KILIMANJARO – MACHAME ROUTE (6/7 DAYS)

This is the most popular of all routes up Kilimanjaro, chosen by around 50% of all trekkers. If we had to describe the Machame route, also called the ‘whiskey route’, in 1 word it would probably be ‘incredible views’. OK that’s 2 words but you get our point! It’s not an easy route, as you’ll need to ascend the Barranco wall and be fit enough for the rather steep summit attempt. Technical climbing skills are however not required, making this route still accessible for anyone in good physical condition. So let’s go on an adventure along what probably is the most beautiful route to the summit of the highest mountain in Africa!

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Most popular route
Scenic route, offering incredible views and very diverse landscapes
A good physical condition is required for this route, but no technical climbing skills
Accommodation in tents at camp sites.
Good acclimatization thanks to the height profile.
Possibility to climb in 6 or 7 days, both options offering a ‘climb high sleep low’ acclimatization day. We only recommend the 6 day tour for experienced and very fit climbers.
Climb over Machame route, descend over Mweka route.
South/south-west side of the mountain, which makes it less ideal to use this route from mid-March to mid-May because of the weather.
Total distance: around 62 km / 38 mi.

MACHAME ROUTE ITINERARY

Like we said, this Kilimanjaro hike can be completed in 6 or 7 days. Below you’ll find the 6-day itinerary. We’ll explain the difference for the 7-day itinerary under day 4. Remember, we only recommend the 6-day trek if you’re a very fit mountain climber with some experience.

Day 1: Moshi – Machame Gate (1640m/5380ft) – Machame camp (2835m/9300ft)

We pick you up at your hotel in Moshi and drive about 1 hour to Kilimanjaro National Park. You’ll sign in at the Park Office and start hiking through the rain forest. Chances of rain are quite high all year long, but lots of animals can be found in this area, like the black and white colobus monkey.

Your first trek is a long one, taking around 6 hours to complete. When you arrive at your first destination, Machame camp, your porters will have already prepared your tent and the cook will be making dinner. The camp’s located near the border of the rain forest and the low alpine zone, and temperatures can already approach the freezing point here during the night.

Hiking time: 5-7 hours

Distance: 11 km / 7 mi

Habitat: Rainforest

Day 2: Machame camp (2835m/9300ft) – Shira camp (3850m/12630ft)

The first part of your trek today will take you through moorland, over a trail that’s relatively flat. You will walk for about 4 hours in the morning. After lunch, it gets steeper again, and this continues until you reach the Shira plateau after another 2 hours. The landscape becomes more and more open and on the last part of your hike you’ll be able to enjoy the views on the east, and see the Western Breach with its breathtaking glaciers. Arriving at Shira plateau you’ll get the first glimpse of Kibo in the north-west and Mount Meru in the East, a view that’s particularly breathtaking at sunset.

Your evening and night will be similar to the night before, although it gets colder with temperatures dropping well below the freezing point.

Hiking time: 4-6 hours

Distance: 5 km / 3 mi
Habitat: Low alpine moorland and grassland zone

Day 3: Shira camp (3850m/12630ft) – Lava Tower (4600m/15100ft) – Barranco Camp (3900m/12800ft)

Today you hike from Shira camp for about 5 hours to the Lava Tower as the landscape becomes more and more rocky. At this point you might start experiencing the first symptoms of altitude sickness, like headaches and breathlessness. It’s definitely a difficult day, harder than the two previous ones.

After lunch you descend by more than 650 m / 2150 ft through the magnificent Barranco valley to the Barranco camp site, bringing you to nearly the same altitude as at the start of the day. Climb high, sleep low. This is great for acclimatization, and is very likely to hugely increase your chances of making it to the summit.

You overnight on the Barranco camp site, where stunning sunset views of the Barranco Wall await.

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: 11 km / 7 mi Habitat: Semi-desert

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3900m/12800ft) – Karanga camp (3960m/12990ft) – Barafu camp (4680m/15350ft)

You’ll start the day by conquering the Barranco wall, a 257 m rock facade for which you’ll need some basic climbing skills. Previous experience is however not required, as long as you’re in good physical condition, you should be able to do it. There you’ll start hiking through the Karanga Valley, over a path that goes up and down the whole time. You have lunch at Karanga camp, after which you continue hiking to Barafu camp.

You’ll arrive here between 4pm and 5pm, get some food and head to bed, as you’ll start your summit attempt later that night. Prepare your equipment and get as much sleep as you can. Tomorrow’s going to be a long, but rewarding day!

For the 7-day trek, day 4 of the 6 days Machame route is split up in 2 days.

You hike to Karanga camp on day 4, and continue to Barafu camp on day 5, having an extra night at Karanga camp. Both hikes only take half a day, meaning you’ll have 2 afternoons to do some extra acclimatization hikes. We strongly recommend this extra day to get better adapted to the altitude, especially for inexperienced hikers that are not in excellent shape.

