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Machame Route - 7 Days, 6 Nights Trek

Route Overview

Known as the Whisky Route, this is one of the most scenic and therefore popular routes on the mountain and offers adventurous climbers stunning scenic outlooks. 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.

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Trekking Itinerary

Day 1

Machame Gate (1630m/5,380 ft) to Machame Camp (2833/9,350 ft)

  • Distance: 11 km/6 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Rainforest

Starting in the morning after breakfast, drive to Machame gate from the hotel in Moshi. The drive takes about 1 hour. The drive passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Do all registration at Machame gate, then  Leave the park gate after registration; walk through the dense rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp (2,833m/9,350ft). for dinner and overnight.

Day 2

Machame Camp (2833m/9,350ft) to Shira Cave Camp (3788m/12,500 ft)

  • Distance: 5 km/3 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
  • Habitat: Heath

After breakfast leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, the trail passes through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira Cave Camp for lunch then after some rest, there will be a chance to do a short acclimatization walk before dinner and overnight.

Day 3

Shira Cave Camp (3788m/12,500 ft) to Lava Tower (4605m/15,190 ft)

  • Distance: 7 km/4 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

Lava Tower (15,190 ft/4,785m) to Barranco Camp (13,044 ft/4,182m)

  • Distance: 4 km/2.4 miles
  • Hiking Time: 2-3 hours.
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower camp (15,190ft/4,785m), a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. After lunch, we descended to Barranco Camp (3953m/13,000ft) through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Beginning and end of the day at the same elevation is not a problem.
The time spent at higher altitude (Lava Tower) is very beneficial for acclimatization.

Day 4

Barranco Camp (13,044 ft/3,953) to Karanga Camp (13,106 ft/3,972m)

  • Distance: 6 km/3.7 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

The day starts by descending to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then, from the base, started to climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall, the trail crosses hills and valleys until it descends sharply into Karanga Valley (Karanga River), the last water point. Then started climbing up to Karanga Camp, arriving there for lunch. Later in the afternoon, followed by a shorter acclimatization walk, then dinner and overnight.

Day 5

Karanga Camp (13,106 ft/3,972m) to Barafu Camp (4,646m/15,331 ft)

  • Distance: 4 km/2.4 miles
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

From Karanga Camp, the route continues up to the rocky section until Barafu Camp. At this point, the Southern Circuit is completed, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Arrive at the camp, rest, followed by an early dinner, and prepare for the summit. When the weather gets clear, the view of the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen.

Day 6

Barafu Camp (15,331 ft/4,646m) to Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft/5,895m)

  • Distance: 6 km/3.7 miles
  • Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
  • Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft/5,895m) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,065 ft)

  • Distance: 12 km/7 miles
  • Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
  • Habitat: Rainforest

Starting at midnight begins the push to the summit, the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The journey will be spent in the wind and cold weather. Ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking some short breaks. Arrive at Stella Point (18,900 ft/5,730m) at sunrise. Then it continued for about an hour from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Spend a short time on the summit taking photographs before starting the descent back to Barafu Camp, which takes about 3 hours. Arrive at Barafu Camp, take a short rest (1-2 hours), then continue descending to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 7

Mweka Camp (10,065 ft/3,100m) to Mweka Gate (5,380 ft/1,630m)

  • Distance: 10 km/6.2 miles
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest

On the final day, after breakfast and celebrations at the camp, then continue the three-hour descent to Mweka Gate, arrive at the gate and sign out to the national park authority and collect the summit certificates. A vehicle will be waiting at Mweka Gate and will be transferred back to the hotel in Moshi.

Package Price Covers:

  • Airport Transfers (we pick up you on arrival day, and we take you back after the climb)
  • Transfers from Hotel to Kilimanjaro entrance gate and from Kilimanjaro exit gate to the hotel
  • Quality Sleeping tents shared by 2 clients
  • Mess tents, Crew tents, Table, Chairs, eating utensils, cooking equipment.
  • Clean, purified drinking water
  • All meals while on the Mountain
  • Kilimanjaro entrance fees/conservation fees
  • Kilimanjaro Camping fees
  • Rescue Fees and all taxes.
  • Salaries for Porters, Cook, and Guides
  • Oxygen Tanks, Pulse Oximeter, and First Aid Kit
  • Sleeping Mats

Price do not Cover:

  • International and local airfare
  • Local transportation before and after the climb.
  • Yellow fever vaccinations
  • Passport, Visa, and Travelers Insurance
  • Personal expenses example: Laundry, beverages, etc.
  • Tips for the support team
  • Private Toilet and hot shower tent
  • Bed, Sleeping Bag, and walking Poles.
  • Optional tours not mentioned in this itinerary

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