Kilimanjaro Machame route: comfort and freedom on a private trek

🚗 You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where your driver will meet you. A transfer then takes you to the village of Machame , in Moshi . You will attend a briefing to prepare for the following day's activities. Meals are not included.

🚘 You take the road (approximately 1 hour ) to the Machame Gate at 1500m , where you meet the entire team. Your guides and porters will be waiting for you with the necessary equipment and food. After the formalities, you begin your ascent .

🥾 The day takes you through the primeval forest , where steps carved into tree roots help you progress. The landscape is filled with giant ferns , lichens , and sometimes monkeys . You reach Machame Hut , located in a meadow on the edge of the forest. After dinner under the stars , you spend your first night on Kilimanjaro .

While you eat breakfast , the guides and porters busy themselves breaking camp . You leave the forest and continue through fields of giant groundsel , streams , and waterfalls . The trail heads east, leading to the Shira Plateau .

The landscape opens up, and you catch sight of the imposing and majestic summit of Kilimanjaro. The Shira Hut campsite, situated on a vast, rocky plain, welcomes you for the night. You'll need to find a flat spot to pitch your tent . At this altitude , you're above the cloud layer. Depending on the weather conditions, you might want to explore Shira Cave .

The vegetation becomes sparse as you progress. The glacier , directly overhead, offers an impressive spectacle as you skirt around it. This stage, marked by striking beauty , takes you along ridges before descending into gorges carved by streams.

You reach Lava Camp at 4700m where you stop for lunch before descending back towards Barranco . Vegetation gradually reappears, with groundsel and giant lobelia dotting the landscape. The Barranco Hut site, nestled in a deep valley, is undoubtedly the most beautiful camp of your trip. You admire the vibrant wall illuminated by the sunset, a promise of magnificent hikes to come.

This day, dedicated to acclimatizing to the altitude , is essential to maximizing your chances of success during the final ascent. Fatigue is setting in, but the summit is within reach.

You set off towards the Karanga Valley. Another crucial day for acclimatization . The ascent of the "wall" of the Barranco is impressive, but without major technical difficulties. You may need to use your hands at times, but the guides are there to assist you. A long traverse follows, consisting of ascents and descents on the southern slopes of the Kilimanjaro massif. To your left, the still-imposing Kibo glaciers tower above you, while to the east, the Mawenzi sub-massif unfolds against the African sky. You arrive at the Karanga camp for a hot lunch . The afternoon is yours to relax or explore the surrounding area of ​​the southern circuit with your guide.

You begin a steady climb on the trail leading to Kilimanjaro Base Camp. Temperatures drop and vegetation becomes even sparser. You progress until you reach a ridge that leads you to the Barafu campsite , at 4600m .

To the east, you can admire the majestic Mawenzi , while above you, the Kibo crater marks your final destination. At Barafu Camp , water is brought by porters , and it is important to use it sparingly.

Thanks to the 7-day trek instead of 6, you arrive earlier, allowing you to enjoy a hot lunch and take time to rest. In the evening, you eat well and hydrate to build up your energy. You go to bed early to be ready for the final ascent, which begins during the night.

⛰️ The departure is very early, around midnight , for the ascent of the summit of Africa . Well-equipped against the cold , you begin this legendary climb, step by step, in the darkness, following the beams of headlamps that wind their way ahead. Breath is short and the slope is steep, but the encouragement of your guide motivates you to keep going.

After about six hours of climbing , you reach Stella Point at 5,800 meters . The pristine crater stretches out before you as the sun sets the horizon ablaze. Fatigue vanishes in the face of this spectacle. A final push of about an hour takes you to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters , the highest point in Africa. You admire the glaciers and immortalize this achievement with a souvenir photo .

The descent then begins, with a return to Barafu Camp for a short break, before continuing a long descent via the Mweka Route . You reach Mweka Camp to spend your last night on the slopes of Kilimanjaro , surrounded by your team to whom you express your gratitude for their support throughout this adventure.

You begin your descent through the forest , leaving the summit of Kilimanjaro behind you. Upon arriving at Mweka Gate , you complete the exit formalities before enjoying a well-deserved lunch .

Your guide will present you with your certificate , a testament to your successful ascent. You will then return to civilization with a transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home (custom flight not included, please contact us), or you can continue your adventure with an optional safari extension (please contact us).

✈️ You arrive in France , your head full of memories after this unforgettable adventure on Kilimanjaro .