5 daysHuts
5-Day Marangu Route
Marangu’s classic hut-to-hut climb offers straightforward access and the comfort of National Park huts.
From US$2,640 per climber, groups of 1–5, sharing a room or tent
- Days on the mountain
- 6 days
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Approach
- Machame Gate
- Descent
- Mweka Gate
- Price
- From US$3,040 per climber, groups of 1–5, sharing a room or tent
Overview
Machame’s six-day camping route combines varied scenery with separate ascent and descent trails. The climb moves through Machame, Shira, Barranco and Barafu before Uhuru Peak and the Mweka descent. Professional mountain crew, safety equipment and altitude-focused meals are included.
One of the most scenic routes on the mountain, entirely justified — sweeping views across the Masai Steppe to Meru and the impressive Barranco Valley. Ascent and descent take different paths, keeping the trail feeling wild.
8 days door-to-door. 5 nights on the mountain. Full camping.
Where you sleep
- Day 1Machame Camp
- Day 2Shira Camp
- Day 3Barranco Camp
- Day 4Barafu Camp
- Day 5Mweka Camp
The climb
- Highest point
- 5,895 m
- Summit night
- Day 5
- Last camp, 4,670 m
- Barafu
- Walked in total
- 62 km
Show the figures as a table
| Day | Place | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Machame Gate | 1,640 m / 5,381 ft |
| Day 1 | Machame Camp | 2,850 m / 9,350 ft |
| Day 2 | Shira Camp | 3,810 m / 12,500 ft |
| Day 3 | Lava Tower | 4,630 m / 15,190 ft |
| Day 3 | Barranco | 3,960 m / 12,992 ft |
| Day 4 | Barafu | 4,670 m / 15,322 ft |
| Day 5 | Uhuru Peak | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft |
| Day 5 | Mweka | 3,100 m / 10,171 ft |
| Day 6 | Mweka Gate | 1,640 m / 5,381 ft |
Day 1
Machame Gate → Machame Camp
1,640 → 2,850 m (+1,210 m)11 kmabout 5–7 hours
Day 2
Machame Camp → Shira Camp
2,850 → 3,810 m (+960 m)5 kmabout 4–6 hours
Day 3
Shira → Lava Tower
3,810 → 4,630 m (+820 m)10 kmabout 6–8 hours
Day 3
Lava Tower → Barranco
4,630 → 3,960 m (−670 m)
Day 4
Barranco → Barafu
3,960 → 4,670 m (+710 m)9 kmabout 8–10 hours
Day 5
Barafu → Uhuru Peak
4,670 → 5,895 m (+1,225 m)17 kmabout 11–14 hours
Day 5
Uhuru Peak → Mweka
5,895 → 3,100 m (−2,795 m)
Day 6
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate
3,100 → 1,640 m (−1,460 m)10 kmabout 3–4 hours
Map
- Machame Gate
- Machame Camp
- Shira 2 Camp
- Lava Tower
- Barranco Camp
- Barafu Camp
- Uhuru Peak
- Mweka Camp
- Mweka Gate
Sample plan — we adjust it to your group
Day by day
- 1Day
Machame Gate → Machame Camp
The trail climbs a winding ridge through dense rainforest where lower sections can be wet and muddy.
- Elevation
- 1,640 m to 2,850 m
- Distance
- about 11 km
- Hiking time
- about 5–7 hours
- Habitat
- Rainforest
- Focus
- Forest ridge ascent
Overnight: Machame Camp
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The trail climbs a winding ridge through dense rainforest where lower sections can be wet and muddy. Machame Camp is reached near the upper edge of the forest.
- 2Day
Machame Camp → Shira Camp
The route leaves the rainforest and climbs a rocky ridge through heather and moorland.
- Elevation
- 2,850 m to 3,810 m
- Distance
- about 5 km
- Hiking time
- about 4–6 hours
- Habitat
- Moorland
- Focus
- Reach Shira Plateau
Overnight: Shira Camp
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The route leaves the rainforest and climbs a rocky ridge through heather and moorland. It then turns west toward the broad Shira Plateau and the overnight campsite.
- 3Day
Shira → Lava Tower → Barranco
The trail rises toward Lava Tower for valuable exposure to higher altitude, then descends into the Barranco Valley.
- Elevation
- 3,810 m to 4,630 m
- Elevation
- 4,630 m to 3,960 m
- Distance
- about 10 km
- Hiking time
- about 6–8 hours
- Habitat
- Semi-desert
- Focus
- Acclimatization
Overnight: Barranco Camp
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The trail rises toward Lava Tower for valuable exposure to higher altitude, then descends into the Barranco Valley. Sleeping lower than the day's high point supports acclimatization before the summit approach.
- 4Day
Barranco → Karanga → Barafu
After climbing the Great Barranco Wall, the route crosses the Karanga Valley and continues directly to Barafu.
- Elevation
- 3,960 m to 4,670 m
- Distance
- about 9 km
- Hiking time
- about 8–10 hours
- Habitat
- Alpine desert
- Focus
- Long summit approach
Overnight: Barafu Camp
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After climbing the Great Barranco Wall, the route crosses the Karanga Valley and continues directly to Barafu. This is a long day, ending with an early meal and final summit preparation.
- 5Day
Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka
A midnight start climbs scree to Stella Point before continuing around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak.
- Elevation
- 4,670 m to 5,895 m
- Elevation
- 5,895 m to 3,100 m
- Distance
- about 17 km
- Hiking time
- about 11–14 hours
- Habitat
- Arctic to forest
- Focus
- Summit day
Overnight: Mweka Camp
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A midnight start climbs scree to Stella Point before continuing around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. The descent returns through Barafu and continues to the upper forest at Mweka Camp.
- 6Day
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate
The route descends through lush rainforest to Mweka Gate, where summit certificates are issued.
- Elevation
- 3,100 m to 1,640 m
- Distance
- about 10 km
- Hiking time
- about 3–4 hours
- Habitat
- Rainforest
- Focus
- Certificates and return
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The route descends through lush rainforest to Mweka Gate, where summit certificates are issued. A vehicle then returns the group to the hotel.
What’s included
Included
- Two nights' hotel in Arusha & all JRO transfers
- Transfers to and from the mountain trailheads
- Kilimanjaro park entrance, camping/hut & rescue fees
- Professional English-speaking mountain guides, cooks & porters
- All meals on the mountain — nutrition planned for altitude
- Complimentary fruits & juice while hiking; porterage of 1 bag (15 kg)
- Oxygen cylinder / Gamow bag & daily oximeter checks
- Camping equipment: Mountain Hardwear tents, mess tent, portable toilet, solar light (camping routes)
- Hot-water bottle at night · Flying Doctors cover · liability insurance
Not included
- Tips to guides, cooks and porters
- Bottled mineral water
- Visas
- Laundry & telephone calls
- Day rooms on the final day after the climb
- Items of a personal nature
- Costs of early descent (extra Arusha nights etc.)
Last updated
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Arusha 3.37° S · 36.68° E
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Plan: 6-Day Machame Route
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