Duration
7-Day
Accra, Tanzania
The Machame route is perhaps the most popular climbing route. It is the choice for many people because it provides impressive views and a variety of habitats. Unlike the gradual incline and hut accommodations found on the Marangu Route, the climbers on Machame hike steeper trails, for longer distances and sleep in tents. The Machame Route is approximately 62km/ 37 miles from gate to gate. It is designed for physically fit people with some hiking experience.
Plan snapshot
Duration
7-Day
Route
Arusha to Arusha (City)
Via Mt Kilimanjaro
Country & park
Tanzania
Style
Safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
12 years
Activities
Getting around: pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle & hiking/walking
Accommodation
Budget camping Mt Kilimanjaro – All Meals Included - Mt Kilimanjaro – All Meals Included
Meals
All Meals Included; Breakfast & Lunch Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
USD
Rates
USD
Before booking
Quote flow
This is a budget camping tour.
This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Solo travelers cannot book this private tour.
The minimum age for this tour is 12 years.
Day 1-6
Mt Kilimanjaro – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 7
(No accommodation)
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Tour step
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Machame Gate for sign up ready for your trek to the roof of Africa. Trek through the rain forest and on to Machame Campsite where we will set up camp for dinner and your overnight stay. Attitude: 3,000m Distance: 11km Time: 5 to 7 hours Environment: Montane forest. All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Day 2
After breakfast, we'll start our walk leaving behind the rain forest. We'll continue ascending, traversing a valley going up a rocky ridge, quite steep and covered in heath. We will leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we'll pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp. Then we'll turn west to the river’s gorge. We will arrive at Shira Campsite where we will set up our camp ready for dinner and our overnight stay. *Altitude change: 3000m to 3850m (+850m) *Distance: 9km *Time: 4-6 hours *Environment: Moorland. All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Day 3
From the Shira Plateau, we will continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we'll come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We will now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we will rest, enjoy dinner, and our overnight stay. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day. Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp. Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft Distance: 10km Hiking Time: 6-8 hours Habitat: Semi Desert. All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Day 4
After breakfast, we begin the hike with a steep traverse up the Barranco Wall which is a 257-meter rock face that requires basic scrambling skills to the top of the Karanga Valley. The path then follows a series of inclines and declines to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters). You will spend a night at the Karanga camp before you continue to the Barafu camp on the following day. Distance: 7 km Hiking Time: 7 hours Habitat: High Alpine Zone. All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Day 5
Day five is a short and easy day. The trail starts at Karanga Camp and joins the Mweka trail up to base camp, Barafu at 4,680m. We recommend you use easy hiking to relax and prepare for the summit push. •Distance: 6 km •Hiking Time: 3 hours •Habitat: Alpine Desert. All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Day 6
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2:00 am) we'll continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you'll stop for a short rest and 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. Now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut Campsite, 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. Later in the evening, we'll enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Elevation ft: 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft) Distance: 5km ascent / 12km descent Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent Habitat: Arctic. All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Day 7
After breakfast, we will continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, you will continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Arusha. Mweka Camp to Arusha. Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft. Distance: 10 km Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Rain Forest The following morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your onwards travel. Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Tour step
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.
Porterage
Rescue fee
Climbing gear
Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
Camping equipment
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Sleeping bag
Bath towels
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Offered by
African Big Cats has distinguished itself from the crowd for its commitment to excellent service and innovative itineraries. Our safaris are conducted with optimum care to provide our customers with a truly memorable experience. We strive to introduce you to the country, its culture, its people, as well as the wildlife. We have a closely knit team of professionals to guarantee your satisfaction.
Office In
Tanzania
Size
20-50 employees (Founded in 2013)
Member Of
TATO & TTB
Tour Types
Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
Destinations
Tanzania
Traveler feedback
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5My family and I had the most incredible experience with African Big Cats Safaris during our recent trip to Tanzania! From the moment we were picked up at Kilimanjaro Airport, everything was seamless and professionally handled. Our guide, Obeydi, was not only knowledgeable about the wildlife and ecosystems but also incredibly friendly. We visited the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park — each destination offering breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable wildlife encounters. We saw all the Big Five, including a rare sighting of a leopard lounging in a tree and a pride of lions with cubs just a few meters from our vehicle! The accommodations were top-notch, blending comfort with the authentic safari experience. The team ensured we were well-fed, safe, and informed throughout the journey. I highly recommend African Big Cats Safaris to anyone looking for a well-organized, ethical, and truly magical safari experience in Tanzania. I would definitely book with them again!
Joanna · United Kingdom
OUTSTANDING LIFETIME EXPERIENCE We searched Safaribookings.com intensely and chose African Big Cats Safaris because they ticked all the boxes for us. From the initial contact, the staff were very professional and helpful. Joshua and Naomi answered any questions quickly and with a friendly approach. The meetings at the start and end of the safari with Emanuel (Managing Director) shows the dedication and personal care this company has. The itinerary for the Photographic Safari was excellent. We added an extra day in Arusha at the start without any problem. The safari was well planned and the accommodation in each location was superb. This excellent safari was made OUTSTANDING by our driver/guide FESTO. He is a human encyclopaedia when it comes to the birds, animals and culture of his country. His driving skills are impressive. His passion is infectious. Each day we shared wonderful, magical experiences. Festo became a friend in the short time we were with him. This was our first safari and we were lucky to have chosen African Big Cats Safaris. They would be the only company we would go back to. We highly recommend them.
Julie · United Kingdom
It's been a month since our safari trip. It was an amazing trip. Beyond my expectations. The collaboration with African Big Cats started from months before the trip. The operators, including Salim and others, were helpful. Most of our specified lodging requests were fulfilled and we were able to finalize the trip. They communicated efficiently and accurately. The entire trip was well planned. We went to Tarangire, Serengeti Central, Serengeti North and Ngorongoro. Some highlights are of course the great migration, the wildebeests crossing in Serengeti, the great view in the Ngorongoro crater, seeing cheetah in the night safari in Tarangire. Our guide Khalid is professional. He knows all the animals. We were able to get to know a lot of species in the trip. He helped us mark in our book so we always know what we saw in the trip. We also enjoyed listening to stories about the national parks, Masaai/Meru/Arusha tribes, the culture and thelife in Tanzania. The guide has been very friendly and our time together was great. Our mom's big hope in the trip was to see the crossing. But we were unlucky on the first full day in the north Serengeti. By the end of the day we were unsure about if we still had any chance to see it because we needed to go back to the central Serengeti on the next day. Our guide suggested to wait for the crossing as much as we could on the next day. Because of his suggestion we were able to see the crossing. We saw a huge herd crossed and crocodiles preying wildebeests. It was awesome! On the first day the manager Emanuel gave us a detailed briefing in Arusha. That's a good experience to start the trip. For the lodgings, the first day's lodging in Mtoni River Lodge Arusha is a bit small for 3 persons in a room. Other than that its good. If I have the privilege to get to safari tour in Tanzania again, I would be going with African Big Cats and Khalid again.
JC · United States
Our experience with African Big Cats was absolutely fantastic! We did a private safari in Spanish, and from start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Endeni, was simply amazing — incredibly knowledgeable about wildlife, always kind and patient, and truly passionate about what he does. He made every game drive special, spotting animals we would have never seen on our own and sharing fascinating stories about each one. The organization was flawless: great communication, well-planned itinerary, comfortable accommodations, and no hidden surprises. Everything was handled with care and attention to detail. You can really tell that the team goes above and beyond to make sure you enjoy every moment. Overall, the value for money was excellent, and we came home with unforgettable memories. We 100% recommend African Big Cats to anyone looking for a trustworthy and professional safari operator in Tanzania — especially if you want a personalized, smooth, and truly memorable adventure!
Ignacio · Mexico
Practical answers
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
This tour accepts children who are 12 years and older.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Budget camping Mt Kilimanjaro – All Meals Included - Mt Kilimanjaro – All Meals Included. Meals: All Meals Included
This tour starts and ends in Arusha
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Operator policy
This tour is offered by African Big Cats Safaris, not SafariBookings.
This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
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