don't walk off the cliff
Day 3Near Barranco CampRainbow and Barranco wall, Barranco camp, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
Day 7Near Mweka GateRiesensenezien - panoramio
Day 3Near Barranco CampClimbing toward the Lava Tower site, Kilimanjaro, - Aug. a
Day 4Near Karanga CampKaranga Camp (4000m) Kilimanjaro
Day 1Near Machame CampKilimanjaro climb - panoramio
Day 1Near Machame CampCorvus albicollis on Kilimanjaro
Day 7Near Mweka GateKilimanjaro,Tanjania - panoramio

Gear for the Kilimanjaro (Machame route)

Hiking boots Top pick: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX Backpacks Top pick: Osprey Exos 58 Rain jackets Top pick: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

Photo credits: Kilimanjaro from Amboseli by Sergey Pesterev, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Fresh Tracks above the Clouds on a Fresh Morning - Be careful you don't walk off the cliff by Shane (Lost Australian), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Rainbow and Barranco wall, Barranco camp, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania by KpokeJlJla, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Riesensenezien - panoramio by Stefan090281, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Climbing toward the Lava Tower site, Kilimanjaro, - Aug. a by Masa Sakano from Leicester, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Karanga Camp (4000m) Kilimanjaro by Phase9, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Kilimanjaro climb - panoramio by Jang Woo Lee, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Corvus albicollis on Kilimanjaro by Masa Sakano, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Kilimanjaro,Tanjania - panoramio by Jang Woo Lee, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.