The first day of trekking starts at Machame Gate, which is normally accessible after an hour's drive from Moshi. You will meet your trekking group, guide, porters, and cook at the gate. As we finish park formalities, there will be a frenzy of activity as porters put together equipment for the trek. The course climbs steadily for the first part, passing through amazing lush rainforests. Because this walk is less frequently used, it can become fairly overgrown in some areas and is frequently muddy and wet underfoot.

You will rise early on the second day because we will need to continue hiking through the forest until we come to the steep climb onto the Shira Plateau. As you approach the low alpine zone, which is distinguished by moorlands and meadows, the walk becomes somewhat steep. Located on a plateau, Shira Camp 2 offers you the first views of Mount Meru to the east and Kibo to the north-west. Day two is about four to six hours long and covers 5.4 km / 3.4 miles.

The third day's walking on high moorland completely alters the character of the terrain. After navigating the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, you will eventually arrive at camp after going beneath the Lava Tower and the last segment of the Western Breach. We have been at an altitude (up to 4600m) for the entire day. Even though you finish the day at a much lower height than when you began at Shira Camp, it is still regarded as one of the most crucial since it allows you to acclimatize properly by allowing you to climb high and sleep low.

The fourth day of the Machame Route starts with a descent into the massive valley known as the Great Barranco. After that, you'll ascend the Great Barranco Wall, which separates you from Kibo's southeast slopes, in a steep manner. It's a lengthy and exhausting rock climb, but not particularly tricky. You will travel towards the Karanga Valley, your final freshwater stops before the summit, passing beneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers. Note: Before moving on to Barafu, hikers on the seven-day trek spend the night at Karanga Camp. There is an acclimatization benefit to having this extra day.

Day five is summit night (and day)! You will start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. You should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit you. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround you and the views of jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes you to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). You will begin your descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on a steep slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.

After breakfast, we will keep on the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. It can be muddy and damp at lower altitudes. Trekking poles and gaiters will be useful. It will probably be plenty to wear in shorts and t-shirts. Your finest Kilimanjaro hiking tours will come to an end when our driver picks you up and returns you to the Moshi hotel.