7-day Kilimanjaro Climbing Via Machame route with Dakado Safaris

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Machame Gate - Kilimanjaro Machame Camp

Dakado drive from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate, will takes about 50 minutes. Along the journey drive to Machame gate hiker(s) will pass through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Hiker(s) will leave the Machame gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are recommended and are an excellent idea! Hiker(s) will now continue a short distance until we reach the Machame encampment.

• Climatic habitat: Rain Forest

• Shelter: Machame Camp

• Rising: 56,000ft / 1,830m to 10,200ft / 3,100m

• Stretch: 11 km

• Hiking time: 5-7 hours

Day 2: Kilimanjaro Machame Campsite to Kilimanjaro Shira Campsite

After Dakado breakfast you will leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. With Tanzania Dakado Adventures Guide, the route will turn west into river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.

• Rising: 10,200ft / 3,100m to 12,600ft / 3,840m

• Stretch: 9 km

• Hiking time: 4-6 hours

• Climatic habitat: Moorland

• Shelter: Full Board Shira Cave Camp

Day 3: Kilimanjaro Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Valley

On the third day of Dakado Machame route trekking, the hiker(s) and team will walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic view. you will traverse the southwest side of Mount Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach after hot lunch the bottom of the Lava Tower 4,600m we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley 3,950m.

• Rising: 12,600ft / 3,840m to 12,700ft / 3,860m

• Stretch: 15 km

• Hike time: 5-7 hours

• Climatic habitat: Semi-desert

• Shelter: Full Board Barranco Camp

Day 4: Kilimanjaro Barranco Camp to Kilimanjaro Karanga Camp

The steep trek up the eastern wall leads hikers just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We also take steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo, the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.

• Rising: Barranco Camp 3,900m to Karanga Camp 3995m

• Stretch: 9 km

• Hike time: 3.5-4 hours

• Climatic habitat: Moorland

• Shelter: Karanga Camp

Day 5: Kilimanjaro Karanga Camp to Kilimanjaro Barafu Camp

The steep climb out of Karanga, and an easy path on compacted scree with wide views through this empty and dry landscape up to Barafu Camp. The two awesome peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi can been seen from Barafu Camp. After a hot Dakadpo lunch at the Camp, the remainder of the day is spent resting as we prepare for the final ascent before an early night summit walk.

• Rising: Karanga camp 3995m to Barafu Camp 4,673m

• Stretch: 4 km

• Hike time: 3-4 hours

• Climatic habitat: Alpine Desert

• Shelter: Barafu Camp

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Kilimanjaro summit, down to Mweka Camp

Hikers will wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. Hikers will begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. Hikers will rest there for few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.

For those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the two hours round trip from here along the crater rim to main peak 5,895m, which is the highest point in Africa! After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment hikers descend to Barafu is amazingly fast and we stop at Barafu Camp for some refreshment and we continue to reach Mweka Camp.

• Rising: Barafu Camp 4,673m to Uhuru peak 5,895m (Via Stella Point 5756m)

• Stretch: 4.3 km ascent to Stella Point

•Stretch: 5km Barafu to Uhuru Peak Ascent

• Hiking Time: 6-7hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent

• Climatic habitat: Alpine Desert

• Shelter: Mweka Camp

Day 7: Kilimanjaro Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Dakado route will take us down through the rainforest to Mweka gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. After lunch hikers drive back to Moshi to your hotel and this will be end of the Dakado trekking Kilimanjaro 7 days Machame route.

• Descend: Mweka camp 3,100m to Mweka Gate 1,640m

• Stretch: 10km

• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

• Climatic habitat: Montane Forest