Mount Kilimanjaro 7 Day Climb: Machame Route

Mount Kilimanjaro excites all its visitors. Its snowy peak dominates the landscape, towering over the grassy savannas of East Africa and causing everyone to turn their heads. From a distance the mountain looks imperious. Many people see Mount Kilimanjaro and question whether they are fit enough for the challenge. No specialist climbing skills are required, and you don't need to be an ultra-fit gym addict to reach the summit. However, climbing to 5,895 meters certainly isn't easy. There will be days when your legs really hurt. And there will be times when a lot of determination is required. However, it's achievable for anyone with a sense of adventure and a decent level of physical fitness. If you can spend a long day hiking up and down hills at home, then you're probably fit enough for the challenge. Adrenalin and resolve normally take people the rest of the way.

From Arusha or Moshi, you will be driven to the Machame Park gate, and start your climb on the south-western slopes of the world's highest free-standing mountain. You start at an altitude of 1,800 meters, in an area of dense mountain rainforest. With its carpet of begonias, ferns, and “busy lizzie” flowers, the forest floor keeps eyes entertained as you make your first ascent. After recent rainfall the trail is drenched in fresh smells, flourishing flowers mixing with the clean mountain air. It also brings a muddy trail and some exciting short climbs through the dense vegetation.

Gradually the trail emerges from the trees and you look back down on the thick rainforest. Nestled amongst fields of giant heather, the first camp has a wonderfully gentle and scenic location. You'll have walked for six hours, and the excitement of day one means that the camp almost comes too soon. Don't worry, there is much more to come! So rest up, enjoy the scenery, and savor the wonderfully fresh air at 3,000 meters. Today's vertical ascent is 1,200 meters. As you've got fresh legs, this is the best day to get a long climb out of the way.

This itinerary takes the Machame trail, the most scenic route and the one that offers the best altitude acclimatization. By spending seven days on the mountain, you’ll have shorter daily hikes and more time to enjoy the experience. Each day's hiking is done at your own pace and the guides will alter the morning start times dependent on your speed. Vastly experienced guides assist you all the way, using their intimate knowledge of the route to maximize your enjoyment.

As you continue your ascent, the vegetation gradually gets sparser. First the trees are left behind, replaced by more fields of giant heather. Gradually the thick bushes also rescind, the remaining traces of vegetation clinging to the mountain but struggling for company. Walking onto open moorland, you're heading towards an altitude that affords spectacular views of East Africa. After a day in the forest, you head onto the high moorlands. Gaze out to Mount Meru, and admire how the world below seems remarkably smaller than it was 24 hours ago.

It's a four or five hour uphill hike today, usually completed in the morning. On a small plateau in the high moorlands, the camp by Shira Cave is at 3,840 meters. Herds of eland are occasionally spotted here, the graceful antelopes combining nimble footwork with a steely determination. Up here they are free from predators, but they're constantly on the move as they scour the land for remaining vegetation. An optional half hour walk in the afternoon takes you to an old volcanic caldera with dramatic geological features. Explore the Shire Caves and marvel at the diversity of the landscape. Or relax, drink many cups of tea, and relish the views.

One of the great advantages of the Machame route is that it follows the golden rule of climbing: climb high, sleep low. So while it takes longer than the other routes, there's a far greater chance of everybody on the trek reaching the summit. At around 3,500 - 4,000 meters people begin to feel the effects of altitude. At this height the air is thinner, and each breath takes in less oxygen than a breath at ground level. Good acclimatization prompts the body into producing extra red blood cells, helping it counteract the thinner air. The next two days involve ascents and descents as you start to circle the summit. Your body is gradually getting used to the conditions; by “climbing high,” and by “sleeping low” it's able to fully recover after each day. Plus, these next two days offer spectacular hiking and unforgettable views.

As you head into the alpine desert the last traces of vegetation are left behind. A stark rocky landscape takes you to the base of the Lava Tower, volcanic boulders littering the mountain. There's an inspiring serenity up here, with little but footsteps breaking the silence. Lava Tower attracts you from a distance, a dramatic rock that rises almost vertically from the landscape. Many are filled with an encompassing sense of insignificance on this rugged plateau, the sheer scale of Mount Kilimanjaro beginning to impress and the western glaciers clearly coming into sight. From a high point at 4,630 meters, the trail descends and the greenery returns. Bizarre senecio plants look like something from another planet, their narrow trunks splitting and then bulging as they reach skyward. No two look alike. Each senecio grows at a different angle, forms into a unique shape, and often makes people shake their heads in disbelief. Tonight you will camp in the Barranco Valley at 3,950 meters, surrounded by these otherworldly sights.

This is the shortest hiking day and is predominantly included for altitude acclimatization. It starts with an exciting but easy scramble up the steep Barranco Walls. On a narrow trail you slowly ascend, the whole of the continent seeming to extend beneath your feet. No climbing experience is required, and there is a real thrill to clambering higher and higher up the wall. It almost feels like you're on the edge of Africa, until the trail levels out and you cross numerous streams. In total it's just a three or four hike, dotted with short ascents and descents.

