7 Days Machame route - Kilimanjaro

I did the 7-day Machame Route with Habari Adventure from 7th–13th September 2026, and I honestly could not recommend them enough to anyone considering climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. One of the main reasons I chose Habari was because they are a local Tanzanian company, run by Stanley, who was also a porter and guide himself before running the company. This was really important to me, especially compared to some of the bigger companies which are owned by foreigners. After speaking to the guides and porters during the trek, they all spoke really highly of Stanley and said they are treated and paid fairly, which made me even happier that I had chosen Habari. Stanley’s communication from the beginning was amazing. He always replied really quickly and helped put me at ease. I was a 23-year-old female solo traveller, and although I had travelled solo around Southeast Asia before, Africa was completely different for me and I was definitely more nervous. Stanley and Habari made sure I had transportation organised throughout and I always felt looked after. They also went the extra mile before the trek had even started. I arrived in Tanzania on the Saturday evening and unfortunately my checked bag didn’t arrive with me. Obviously this was really stressful with the climb starting so soon and pretty much all of my equipment being in that bag! Habari arranged to pick my bag up from the airport for me and got it back to me before the trek started, which took away so much stress before such a big climb. Before we started, they made sure we had all the equipment we needed. The equipment I did hire from them was also really good quality. I hired a sleeping bag which was great, my tent was in really good condition and I had a two-person tent to myself. Jackson and Johnson, our incredible guides: Our guides were Jackson and Johnson and they were absolutely amazing. I felt very safe and looked after throughout the entire trek. They were constantly monitoring how we were doing and I honestly couldn’t fault them from a safety point of view. I struggled quite a lot with headaches from the altitude. Once I had made them aware of this, they always remembered and would regularly ask me how my head was and how I was feeling, as well as advising me on things like pain relief. We had health checks every morning and evening where they checked things including our SpO₂ and talked us through how we were doing and what to expect the next day. I actually got quite nervous about the checks because I was worried about the altitude, but they always reassured me and made me feel safe. They went above and beyond throughout the trek, especially on some of the more difficult parts like Barranco Wall and the steep descents. They were always watching us and making sure everyone in the group was okay. I definitely felt like I was one of the weaker ones in the group because I struggled more with the altitude, but I never once felt like a burden or like I was being left behind. They just adjusted to me and kept me going. One thing that really stuck with me was Jackson constantly telling me “strong like a lion”, which genuinely stayed in my head throughout the trek whenever I was struggling! On summit night there were three clients, two guides and one experienced porter (Musa), so we had a 1:1 ratio. Again, I really struggled with the altitude that night and they helped keep me warm, carried my bag when I needed it and constantly made sure I was okay. They also carried emergency oxygen, which thankfully we didn’t need, and had a strict protocol for when someone would need to be sent back down. I always felt like our safety was the priority rather than just getting us to the summit at any cost. Other than the safety side, Jackson and Johnson were just genuinely amazing people. They kept us strong and motivated without overdoing it or putting pressure on us. They were genuine, worked incredibly hard and made the whole experience so much more special. I would highly recommend both of them as guides, not only because I felt so safe with them, but because of the people they are as well. Also, Johnson is AMAZING at taking photos, which is obviously very important for the social media posts afterwards!!. The porters were also incredible. They work unbelievably hard but somehow still had so much energy and, just like the guides, they were always checking we were okay. They constantly helped us with our equipment and went the extra mile. Whether it was seeing me struggling with something around camp, offering to carry something or taking my bag when I was exhausted, someone was always there to help. They brought so much energy to the group and I honestly don’t know how they do what they do. Another thing I noticed was that all of Habari’s porters had proper walking boots. I saw porters from other companies wearing trainers on the mountain, so this really stood out to me. Along with what the porters had told me about working for Habari, I felt like I could see that the company made an effort to make sure their staff had proper equipment. The food was also incredible. I can’t even cook that well at sea level, never mind halfway up Kilimanjaro! Eugene, our cook, was amazing and you could tell how much effort he put into the food. We were always given loads of carbs, big portions and plenty of snacks to take with us during the day. I genuinely never went hungry. It was also my 24th birthday on summit day, and when I came back down they had somehow made me an entire birthday cake at around 4,600m above sea level!! I still don’t know how they managed it, but it was amazing and made the day even more special. There were also individual porters who had a huge impact on me. Musa was with us on summit night and always kept the energy high, especially when we really needed it. Melvin, our waiter, would wake us up, bring us hot water and drinks and tried to teach us lots of Swahili along the way. Amani and some of the others even walked around two hours UP the descent route to meet us after summit day. I was absolutely exhausted and dehydrated on the way down. One of them immediately took my bag and another took my arm and basically helped me all the way back down to camp safely. I genuinely couldn’t have dreamed of doing Kilimanjaro without the support of Jackson, Johnson and all of the porters. They made me feel safe, looked after and supported from start to finish, while also making the whole experience so much fun. Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend Habari Adventure to anyone considering climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I’m so glad I chose a local company and one where, from speaking to the people actually working for them, I felt the guides and porters were valued and treated fairly. Thank you so much to Stanley, Jackson, Johnson, Eugene, Musa, Melvin, Amani and the entire Habari team for getting me to the summit and making my 24th birthday definitely one to remember. I honestly cannot thank you all enough! ❤️

+6

Habari adventures supported our 7 day Machame route to Kilimanjaro summit followed by a 2 day safari. We had 12 people and they gave us 40. Each of them were exceptional and get 5 stars for making everyday and everyhour special for us. From the wonderful meals they provided, to cleaning our shoes daily with a dust cloth, to coffee in the morning in our tent, to guides carrying our packs if we needed extra support. No problem was too big to solve for them and their genuine positive attitude made this experience of a lifetime forever memorable. Thank you Habari!!!!!

