7 days Machame Route

5/5

Tour Overview

The Machame Route is the second most popular and one of the most picturesque routes up the mountain. This route, sometimes known as the Whisky Route, is both longer and significantly more difficult than the Marangu Route. Whereas the Marangu route has huts for lodging, the Machame route just has tents. The path is more suitable to the more ambitious hiker, but it rewards him with panoramic grandeur not seen on the Marangu route. Given its difficulty, around 80% of hikers reach Africa’s top.

Your Adventures Begins

Day 0 : Arrive in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged hotel in Arusha 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.


Hotel: Bed & Breakfast

Day 1 :  Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m)

One hour’s drive from Moshi lies 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 passes through magnificent, dense rainforests. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.


Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi
 Approx. 


Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 2 : Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)

Our route continues up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto 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 in the distance.


Distance covered: 5.4km / 3.4mi
Approx.

Time: 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 3 : Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

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 The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.


Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi Approx.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Day 4 : Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.


Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Approx.


Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 5 : Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit.


Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included

Day 6 : Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Mweka Camp (3100m)

We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views of jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.


Distance covered: 16.4km / 9.6mi
Approx.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
Day 7 : Trek Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower and then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at your arranged Hote.

Distance covered: 9.1km / 7.5miles
Approx.


Hotel: Bed &Breakfast

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Testimonials

From Our Happy Clients

Kelvin Cooper
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Simply wonderful from the moment we arrived in Tanzania. Never been to Africa before and tents are not our usual accommodation - but this was an exceptional environment and we felt privileged to be so close to the animals we came to see 24/7
Jannete Miller
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We had high hopes/expectations for our trip, and they were thoroughly exceeded! We loved every minute of it, and both camps, although different, were spectacular in their own ways. We hope this is not our last trip to Africa
Marina Bongany
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It was the best. All the different things we saw and did, my absolute favourite type of holiday. Thank you for making it so easy for us. Just wish we could do it every year
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