6 Days Machame Route
Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800m) to Machame Camp (3,000m)
- Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
- Trekking Time: 5-7 hours
- Elevation Gain: +1,200m
- Description:
- You’ll start the climb at Machame Gate and ascend through the lush rainforest, passing beautiful vegetation and wildlife.
- The trail is a bit steep at times but offers great views of the surroundings as you climb up to Machame Camp for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000m) to Barranco Camp (3,950m)
- Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
- Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
- Elevation Gain: +950m
- Description:
- You’ll leave Machame Camp and head toward Barranco, passing through the moorland and high-altitude desert.
- You’ll have a slightly challenging section going through the Barranco Wall, which is a steep but short section that’s manageable.
- After that, you’ll descend slightly before reaching Barranco Camp.
Day 3: Barranco Camp (3,950m) to Karanga Camp (4,035m)
- Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
- Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
- Elevation Gain: +85m
- Description:
- This is a shorter day, giving your body a chance to acclimatize.
- After breakfast, you’ll climb up the Barranco Wall (which may seem daunting but is manageable with the right pace) before continuing to Karanga Camp.
- You’ll get great views of the mountain and surrounding landscape.
Day 4: Karanga Camp (4,035m) to Barafu Camp (4,640m)
- Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles)
- Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
- Elevation Gain: +605m
- Description:
- This is a relatively short day, but the altitude starts to get more significant.
- After a steady climb, you’ll reach Barafu Camp, your base camp for the summit attempt.
- Dinner will be early, and you’ll rest to prepare for the night summit trek.
Day 5: Barafu Camp (4,640m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) and descend to Mweka Camp (3,100m)
- Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles) to the summit, then 13 km (8.1 miles) to Mweka Camp
- Trekking Time: 6-8 hours to summit, then 6-7 hours descent
- Elevation Gain: +1,255m to summit, then descend -2,795m
- Description:
- You’ll start the summit trek around midnight, aiming to reach Uhuru Peak early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise from the summit.
- The first part of the trek is steep, but once you reach the summit, you can enjoy the incredible views of the glaciers and surrounding area.
- After taking a moment to celebrate your success, you’ll descend back to Barafu Camp for a short rest before continuing down to Mweka Camp for an overnight stay.
Day 6: Mweka Camp (3,100m) to Mweka Gate (1,640m)
- Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
- Trekking Time: 3-4 hours
- Elevation Loss: -1,460m
- Description:
- The last day is all about descending. You’ll pass through the rainforest again as you make your way down to the Mweka Gate.
- Once you reach the gate, you’ll receive your summit certificate and be transferred back to your hotel to celebrate the completion of your climb.
Key Points:
- Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
- Day 2: Machame Camp to Barranco Camp
- Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
- Day 4: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
- Day 5: Barafu Camp to Summit (Uhuru Peak) and descend to Mweka Camp
- Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
This 6-day version is quite condensed, and while it’s a bit more intense than the typical 7-day climb, it still allows for proper acclimatization. However, for climbers who are less experienced or those who want to reduce risks related to altitude sickness, a 7-day itinerary is generally recommended for a safer and more comfortable climb.