Hiking time: 8-10 hours

Distance: 9.5 km / 6 mi
Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 5 (or 6): Barafu camp (4680m/15350ft) – Uhuru Peak (5895m/19340ft) – Mweka camp (3100m/10170ft)

Today’s adventure starts right before midnight, as you head out into the night and start hiking towards the summit. The trek up Kibo is hard and slow, and this is definitely the hardest part of the trek. After about 6 hours you’ll reach Stella Point on the crater rim, at an altitude of 5739 m / 18838 ft.

The summit lies another 156 m / 511 ft higher and the hike up there takes about 2 hours. You’ll take a brief rest at Stella Point before making your final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Many climbers want to give up here, but try to grab your final energy and make it to the top. Our guides will do anything they can to motivate you! Obviously, if you are experiencing severe altitude sickness, you should descend immediately. Inform your guide, he’ll know what to do!

Weather conditions will determine how long you’ll be able to stay at the summit, combined with the fact that you have to get back to Mweka camp in time. But don’t worry, you’ll get enough time to realize what you’ve just achieved, and fully enjoy the moment, your moment standing top of the largest mountain in Africa!

You’ll walk back to Barafu camp to pick up the rest of your gear and from there on continue to Mweka camp. For the descent, which takes another 5-8 hours, we strongly recommend to use trekking poles. You’ll have a good night’s sleep at Mweka camp, and be able to enjoy the fresh air full of oxygen!

Hiking time: 6-8 hours up to Uhuru peak, followed by 5-8 hours down to Mweka camp

Distance: 4.5 km / 3 mi up and 11 km / 7 mi down

Habitat: Glacial zone and all the previous zones

Day 6 (or 7): Mweka camp (3100m/10170ft) – Mweka gate (1640m/5380ft) – Moshi

Today you keep walking to Mweka gate, which – even though you’re probably exhausted – is a pleasant walk. Once you get there, you get to sign your name into a register, and receive your summit certificate – a green one for those who reached Stella Point, and a gold one for climbers who made it all the way to Uhuru Peak. The day ends with a 1 hour drive back to Moshi, and a well-deserved night in a comfortable bed.

Hiking time: 3-5 hours

Distance: 9 km / 5.5 mi
Habitat: Rainforest

OUR OFFER – PRICES AND SERVICES

Prices for this climb depend on the size of your group and are as follows:

6-day climb

1 person: 2710 USD per person
2 people: 2440 USD per person
3 people: 2280 USD per person
4 people: 2200 USD per person
5 people: 2190 USD per person
6 people: 2190 USD per person8

7-day climb

1 person: 3120 USD per person
2 people: 2630 USD per person
3 people: 2550 USD per person
4 people: 2470 USD per person
5 people: 2430 USD per person
6 people: 2430 USD per person

All our climbs are private and can start at the date of your choice, depending on availability.

Please contact us for different group sizes or groups including children, or if you wish to add extra options.

The cost of your climb explained

Underpaid porters that work in bad conditions are a sad reality in Tanzania. We aim to do better, by paying all our crew members a fair salary, and making sure they can work in respectful conditions. Our tours aren’t the cheapest on the market, but every extra cent goes towards creating ethical working conditions for our crew members.

The following services are included in our package:

National park fees: entry, camping, forest department and rescue fees
Transport from your hotel in Moshi to Machame gate and back
Professional, English-speaking guides and assistant guides. Professional cook(s) and porters.
Accommodation in tents (5 nights on the 6-day itinerary, 6 nights on the 7-day itinerary). All prices are for 2 people sharing a tent.
Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) while climbing
Drinking water
Oxygen cylinder
Luggage allowance for your main bag, that will be carried by a porter, up to max. 20 kg. To make the porter’s life easier, we however strongly recommend to limit the weight of your main bag to 15 kg.

This package however doesn’t include:

Tips for the crew, which are mandatory as we follow the salary guidelines of the porter’s association. Tips are a part of their salary and therefore need to be paid. The minimum amount is 12 USD per day per guide, 10 USD per cook per day and 6 USD per porter per day. We however strongly recommend a tip of 20 USD per guide per day, 15 USD per cook per day and 10 USD per porter per day. These amounts are per group, not per climber.
Personal gear and equipment
Travel insurance
Visa
Flights or other transport to Moshi. We can arrange airport pickup for you.
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Sleeping bag (we can provide one at an extra fee)
Accommodation in Moshi. If you wish, we can however assist you in finding a place that corresponds to your needs and budget.
Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last
… and all other services that are not mentioned as included above.

TIPS AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION

KILIMANJARO HEIGHT

The highest mountain in Africa comes with a few risks. Altitude sickness is probably the most important and dangerous one. Read these tips to avoid it.

KILI PACKING LIST

Make sure you don’t forget your socks or any other important item on your way to the ‘Roof of Africa’. Check out our complete Kilimanjaro packing list and get packing!

KILIMANJARO WEATHER

Thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro but not sure when to go? We give you all the necessary information to help you decide when is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro.