Machame Route 7 Days

The Machame Route is one of the popular routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It's known for its scenic beauty and diverse landscapes.

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame route 7 days

The Machame route, also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered difficult, steep and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore this route is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some high altitude, hiking or backpacking experience.

Starting From

$1700 / person

1 Person $1930

4 Persons $1825

8+ Persons $1750

Book This Climb

Day by Day

Itinerary

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft Distance: 11 km/7 miles Hiking Time: 5-7 hours Habitat: Rain Forest The drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate takes about 1 hr. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.

Machame Camp – Shira Cave Camp

Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 4-6 hours Habitat: Heath This is a short day but a steeper one. You will Wake up and get breakfast, start proceed your hiking for the second day where you will trek several uphill where there are several viewpoints from which you can see the plains and forests below and Kibo peak above and also mount Meru which is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, also as you gain high altitude you will notice changes in vegetation and the trees diminish in size, giving way to Kilimanjaro famous high altitude plants, Scenecio kilimanjari and Lobelia deckenii.

Shira Cave Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp

Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft down 13044ft Distance: 10 km/6 miles Hiking Time: 6-7 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft Distance: 4 km/2 miles Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak descent to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft descent to 10065ft Distance: 18 km/10 miles Hiking Time: 13-14 hours Habitat: Arctic Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft Distance: 10 km/6 miles Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Rain Forest On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka gate to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

What's Included

Medically qualified guides
Twice a day medical health check up, monitoring with pulse-oximeter and stethoscope.
Midrange accommodations before & after the climb, bed & breakfast basis, double occupancy
Orientation meeting in Moshi and gear check as well.
Pick up and drop off to the Airport (Private transfers)
Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, and rescue fees
Government tax (18% VAT ON TOUR FEE AND SERVICE)
Mountain climbing certificate
3-4 porters per climber, which includes porters to carry up to 30 lbs. of your personal gear.
4-season mountain tents, double occupancy.

What's Not Included

Airfares and taxes
Tip to your guides, porters and cook.
Lunch, dinner and drinks at hotel
Health requirements (Yellow Fever - compulsory depending on how you travel to Tanzania, Meningitis
Personal travel insurance
Laundry (available at the hotel)
Items of a personal nature
Optional travel insurance
Personal hiking/trekking gear- Some gears available for rent
Snacks and personal medicine