Kilimanjaro climb Machame route well Known as Whisky Route, this is one of the most scenic and therefore popular routes on the mountain and offers adventurous climbers stunning scenic vistas. With paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to late sunsets at Shira Plateau to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall.
It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. Because it can be done over longer periods and the incline is more manageable it has a much higher success rate of summit. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended. The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. However, due to the heavy crowds, it loses some of its splendor.
ARRIVAL DAY
On the arrival day, you will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
DAY 1: MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP| RAIN FOREST
Trekking Time: 4-6 hours | Distance: 9km | Altitude Gain: 1210m
A one-hour drive from Moshi lays the gate to the Machame route, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and involves real jungle-bashing through magnificent forest. This path is less well-trodden & often wet & muddy underfoot. We camp at Machame camp (3100m)
DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP| MOORLAND
Trekking Time: 4-6 hours | Distance: 9km | Altitude Gain: 740m
The route continues on up through the forest until we are at the steep ascent on the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt. Meru rising high above Arusha town. We camp at Shira caves (3840m).
DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP| SEMI DESERT
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours | Distance: 15km | Altitude Gain: 60m
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp at Barranco camp (3900m). The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of walk high, sleep low to avoid altitude sickness by aiding our bodies in acclimatization.
DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP| ALPINE DESERT
Trekking Time: 5-7 hours | Distance: 5km | Altitude Gain: 100m
We start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up what has been termed the Breakfast Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It is a climb over rocks, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga Valley (4000m) for overnight.
DAY 5: HIKE KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP| ALPINE DESERT
Trekking Time: 2-4 hours | Distance: 4km | Altitude Gain: 600m
The day is characterized by a short hike on terrain formed by scree. We walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp (4600m).
DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP – SUMMIT| GLACIERS
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours | Distance: 7km| Altitude Gain: 1296m
We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting around midnight, walking steeply upwards to the Summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 5 to 6 hours but you gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5750m) as the first rays of the sun emerge. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hours walk takes us to our goal, the summit of Uhuru (5896m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili.
We begin the descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope back to Barafu camp for breakfast and a rest before finally heading down to Millennium Camp (3000 m) for a well-earned rest. On our descent we have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi peak.
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours | Distance: 12km | Altitude Loss: 2896m
DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE – MOSHI| RAIN FOREST
Trekking Time: 4-5 hours | Distance: 10km | Altitude Loss: 1360m
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate (1640m), where we complete park formalities, are met by our vehicles, receive your certificate of ascent courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority and drive back to your hotel to Moshi.
DEPARTURE DAY
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
Wildlife Safari tour, Zanzibar trip and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
• Kilimanjaro International Airport transfers to and from your accommodation in Moshi.
• 2 nights of accommodation before and after climb
• Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
• Park entry fees, Camping fees, and Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
• 4 Season mountain tents
• Double layered Sleeping Mats
• Professional mountain guides, cook and porters
• 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
• Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
• Hot water for washing
• Fair treatment and payment of our crew
• Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter
• Portable flush toilet with a toilet and tent
• Emergency first-aid kit, and Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter
– Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
– Travel insurance
– Flights
– Laundry (Available at hotel)
– Personal items and toiletries
– Tips for guides, porters and cook
Drop us a line. Our Safari experts will answer all your questions in 24 hours