+1

The Habari Adventure team went above any of my expectations. The entire staff that supported our team of 12 were approachable, responsive, and accommodating. The team consists of the following unforgettable members: (Guides) Emmanuel; Michael M; Leo S; Michael S; Deo; and Rayson; (Chefs) Jimmy; Jacabo; (Support staff) Gerald; Tegema; Aman; Meshack; Masoud; and the summit porters and porters. If you have all or some of these members supporting you, then you're in the best hands. The Habari team heavily carried our team to successfully reach the top and back by encouraging mindfulness, resilience, and positive self-talk. Every one in our trekking group successfully summited. Summiting was a goal, but Habari team emphasized that our health and safety was their top priority. They cared and monitored us and set the daily expectations with health check ups and daily briefings. They would give extra care to our team members if they required it without judgement. The entire staff made the experience feel geniune. All of the staff were open to sharing the rich history of African culture and the mountain and give us committed care with smiles. At the end of the 7 day trek I felt like I was part of the Habari Adventure family. The people left the biggest impression on me, but I also attribute the success to the organization of the team. Habari is upfront about the trip itinerary, packing list, and I appreciated the transparency during the tipping ceremony. Also, request Chef Jimmy if you can. If you don't have Chef Jimmy on your team, then you are missing out! The food was incredible and just what I needed to recover and fuel for summiting. After trekking, our group of 12 did a follow-up 2 day safari and Michael and Ali are a wealth of information on Tarangire National park and then Ngorongoro conservation Area. We saw a ton of animals and learned a lot about the Maasai tribe. It was an enriching experience. Habari Adventure felt more than just a trekking company. It had heart. Highly recommended.

We had such an amazing experience climbing Kilimanjaro with Habari Adventures. Of course reaching the summit was incredible, but honestly the team made the entire 7 days just as memorable as summit day itself. Johnson and Jackson were brilliant guides and made us feel safe and looked after throughout the climb. I was particularly worried about altitude sickness before the trip, so having daily medical checks was really reassuring. Summit night was definitely the hardest part for me, and Musa was such a huge support in getting us through it. He was also the funniest person on our trip and brought so much energy to the group — even when we were exhausted! The food was another unexpected highlight. Eugene somehow managed to make genuinely amazing meals on the mountain, including pizza and even cake! I never lost my appetite and always had enough food and energy for the next day’s hiking. Melvin looked after us so well at camp and waking up to a hot cup of tea every morning was one of those little things I really appreciated. And a huge thank you to our porter team — Amani, Amani, Jumani, Dixon and Patrick. Seeing how hard they work every day, carrying everything between camps and still being so positive, gave me a completely new appreciation for what goes into a Kilimanjaro climb. Even the supply porters who came up partway through the trek to bring us more food were incredible. If you’re thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro, I would absolutely recommend Habari. You spend seven days with this team, and they become such a big part of the experience. They kept us safe, well fed, motivated and laughing all the way from the first day to the summit and back down again. A trip I’ll never forget. Thank you Johnson, Jackson, Musa, Eugene, Melvin, both Amanis, Jumani, Dixon, Patrick and everyone else behind the scenes at Habari! ❤️

Habari Adventure is a fantastic company to deal with, so professional and the whole experience was flawless from start to finish. The staff work so hard to give you the best experience. We successfully submitted Kilimanjaro and all thanks to the team. They pay particular attention to your health with twice daily checks. I can't say a bad thing about them!

Just wanted to share a recommendation for anyone planning a Kilimanjaro climb or Tanzania safari. I went with Habari Adventure, a locally-owned operator based in Moshi (founded 2012), and had a great experience — organized logistics, knowledgeable guides, and it felt good knowing it's a 100% Tanzanian-owned company that pays local taxes and reinvests in the community (they run an education/community foundation too). They cover Kilimanjaro climbs (Machame, Lemosho, Marangu routes), Serengeti/Ngorongoro safaris, Zanzibar beach add-ons, and gorilla trekking. Happy to answer questions if anyone's deciding between operators.

It's was an easy week for us having done the 7 day Machame trek with Habari Adventures.Indeed Habari Adventures have every reason to be loved by everyone.We felt so happy as friends trekking on Machame and being an educational trips for us it felt so impactful. I can't stop thinking about the memories we created on Machame together with the guides.The super delicious we had at the restaurant,the swali culture and the cozy nights at the tend.Every planned by Habari Adventures was superub from the start till the end.I recommend Habari Adventures.

A 100% recommend team that it's dedicated at delivering excellent services to their clients.A booking with them it's simple and easy and travelling with them is another thing which defines true adventure.A Habari Adventures is true team that everyone will desire to travel with.I had a wonderful full experience with them on June 23rd and it was indeed an adventure I would hold onto.Don't struggle looking for a tour company book one with Habari and thank me.

It is a wonderful team everyone will want to associate with, their attention to details which makes a perfect team to tour with.It got my attention when everything went as planned.Anyone will always want to choose Habari adventures after their first experience with them.

Capturing Mount Kilimanjaro from afar was a breathtaking moment that reminded us how magnificent nature can be. As we admired its snow-capped peak and took unforgettable photos, Habari Adventures made the experience even more special with their excellent planning, friendly guides, and genuine hospitality. They don't just organize trips—they create lasting memories that you'll treasure long after the journey ends.The hospitality from Habari Adventures was simply exceptional. From the warm welcome on arrival to the friendly guides, comfortable accommodations, delicious meals, and constant care throughout the journey, we felt valued every step of the way. Their kindness, professionalism, and attention to every detail made us feel at home and turned our adventure into an unforgettable experience.