Mount Kilimanjaro
Summit Before the Plains
5.0 Stars — 204 Reviews about Yera
Duration: 7 Days
Tier: Classic
Price From
$1,800 per person
Depends on route, season & group size
Overview
Seven days. One summit. A safari waiting below.
Climb first, safari after. This Machame Route journey takes you through montane rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert before a midnight push to Uhuru Peak — the roof of Africa at 5,895m.
Your transfer from the mountain flows directly into your Tanzania safari itinerary, so the two experiences become one trip, not two.
What to Expect
On the mountain with Yera
- Uhuru Peak — Africa's Highest Point (5,895m)
- Licensed KINAPA Guides & Porters
- Built-In Acclimatization Days
- Full Camping Equipment or Hut Fees
- All Meals During the Climb
- Direct Transfer into Your Safari
- 7 Routes for Every Fitness Level
Day by Day
Machame Route — 7 Days
What You'll Do Today
The Machame Route begins at the gate and climbs steadily through montane rainforest. A 5-6 hour walk brings you to Machame Camp at 2,835m, your first night on the mountain.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board (Trekking)
Route
Machame Gate → Machame Camp · 5–6 hrs walking · to 2,835m
What You'll Do Today
Leaving the forest behind, the route opens into moorland with dramatic views of Kibo's summit. A 5-hour walk brings you to Shira Camp at 3,750m.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board (Trekking)
Route
Machame Camp → Shira Camp · ~5 hrs walking · to 3,750m
What You'll Do Today
A key acclimatization day: the route climbs to Lava Tower before descending to Barranco Camp, following the "climb high, sleep low" principle that helps the body adjust to altitude. 7 hours walking.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board (Trekking)
Route
Shira Camp → Barranco Camp (via Lava Tower) · ~7 hrs walking · via 4,630m to 3,960m
What You'll Do Today
A shorter day, but a steep one — the route crosses the Barranco Wall, a scramble that looks more intimidating than it is, before reaching Karanga Camp. 4 hours walking.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board (Trekking)
Route
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp · ~4 hrs walking · to 3,995m
What You'll Do Today
A 4-hour walk brings you to Barafu Camp at 4,673m — base camp for the summit push. An early dinner and early rest, since the final ascent begins in the middle of the night.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board (Trekking)
Route
Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp · ~4 hrs walking · to 4,673m
What You'll Do Today
The summit push begins around midnight, timed to reach Uhuru Peak — 5,895m, the roof of Africa — at sunrise. After time at the summit, the descent continues the same day all the way to Mweka Camp. A long day: 12-15 hours in total.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board (Trekking)
Route
Summit Day — Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp · 12–15 hrs total · summit at 5,895m
What You'll Do Today
The final descent through forest to Mweka Gate, where summit certificates are issued. From there, a transfer takes you to Arusha or directly into your safari's first lodge.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Breakfast
Route
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate · ~3 hrs walking · descent to 1,640m
Your Investment
What determines the price
Pricing on this climb starts from $1,800 per person and varies based on three factors.
Route Choice
Machame, Lemosho, Marangu, or another of our 7 routes — trip length and terrain vary, which shifts the per-person cost.
Season
Dry season climbing (January–March, June–October) carries the best summit conditions and highest demand; wet season offers savings with fewer climbers on the trail.
Crew & Comfort Tier
This is our Classic tier. Private crew upgrades and Signature/Bespoke tier pricing — including higher-end camping equipment — are available on this same route.
Included
4-season expedition tents or hut fees depending on route, with all group camping equipment carried and set up by your crew at every camp.
- 4-season expedition tents
- Mess tent & camp chairs
- Sleeping mats
- Portable toilet tent (on request)
All Kilimanjaro National Park entry fees and climbing permits for your chosen route.
A KINAPA-licensed mountain guide, assistant guides, porters, and a dedicated cook accompany every climb.
All meals from Day 1 through the descent, prepared fresh on the mountain by your dedicated crew.
Transfer from your Kilimanjaro descent point directly into your safari itinerary's first lodge, or into Arusha.
Excluded
Dining on the Mountain
A hot meal at every camp
Your dedicated mountain cook prepares three meals a day at every camp, experienced in a full range of dietary needs at altitude — without compromising on quality or variety. Simply let us know your dietary preferences when booking, and we'll confirm with your crew in advance.
Before You Travel
Documents & Preparation
Valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, with two blank visa pages.
Most nationalities can apply for a Tanzania e-Visa online prior to arrival, or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport.
Required only if arriving from, or having transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Comprehensive cover including high-altitude trekking and medical evacuation is required for all Kilimanjaro climbs — not provided by Yera Journeys.
Packing List for Kilimanjaro
Everything to bring, by altitude zone — PDF, 1 page
What Our Clients Say
Told by the climbers who were there
“I trained for a year to summit Kilimanjaro but wasn't prepared for how the safari afterward felt. My legs were done, but I'd never felt more present watching a sunrise over the Serengeti.”
Daniel F. · Germany, September 2025
“Our guide's pacing on the Barranco Wall and the Lava Tower acclimatization day made the difference — we summited as a group of six with zero altitude issues. The porters and cook were incredible the entire route.”
Priya & Anil R. · India, August 2025
“Cold nights at Barafu before the summit push, but the crew had hot water and tea ready every morning without fail. Reaching Uhuru Peak at sunrise made every step worth it.”
Tom W. · United States, February 2025
Why Travel With Yera
What sets this climb apart
Licensed KINAPA Guides, 20+ Years
Every route up Kilimanjaro is led by government-certified mountain guides with two decades of combined summit experience.
Flexible Rebooking
Plans change — we work with you to adjust climb dates and routes without unnecessary loss.
24/7 On-Ground Support
A direct line to our Arusha team throughout your climb, not a call center.
Common Questions
Climbing Kilimanjaro
Machame is our most popular route for its scenery and acclimatization profile, typically 7 days. Lemosho offers a longer, higher-success-rate option; Marangu is the only route with hut accommodation instead of camping. We match the route to your fitness level and days available.
No technical climbing skills are required — Kilimanjaro is a trek, not a climb. A good level of cardiovascular fitness and multi-day hiking experience significantly improve your chances, and we recommend training in the months beforehand.
The Machame route, with its built-in acclimatization at Lava Tower, carries one of the higher summit success rates among Kilimanjaro routes when climbed over 7 days rather than compressed into 6.
Our routes are chosen for gradual altitude gain, not speed. Guides carry pulse oximeters and monitor every climber twice daily, and are trained to descend with anyone showing signs of acute mountain sickness.
The two dry seasons — January to March and June to October — offer the clearest skies and best summit conditions. June to October also aligns well with combining your climb with a Northern Circuit safari.
Yes — this is exactly how we build the trip. Your transfer from the mountain descent point flows directly into your safari itinerary's first lodge, with no gap days needed.
This 7-day Machame Route climb, Classic tier, starts from $1,800 per person, varying by group size, season, and crew/comfort tier.
KINAPA park fees and permits, licensed guides, porters and cook, camping equipment, all meals during the climb, and your transfer into your onward safari are included — see Inclusions below for the full list.