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
- 7 days
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Approach
- Machame Gate
- Descent
- Mweka Gate
- Price
- From US$3,170 per climber, groups of 1–5, sharing a room or tent
Overview
The seven-day Machame route adds Karanga Camp to create a steadier approach to Barafu and summit night. Full camping, professional guides, cooks and porters, oxygen, daily oximeter checks and altitude-focused meals support the climb from gate to summit and back.
The Machame climb at a wiser pace — an added night at Karanga Camp breaks the push to Barafu and gives an afternoon in the Karanga Valley among giant senecios and lobelia, storing strength for summit night.
9 days door-to-door. 6 nights on the mountain. Full camping.
Where you sleep
- Day 1Machame Camp
- Day 2Shira Camp
- Day 3Barranco Camp
- Day 4Karanga Camp
- Day 5Barafu Camp
- Day 6Mweka Camp
The climb
- Highest point
- 5,895 m
- Summit night
- Day 6
- Last camp, 4,673 m
- Barafu
- Walked in total
- 70 km
Show the figures as a table
| Day | Place | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Machame Gate | 1,800 m / 5,906 ft |
| Day 1 | Machame Camp | 3,000 m / 9,843 ft |
| Day 2 | Shira Camp | 3,850 m / 12,631 ft |
| Day 3 | Lava Tower | 4,600 m / 15,092 ft |
| Day 3 | Barranco | 3,950 m / 12,959 ft |
| Day 4 | Karanga Camp | 3,995 m / 13,107 ft |
| Day 5 | Barafu Camp | 4,673 m / 15,331 ft |
| Day 6 | Uhuru Peak | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft |
| Day 6 | Mweka | 3,068 m / 10,066 ft |
| Day 7 | Mweka Gate | 1,640 m / 5,381 ft |
Day 1
Machame Gate → Machame Camp
1,800 → 3,000 m (+1,200 m)11 kmabout 5–7 hours
Day 2
Machame Camp → Shira Camp
3,000 → 3,850 m (+850 m)9 kmabout 4–6 hours
Day 3
Shira → Lava Tower
3,850 → 4,600 m (+750 m)12 kmabout 6–7 hours
Day 3
Lava Tower → Barranco
4,600 → 3,950 m (−650 m)
Day 4
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp
3,950 → 3,995 m (+45 m)5 kmabout 4–5 hours
Day 5
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp
3,995 → 4,673 m (+678 m)6 kmabout 3–5 hours
Day 6
Barafu → Uhuru Peak
4,673 → 5,895 m (+1,222 m)17 kmabout 10–16 hours
Day 6
Uhuru Peak → Mweka
5,895 → 3,068 m (−2,827 m)
Day 7
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate
3,068 → 1,640 m (−1,428 m)10 kmabout 3–4 hours
Map
- Machame Gate
- Machame Camp
- Shira 2 Camp
- Lava Tower
- Barranco Camp
- Karanga 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
After park registration, the climb follows a winding ridge trail through the montane forest.
- Elevation
- 1,800 m to 3,000 m
- Distance
- about 11 km
- Hiking time
- about 5–7 hours
- Habitat
- Montane forest
- Focus
- Forest ridge ascent
Overnight: Machame Camp
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After park registration, the climb follows a winding ridge trail through the montane forest. A hot lunch is served en route before the first night at Machame Camp.
- 2Day
Machame Camp → Shira Camp
The trail leaves the forest, crosses a small valley and climbs a steep ridge covered with heath.
- Elevation
- 3,000 m to 3,850 m
- Distance
- about 9 km
- Hiking time
- about 4–6 hours
- Habitat
- Moorland
- Focus
- Reach Shira Plateau
Overnight: Shira Camp
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The trail leaves the forest, crosses a small valley and climbs a steep ridge covered with heath. It turns west toward a river gorge and reaches Shira Camp on the plateau.
- 3Day
Shira → Lava Tower → Barranco
The group climbs to Lava Tower for lunch and time at higher altitude, then descends into the Barranco Valley.
- Elevation
- 3,850 m to 4,600 m
- Elevation
- 4,600 m to 3,950 m
- Distance
- about 12 km
- Hiking time
- about 6–7 hours
- Habitat
- Semi-desert
- Focus
- Acclimatization
Overnight: Barranco Camp
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The group climbs to Lava Tower for lunch and time at higher altitude, then descends into the Barranco Valley. This classic acclimatization day prepares the body for the summit stage.
- 4Day
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp
The day begins with the non-technical scramble up the Great Barranco Wall.
- Elevation
- 3,950 m to 3,995 m
- Distance
- about 5 km
- Hiking time
- about 4–5 hours
- Habitat
- Alpine desert
- Focus
- Barranco Wall
Overnight: Karanga Camp
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The day begins with the non-technical scramble up the Great Barranco Wall. Rolling ridges and a final steep climb lead to Karanga Camp beneath the southern glaciers.
- 5Day
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp
The trail joins the Mweka junction and climbs through stark alpine desert to Barafu.
- Elevation
- 3,995 m to 4,673 m
- Distance
- about 4–6 km
- Hiking time
- about 3–5 hours
- Habitat
- Alpine desert
- Focus
- Summit preparation
Overnight: Barafu Camp
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The trail joins the Mweka junction and climbs through stark alpine desert to Barafu. The afternoon is reserved for food, hydration, equipment checks and rest before the midnight start.
- 6Day
Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka
A midnight climb crosses steep scree to Stella Point, then follows the crater rim to Uhuru Peak.
- Elevation
- 4,673 m to 5,895 m
- Elevation
- 5,895 m to 3,068 m
- Distance
- about 17 km
- Hiking time
- about 10–16 hours
- Habitat
- Arctic to forest
- Focus
- Summit day
Overnight: Mweka Camp
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A midnight climb crosses steep scree to Stella Point, then follows the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. After sunrise and summit photos, the route descends through Barafu to Mweka Camp.
- 7Day
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate
A final forest descent reaches Mweka Gate for park checkout and summit certificates.
- Elevation
- 3,068 m to 1,640 m
- Distance
- about 8–10 km
- Hiking time
- about 3–4 hours
- Habitat
- Rainforest
- Focus
- Certificates and return
Read the dayHide the day
A final forest descent reaches Mweka Gate for park checkout and summit certificates. Lunch and the transfer back to the hotel follow.
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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Plan: 7-Day Machame Route
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