Mount Kilimanjaro Christmas trek in 7 day Machame

Tour Itinerary

0: Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.

01: Machame Gate (1800m) – Machame Camp (3,000 m), walking time about 5 hours.

After breakfast transport to the Machame gate. From the gate of the recently repaired path leads through the last foothills of the fertile cultivated land. Shortly afterwards, the path rises and leads through the dense, deep green and still moist mountain rain forest up to the Machame Camp.

02: Machame Camp (3000m) – Shira Camp (3880 m) Walking time 4-5 hours.

Through Busch forests and moorland leads past the way of powerful Lava bridges. A little later the first Seneca’s and lobelia can be seen. Around noon, where this section is mostly shrouded in dense fog.

03: Shira Camp (3880 m) – Barranco Camp (3980 m) Walking time 5, 5-7Stunden.

The ascent through the dark, almost vegetation-free gravel desert of lava rock. With a bit of luck here the Kili shows for the first time up close! The path leads up to just below the Lava Tower (up to about 4450 m) and then down into the Barranco Valley. This area with its alpine vegetation is one of the highlights along the Machame Route.

04: Barranco Camp (3980 m) – Karanga Camp (4033 m), walking time about 3 hours.

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

05: Karanga Camp (4033 m) – Barafu Camp (4673 m), walking time about 3 hours.

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

06: Barafu Camp – Summit – Mweka Camp, walking time about 13-15 hours.

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

07: Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1800 m) – hiking time approx. 5 hours.

The path leads to a mostly wet, slippery path through the dense cloud forest steeply downhill to Mweka Gate. Transport back to your hotel in Moshi.

Recommendations for Choosing a Tour Operator:

Reputation and Reviews:

Check reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor or Safari Bookings.

Ensure the operator has a good safety record and positive feedback.

Local Expertise:

Choose operators with local guides who know the mountain and its conditions.

Certification and Memberships:

Verify if they are members of recognized associations like the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP).