Machame Camp (Machame Hut Campsite) – First Night on the Machame Route (≈3,000 m)
Machame Camp, also known as Machame Hut Campsite, is the first overnight stop on the Machame Route on the southwestern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Sitting at an altitude of roughly 3,000 metres, it lies just above the rainforest belt, where the dense jungle begins to give way to open montane forest and heath vegetation. Tents are pitched on a series of clearings overlooking wooded ridges and, on clear evenings, distant views towards Mount Meru.
The campsite offers basic amenities, including shared bathroom facilities (pit latrines) and designated tent areas for trekking groups. After a steady hike from Machame Gate, climbers arrive here to settle into camp life, enjoy a hot meal and begin acclimatising to the higher altitude.
As the first staging point on the Machame Route, Machame Camp sets the tone for the climb: evenings spent under big skies, the sounds of the forest just below, and the growing excitement of being firmly on the mountain as you prepare to continue upwards towards Shira Camp and the higher slopes of Kilimanjaro.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Camp
Shira Cave Camp is a popular overnight campsite on Mount Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau, used on the Machame, Lemosho and Shira Routes as trekkers transition into the high moorland zone. It sits at roughly 3,750–3,840 metres on the western side of the mountain, well below Gilman’s Point (which is on the crater rim near the summit, much higher up).
The camp takes its name from a nearby lava cave that climbers used as shelter in the early days of Kilimanjaro ascents, though overnighting in caves is no longer allowed for safety reasons. Today, trekkers pitch their tents on open, gently sloping ground dotted with volcanic rocks and hardy shrubs, with a Kibo peak backdrop that glows beautifully at sunrise and sunset.
Shira Cave Camp falls within the heath / moorland vegetation zone, characterised by heathers, tussock grasses and giant groundsels. It’s an excellent place for acclimatisation walks and for feeling the first real sense of “being on the mountain” as you leave the forest behind. Facilities are simple but functional, typically including:
Designated tent sites
Park ranger hut / registration point
Pit latrine toilets
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Barranco Camp – At the Foot of the Famous Barranco Wall (3,900 m)
Nestled at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro’s Barranco Wall, Barranco Camp sits at an altitude of around 3,900 metres (12,795 ft) in the high moorland zone. Used on popular routes such as Machame, Lemosho, Shira and Umbwe, it’s one of the most dramatic overnight stops on the mountain, with towering rock faces above and sweeping views down towards the plains below.
The camp offers designated tent pitches and simple bathroom facilities (pit latrines), providing a much-needed rest point after a long acclimatisation day from Lava Tower. Thanks to the area’s relatively reliable rainfall and humidity, the surrounding valley supports distinctive heath and moorland vegetation, including giant groundsels and other high-altitude flora, and it’s not uncommon to spot small birds and other hardy fauna adapted to this environment.
Barranco Camp is also the staging ground for tackling the Barranco Wall the following morning – a fun, non-technical scramble that many trekkers highlight as one of their favourite sections of the climb. From sunset views of Kibo’s ice fields to the star-filled night skies, this high, atmospheric camp is a memorable milestone on the journey to Kilimanjaro’s summit.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Karanga Camp – Vital Acclimatisation Stop Above the Karanga Valley (3,963 m)
Sitting at an elevation of 3,963 metres above sea level, Karanga Camp invites hikers to rest, refuel and regroup before the final push towards Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit. Perched above the Karanga Valley on routes such as Machame and Lemosho, this camp is a crucial acclimatisation point, giving your body time to adjust to the thinning air while you enjoy sweeping views across the rugged high-altitude landscape.
Facilities at Karanga Camp are simple but functional, typically including a ranger’s hut and shared pit latrines, along with designated tent areas for trekking groups. The surrounding high moorland is stark yet beautiful, with hardy alpine vegetation, big skies and, on clear evenings, spectacular sunsets over the plains far below – a memorable pause before you continue towards Barafu Camp and your summit attempt.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Camp
Barafu Camp – High Alpine Base for Your Kilimanjaro Summit Push (4,673 m)
Situated at an elevation of 4,673 metres at the base of Kibo in Tanzania, Barafu Camp is the final overnight staging point before your summit attempt on Mount Kilimanjaro. Perched on a rugged, exposed ridge of loose volcanic scree, it feels every bit like a true high-altitude base camp, with sweeping views over the clouds and the jagged peaks of Mawenzi in the distance.
Trekkers typically arrive here in the afternoon to rest, hydrate and prepare gear before setting out around midnight for the push to Uhuru Peak. Facilities are basic and functional – designated tent areas, a ranger’s hut and simple pit latrines – but the real focus at Barafu is acclimatisation and mental preparation. In the thin, cold air, with the ice-capped summit looming above, Barafu Camp marks the exciting final threshold between the long ascent and the ultimate goal of standing on the roof of Africa.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Mweka Camp – Final Night on Kilimanjaro’s Mweka Descent Route (≈3,100 m)
Mweka Camp is conveniently located on the Mweka Route on the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of around 3,100 metres above sea level. Used almost exclusively by climbers descending after their summit, it serves as the ideal final overnight stop before continuing down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate.
Set just above the treeline in the moorland zone, the campsite offers tent pitches on open, gently sloping ground, with views back up towards Kibo on clear days and dense forest dropping away below. Facilities are simple and functional, typically including:
Designated tent areas for trekking groups
A small ranger hut / registration point
Basic pit latrine toilets
After the long summit day and descent from Barafu or high camp, Mweka Camp provides a welcome chance to rest tired legs, rehydrate and acclimatise to the thicker air before the final walk out. In the evening, trekkers often celebrate their summit success, soak up the last mountain sunset and enjoy a final night under canvas before heading back to civilisation at Mweka Gate.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
