Explore the Kilimanjaro National Park

8-Day Machame Route

Tour Overview

This thrilling expedition guides climbers through one of the most scenic paths to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The adventure begins amidst lush rainforests and progresses through a variety of ecosystems as you ascend towards the snow-capped peak. The Machame Route, often called the ‘Whiskey Route,’ offers stunning vistas and remarkable natural beauty.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport for your climb

When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our guide will be there to greet you. He will transfer you to your hotel where you can unwind after your flight. If you arrive via a different airport or location, just let us know, and we can arrange convenient transfers. Before your climb begins, you’ll meet with your guide for a briefing. He’ll provide details on what to wear, what to pack in your backpack, and other important tips to ensure your climb is as comfortable as possible.

Day 2: Moshi / Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (3010m)

Hiking Time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 9 km
Habitat: Montane forest

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to Machame Village (1490m). The guides and porters will prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You’ll receive a lunch pack, and you can also buy mineral water there. Depending on road conditions, you may be able to drive from the village to the Machame Gate; otherwise, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour.

After registering at the gate office, you’ll start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. Expect rain in the forest, which will make the trail soggy, muddy, and slippery. A welcome lunch stop will be provided halfway through, and you’ll reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.

Your porters, arriving at the campsite well before you, will have set up your tent. In the evening, they will boil drinking and washing water while the cook prepares dinner. You’ll retire to your tent for the night, where temperatures can drop to freezing.

Overnight: Machame Camp.

Day 3 : Machame camp (3010m) - Shira camp (3845m)

Hiking Time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 7 km
Habitat: Moorland

You will rise early at Machame Camp and, after breakfast, begin your ascent. You’ll climb for about an hour to reach the top of the forest, then continue for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a brief lunch and rest, you’ll proceed up a rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau. From here, you’ll have views to the east of the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers.

As you are now due west of Kibo, you’ll complete a short hike to the Shira Campsite at 3,840m. Upon arrival, the porters will boil drinking and washing water, and dinner will be served. Expect colder temperatures at this exposed camp, dropping well below freezing during the night.

Overnight: Shira Camp

Day 4: Shira (at 3845m) to Lava Tower (at 4630m) to Barranco camp (at 3960m)

Hiking Time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 10 km
Habitat: Semi-desert

Today’s route heads east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape around Lava Tower. After about a 5-hour trek, you’ll reach an altitude of 4,630 meters. Lunch will be served in a designated area before you ascend the rocky scree path to Lava Tower, which is one of the most challenging segments of the trek. At this elevation, some climbers may begin to experience symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches.

Following lunch, you will descend nearly 680 meters to the Barranco camping area. This descent, which takes about 2 hours, is beneficial for acclimatization. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, offering excellent opportunities for photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. Enjoy a memorable sunset while waiting for dinner to be prepared.

Overnight: Barranco Camp

Day 5: Barranco camp (3960m)- Barafu camp (4640m)

Hiking time: 7h

Distance: Approximately 08 kms

Habitat: Alpine desert

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.

The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Overnight: Barafu Camp.

Day 6: (Summit attempt) Barafu camp (4640m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka (3080m)

Hiking Time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 km ascent, 19 km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will wake around 11:30 PM and start your climb after a light tea and biscuit snack. Ascending in a north-west direction through heavy scree, you will aim for Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour trek to Stella Point is one of the most challenging parts of the route, both mentally and physically. At Stella Point (5,685 m), you’ll take a short rest and, weather permitting, enjoy a breathtaking sunrise. From Stella Point, the final 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak will typically involve snow.

The time spent at the summit will depend on weather conditions. Avoid lingering too long to prevent difficulties from cold and fatigue when resuming your descent. After celebrating your achievement, you’ll descend back to Barafu Camp, a 3-hour walk where you can rest briefly and gather your gear. The route will then take you down the rock and scree path through moorland and eventually into the forest. Expect mist or rain in the late afternoon at Mweka Camp, where dinner and washing water will be prepared.

Overnight: Mweka Camp

Day 7: Mweka camp (3010m) - Mweka Gate (1680m) - Moshi

Hiking Time: 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 10 km
Habitat: Forest

After a well-deserved breakfast, enjoy a scenic 3-hour hike back to the park gate. It’s advisable to wait until all your gear has safely reached the gate before tipping your porters. At Mweka Gate, you’ll sign the register and receive your summit certificate: a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) and a green certificate for those who reached Stella Point (5,685 m). From the gate, continue down to Mweka Village, which is typically a muddy 3 km (1-hour) hike. In Mweka Village, you will be treated to a delicious hot lunch. Afterwards, drive back to Moshi for a long-awaited hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!

Day 8: Moshi /Arusha City or Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight or to Arusha to start your safari.

Price Inclusions

Included Excluded

 

  • Park fees
  • Pickup and transfer airport
  • Porters who carry your luggage
  • Private cook speaking fluently English
  • Private guide speaking fluently English
  • Chairs and tables for breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • High quality tents (including dinner-tent
  • International flights and visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Accommodation on day of arrival and departure

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+255 753 512 104

info@mtembezisafaris.com