After crossing the Karanga River, the Karanga Camp has an unforgettable location. From here the snowy summit looms large, Uluru Peak towering over the camp and offering a mesmerizing vista. Thin layers of mist dance before your eyes, sweeping past the summit throughout the afternoon. Turn around and the savannahs of Tanzania are clearly visible, extending into oblivion as you gaze 4,000 meters down below. From the camp you can make a short afternoon hike up to the scree below the glaciers.

Karanga Camp is typical of all the camps along the trek. The carefully selected locations provide stunning vistas that soothe the soul and reward the body after a day's hike. Sheltered from the winds on flat plateaus, they offer both the safest and most spectacular places to spend a night. Note that camping is the only option on the Machame route. Your guides and porters will set up the camp, maximizing all the comfort that could be possible when you're climbing Africa's highest mountain. You are not expected to participate in any camp chores as all meals, drinks, and tents are prepared by your team of guides. Two people share a spacious three-man tent that is specifically designed for mountaineering. In short, you just have to walk and enjoy the experience!

Today is another relatively short day, just four hours of hiking bringing you to a new camp at 4,750 meters. Gradual inclines and stunning views mean that any tiredness in the legs is soon forgotten. You're hiking through a barren landscape, but one that's filled with striking rock formations and unobstructed vistas of the world that surrounds Mount Kilimanjaro. Look out onto Mawenzi Peak, the second highest of the mountain's distinctive volcanic cones. Alternatively, watch the rest of East Africa slowly get further and further away. Now rest and sleep. The summit is in sight and tomorrow will be a challenging day.

Throughout this trek you only have to carry a day-pack. Porters transport all your luggage and equipment, often sprinting ahead of the group and meeting you at camp. Each day you just need to carry a bottle of water, your camera, sunscreen, and a layer of waterproof clothes in case the weather turns. Throughout the trip all meals are produced with fresh local produce and any special dietary requirements can be catered for. This is not dining in a 5-star restaurant. It's camping on a 5,895 meter mountain. However, the guides have found ways to create a varied and nutritious menu that will keep you going. Every morning, breakfast is ready before you are, and every afternoon, dinner is enjoyed with plenty of storytelling between guides and guests.

It's a 1am start today and this cannot be avoided on any Kilimanjaro hike. In the early morning hours, the compact snow makes a steep ascent and descent relatively easy. However, later in the afternoon, melted snow can cause slippery and dangerous trails. Arrive too late at the summit and it can be a treacherous journey down. Beneath moonlight or torchlight, you slowly head towards the sky, the thought of the summit pushing everyone forward. Yes, today is challenging and very tiring. But all of the pain is quickly forgotten as you reach Stella Point on the edge of the crater. After six hours of hiking, a slow sunrise bathes the landscape in light, and the highest point on the continent feels like it's within touching distance. It's a sunrise that will never be forgotten, the savannas of East Africa turning red and yellow in front of your eyes.

A quick photograph, a bite of an energy bar, and keep moving forward. From Stella Point there's only 150 meters to go. Each breathless step galvanizes the body and energy suddenly surges into your legs. Tiredness? What tiredness? For six days you've been looking at the summit, and as it comes irrevocably nearer it's difficult to resist the urge to sprint the final few steps. In the warm morning sunshine a final few steps take you to 5,895 meters above sea level. Take a breath. Take a bow. Hug your climbing partner. You've made it. You've climbed the world's highest free-standing mountain and you're looking down on the whole of Africa.

The summit is filled with congratulatory hugs and ecstatic smiles. Take some time alone, gazing out onto the continent below and congratulating yourself on the achievement. Then pose for the must-have photo, grinning beneath the sign that confirms to all your friends that you're standing at Africa's highest point. Look down on the snow, and then let your eyes wander onto the horizon. On a clear day the views are like nothing you have ever experienced. On a cloudy day, gazing down on a white blanket only makes your achievement seem more special.

From the summit it's a 5-6 hour descent to the camp at Mweka. By using a different route to ascend and descend the mountain, the final part of your journey is equally as enjoyable as the rest. With humongous smiles, you'll first head back down to Barafu, except this time the trail won't be dark. Parts of the trail look familiar. Were you really here just six hours ago? Did the trail really look like this? Throughout the descent the views keep coming, and any tiredness is always overcome by the feeling of achievement. Now the trail descends onto the moorlands and the giant heather at Mweka, 2,800 meters below Uhuru Peak. Within seconds of eating dinner everybody is usually fast asleep, tired but ecstatic after the most unforgettable of days.

On this final day you'll descend into a misty rainforest, often passing troops of black and white Colobus monkeys. As they swing through the trees you'll be walking along muddy trails, a dramatic change from the desert rocks of yesterday. It's a 4-5 hour walk down to the Mweka Gate where you'll collect your certificates. From here you'll be transferred to Arusha. Just try to not smile. No, didn't think that would be possible after just climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.