Overview
Climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route
Our Kilimanjaro climb is a 10-day expedition following the scenic 7-day Machame Route to Uhuru Peak (5,896m), the highest point in Africa.
You don’t need previous mountaineering or high-altitude trekking experience to join. With a good level of fitness, consistent training and a sense of adventure, Kilimanjaro is an achievable goal for first-time trekkers as well as experienced hikers.
Over seven days on the mountain, you’ll trek through Kilimanjaro’s changing landscapes, from rainforest and moorland to alpine desert and the high-altitude terrain surrounding the summit. The itinerary is designed to give your body time to adjust gradually as you gain altitude.
Unlike many operators, we spend the final night before summit day at Kosovo Camp, approximately 120m above Barafu Camp. This reduces the amount of ascent required on summit night and gives the group a more manageable start to the final climb.
Throughout the expedition, you’ll be supported by one of our highly experienced Tanzanian Expedition Guides and our trusted in-country team of guides, cooks and porters. A dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor also travels with the group throughout the expedition, providing an additional layer of medical support at altitude.
Before travelling, you’ll also have the option to join us for a training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland, giving you the chance to prepare and meet some of the people you’ll be climbing with.
After the mountain, enjoy a well-earned day to relax in Arusha or extend the adventure with an optional safari in Tarangire National Park.
Expedition Highlights
7-Day Machame Route
Spend seven days trekking on one of Kilimanjaro’s most scenic routes, allowing time to acclimatise as you gradually make your way towards the summit.
Summit Africa’s Highest Mountain
Reach Uhuru Peak at 5,896m, the highest point on Kilimanjaro and the roof of Africa.
Kosovo Camp Before Summit Day
Spend your final night before the summit at Kosovo Camp, approximately 120m above the busier Barafu Camp, reducing the amount of climbing required during the final summit push by about an hour.
Trek Through Changing Landscapes
Walk from lush rainforest through moorland and alpine desert before reaching Kilimanjaro’s dramatic high-altitude summit environment.
Dedicated Expedition Doctor
A dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor travels with the group throughout the expedition.
Optional Tanzania Safari
After the climb, enhance your trip with an optional one- or three-day safari and experience another side of Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro Expedition Cost & What’s Included
The total expedition price is shown above.
Just pay a €399 deposit to secure your place. A part-payment of €1,000 is due six months before departure, with the remaining balance due three months before departure.
You can choose to pay the balance in instalments or in full.
Before You Go
- Pre-departure training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland
- An Earth’s Edge team jacket, buff and cap for you to keep
- Ongoing pre-departure support from the Earth’s Edge team
- Advice on training, equipment and preparing for altitude
In Tanzania
- Highly experienced Tanzanian Expedition Guide and mountain guiding team
- Dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor
- Full mountain support team including skilled guides, cooks and porters
- Accommodation before and after the climb, based on twin sharing
- Fully serviced camping during the trek
- High-quality tents and Therm-a-Rest sleeping mats
- All meals and drinking water as outlined in the itinerary (accommodation in Arusha is based on B&B)
- Celebratory dinner at the end of the expedition
- Planned group transport throughout the trip
- Airport transfers that match our recommended flights
- All required Kilimanjaro National Park fees
- Group trekking and camping equipment
- Fully stocked expedition medical kit
Flights
Flights are not included in the expedition price.
Travelling from Ireland? We’ll send you our recommended flight timings to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) approximately 10 months before departure. These timings are designed to connect with our complimentary group airport transfers.
You are, of course, welcome to choose alternative flights that suit you best, and make your own way to Arusha in time for the briefing on Day 1.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Tanzania
↓
Arrive in Tanzania and transfer to our lodge in Arusha. You'll have time to settle in and relax before a detailed expedition brief from your expedition leader in the afternoon.
We’ll talk through the days ahead, answer any last-minute questions and make sure everyone is ready to start the climb.
Day 2
Machame Gate (1,490m) to Machame Camp (2,980m) 7 hrs trekking
↓
After breakfast, we drive to Machame Gate, where the trek begins.
The first day takes us through Kilimanjaro’s lush montane rainforest, with dense vegetation and the chance to spot wildlife along the way.
We arrive at Machame Camp at 2,980m for our first night on the mountain.
Day 3
Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3,840m), 6 hrs trekking
↓
Today we leave the rainforest behind and climb into open moorland.
As the vegetation changes, the views become increasingly expansive, with the upper slopes of Kilimanjaro beginning to dominate the landscape.
We reach Shira Camp at 3,840m, where we spend the night.
Day 4
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950m), 7 hrs trekking
↓
Today is an important acclimatisation day. We gradually climb towards Lava Tower at approximately 4,630m, giving your body time to experience a higher altitude before we descend to sleep lower at Barranco Camp.
This “climb high, sleep low” approach is an important part of the Machame Route and helps the body adjust as we progress up the mountain.
We finish the day at Barranco Camp, beneath the impressive Barranco Wall.
Day 5
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,000m), 5 hrs trekking
↓
We start the day by tackling the famous Barranco Wall. Despite its dramatic appearance, this is a non-technical scramble and your guides will be there to help you throughout.
Once above the wall, we continue through beautiful high-altitude terrain towards Karanga Camp, with fantastic views of Kibo and the surrounding landscape.
Day 6
Karanga Camp to Kosovo Camp (4,800m), 5 hrs trekking
↓
Today we continue towards the upper slopes of Kilimanjaro and our final camp before summit day.
Many Kilimanjaro climbers spend this night at Barafu Camp. Earth’s Edge continues higher to Kosovo Camp, at approximately 4,800m. Kosovo sits around 120m above Barafu, which means there is less ascent remaining when we begin our summit attempt.
We’ll have an early dinner and rest before getting ready for the final push to Uhuru Peak.
Day 7
Kosovo Camp to Uhuru Peak (5,896m) to Millennium Camp (3,832m), 14 hrs trekking
↓
Summit day begins very early. We leave Kosovo Camp and make our way steadily upwards through the darkness towards the crater rim.
Reaching Stella Point is a huge milestone. From here, we continue around the rim towards Uhuru Peak at 5,896m, the highest point in Africa.
After time at the summit, we begin our descent, eventually continuing down to Millennium Camp for a well-earned rest.
This is a memorable day and the culmination of everything you’ve been working towards before and during the expedition.
Day 8
Millennium Camp to Arusha, 6 hrs trekking
↓
Our final day on the mountain takes us back into thicker vegetation as we descend towards the park gate.
After saying goodbye to the mountain team, we transfer back to the lodge for a shower, a proper bed and time to celebrate what we’ve achieved.
Day 9
Free Day or Optional Safari
↓
Today is yours to relax at the lodge or explore more of Tanzania.
If you’d like to extend the adventure, you can join an optional safari in Tarangire National Park, home to elephants, giraffes, zebra and a huge variety of other wildlife.
Alternatively, enjoy a slower day after the climb.
Day 10
Depart Tanzania
↓
Enjoy breakfast and some final time at the lodge to relax or do some more exploring of Arusha before your departure from Tanzania.
Facts
Why We Climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route
There are several routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. We use the Machame Route because it combines spectacular scenery with an itinerary that gives your body time to adjust gradually to altitude.
Over seven days of trekking, you pass through several distinct ecological zones and experience very different sides of the mountain before reaching Uhuru Peak.
The route also incorporates valuable acclimatisation opportunities. On the way to Barranco Camp, we climb towards Lava Tower at approximately 4,630m before descending to sleep lower at Barranco Camp.
For the final night before summit day, we continue beyond Barafu Camp to Kosovo Camp at approximately 4,800m. Starting around 120m higher reduces the amount of ascent required during the final climb by approximately an hour.
For us, Kilimanjaro isn’t about getting to the summit as quickly as possible. It’s about giving you the time, support and preparation to give yourself the best possible chance of reaching Uhuru Peak safely.
Why Climb Kilimanjaro with Earth’s Edge?
Adventure changes lives. At Earth’s Edge, we believe how you climb Kilimanjaro matters just as much as reaching the summit.
Our approach is built around preparation, expert support, responsible travel and a strong sense of community. From the first briefing to summit day, we are with you every step of the way.
Dedicated Expedition Doctor
Every Earth’s Edge Kilimanjaro expedition travels with a dedicated expedition doctor. This is a bedrock of our service and our safety standards, giving the group an additional level of medical support while trekking at altitude.
Having a doctor on the mountain alongside our local mountain guides allows us to closely monitor acclimatisation, respond early to any medical issues, and support climbers with confidence and reassurance throughout the expedition. This extra peace of mind is why many of our clients choose to travel with us.
98% Summit Success
In 2025, and 2026 to date, 98% of our Kilimanjaro clients reached the summit.
That reflects the combination of our seven-day Machame itinerary, careful acclimatisation, experienced Tanzanian team, expedition doctor and the way we operate on the mountain.
No summit can ever be guaranteed, but we put the structure and support in place to give every climber the best opportunity to succeed safely.
Kosovo Camp Before Summit Day
Unlike many operators, we spend the final night before summit day at Kosovo Camp rather than Barafu Camp.
Kosovo sits approximately 120m higher, reducing the amount of ascent required on summit night by around an hour and giving the group a more manageable starting point for the final push.
Experienced Tanzanian Mountain Team
Our exceptional Tanzanian guiding team, cooks and porters know Kilimanjaro incredibly well, with many having summited the mountain hundreds of times.
They are at the heart of the expedition, setting the pace on the trail, running camp and supporting the group from the first trekking day to the summit and back down again.
Training Weekend in Ireland
Your expedition price includes a pre-departure training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland. Attendance is optional, but we strongly recommend joining if you can.
These weekends are designed to build confidence and community, offering practical advice on training, packing, pacing, and what to expect on the mountain. You arrive in Tanzania prepared, informed, confident and ready to go!
Small-Group Experience
We cap our Kilimanjaro groups at 16 people, allowing for a more personal experience and strong support from the guiding and medical team.
And you don’t need to know anyone before joining. Many Earth’s Edge clients travel on their own, and the shared experience of climbing together quickly creates a strong sense of team. For many people the team becomes one of the highlights of the trip.
Supporting Kilimanjaro’s Porters
Earth’s Edge is a proud partner of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP).
KPAP independently monitors participating climbs and works to improve porter treatment, including areas such as wages, load limits, food, clothing and working conditions.
Our porters are central to every Kilimanjaro expedition, and we believe they should be treated fairly and responsibly.
Responsible Travel
Earth's Edge is a Certified B Corp and currently the highest-scoring B Corp in Ireland. We're committed to responsible travel, fair treatment of local staff and reducing the impact of our expeditions on the places we visit.
Is Kilimanjaro Suitable for Beginners?
Yes. You don’t need previous mountaineering or high-altitude trekking experience to climb Kilimanjaro with Earth’s Edge.
A good level of fitness and proper preparation are important, but many people take on Kilimanjaro as their first major high-altitude trek.
There are seven trekking days and you’ll reach almost 6,000m, so you should be prepared to train consistently before departure.
Regular hillwalking is one of the best ways to prepare, alongside cardiovascular and strength training.
We move at a steady pace on the mountain, and throughout the expedition you’ll be supported by our Tanzanian guiding team and dedicated expedition doctor.
If you’re unsure whether Kilimanjaro is right for your current fitness or experience, book a free consultation and we’ll talk it through with you.
Preparing for Your Kilimanjaro Climb
How Fit Do I Need to Be?
We have classified Kilimanjaro as a level 5 expedition, which means that you should have a good level of general fitness and be comfortable walking for several hours over hilly terrain.
It is not a technical climb, and you don’t need to be an experienced climber. There are some steeper sections and you’ll gain altitude steadily over several days, but the group moves at a comfortable pace and nobody is ever left behind.
The best preparation is consistent training in the months before departure, particularly regular hillwalking alongside cardiovascular and strength work. Please contact us if you have any concerns regarding your level of fitness, health or ability to complete the trek.
Your training weekend in Ireland will also give you a chance to spend time in the Irish hills before you travel.
What About Altitude?
The summit of Kilimanjaro is 5,896m above sea level, so altitude is an important part of the expedition.
Our seven-day Machame itinerary is designed to give your body time to adjust as you gradually gain height.
Our highly experienced mountain guides will set a steady pace, and a dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor travels with the group throughout the climb for extra peace of mind.
What Should I Pack for Kilimanjaro?
You’ll experience very different temperatures and conditions as you move from rainforest to the summit.
You’ll need suitable trekking clothing, footwear and a sleeping bag, as well as warm layers for the higher parts of the mountain.
See our full Kilimanjaro packing list
When Is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro can be climbed during much of the year, but some months generally offer drier and more favourable trekking conditions.
The "long rains" usually run from March through May, with the "short rains" typically occurring from November to mid-December.
January, February and June through October are generally considered the best periods to climb.
Our departures are scheduled during these drier periods.
Read our guide to the best time to climb Kilimanjaro
Is the Safari Included?
The safari is an optional addition after the Kilimanjaro climb.
You can choose to join a one-day safari or spend the day relaxing after your time on the mountain.
We also offer a three-day safari add-on if you prefer to extend your time in Tanzania.
Read our Kilimanjaro blogs
Looking for even more Kilimanjaro advice? Explore our Kilimanjaro guides for training, packing, altitude and route information.
Or, watch our Youtube playlist for even more detail!
